Installation challenges

[RW James]

Re: Installation challenges

I disconnected both leads and it measured at 7.09k - the Jazz Neck Model is rated at 7.72k (8% down)

Is that too big of a difference? I have no idea what the accepted tolerances are with these pickups.

At least it doesn't appear I've added resistence to the curcuit with bad connections.

Maybe my connections to the pot were bad. I'll re-connect a little more carefully this time.

I had a friend tell me that I would have to re-EQ my rig with the Jazz - maybe that's all it is. I just didn't expect that big of a difference.

Any thoughts?
Rick

 

[RW James]

Re: Installation challenges

I went ahead and re-connected the leads from the Jazz to the pot and fired it up. It has the volume now that I would expect - I must have had a bad connection before.

There is a significant tonal difference between the Jazz and the JB. The Jazz is very bright and the JB is very dark. At this point I cannot imagine playing either one by itself - but together it's very nice.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Installation challenges

I went ahead and re-connected the leads from the Jazz to the pot and fired it up. It has the volume now that I would expect - I must have had a bad connection before.

There is a significant tonal difference between the Jazz and the JB. The Jazz is very bright and the JB is very dark. At this point I cannot imagine playing either one by itself - but together it's very nice.

GREAT! I'm glad to hear you got it fixed up! Those bad solder joints happen to us all man.

The jazz has much less bass than the 59, but I wouldn't consider it overly bright, in fact I've always felt that the JB was significantly brighter than the Jazz. Have you got the height dialed in on the JB yet? It will sound fairly lifeless until it get pretty close to the strings. Also you might want to lower the Jazz as well, or raise it, depending on what you hear.

Luke

 

[RW James]

Re: Installation challenges

GREAT! I'm glad to hear you got it fixed up! Those bad solder joints happen to us all man.

The jazz has much less bass than the 59, but I wouldn't consider it overly bright, in fact I've always felt that the JB was significantly brighter than the Jazz. Have you got the height dialed in on the JB yet? It will sound fairly lifeless until it get pretty close to the strings. Also you might want to lower the Jazz as well, or raise it, depending on what you hear.

Luke

Now you have thinking I may have gotten them switched :smack: No - it can't be - it looks just like the picture on the pink instruction sheet.

There is no doubt that the Jazz is a lot brighter than the JB.

And yes, I raised the JB up a bit. I started one nickel down on the high E - I didn't have another nickel so I used a dime on the low E :smack: Just Kidding... Anyway I raised up the bridge (JB) pickup quite a bit - now that the Jazz is up to full strength I can do it. I may go a bit more. Maybe even more on the treble side.

I think I'm having touble with the tone controls on my Washburn - they don't seem to be working the way I think they should. And I was using a cheap cable I had lying around for the test - I have to try it with my GeorgeL and see if that makes a difference.

Rick

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Installation challenges

Now you have thinking I may have gotten them switched :smack: No - it can't be - it looks just like the picture on the pink instruction sheet.

There is no doubt that the Jazz is a lot brighter than the JB.

And yes, I raised the JB up a bit. I started one nickel down on the high E - I didn't have another nickel so I used a dime on the low E :smack: Just Kidding... Anyway I raised up the bridge (JB) pickup quite a bit - now that the Jazz is up to full strength I can do it. I may go a bit more. Maybe even more on the treble side.

I think I'm having touble with the tone controls on my Washburn - they don't seem to be working the way I think they should. And I was using a cheap cable I had lying around for the test - I have to try it with my GeorgeL and see if that makes a difference.

Rick

Honestly Rick the thought you had them switched never even crossed my mind, you seem waaay to sharp for that.

I'm a big believer in orange drop caps, they have a smoother taper it seems to me. I use them on all my rewires. Also CTS pots are top quality, but I think Washburns come with them now.

As far as change goes..................can I borrow a quarter?

Luke

 

[RW James]

Re: Installation challenges

I'm a big believer in orange drop caps, they have a smoother taper it seems to me. I use them on all my rewires. Also CTS pots are top quality, but I think Washburns come with them now.

As far as change goes..................can I borrow a quarter?

Luke

I saw something about Orange Caps elsewhere (took me a while to figure out that CAPS were capacitors - I thought they were talking about pickup covers :laugh2: ) Do you have a good source for them?

Not sure about the quality of the pots either - this is not a USA Washburn.

On the other hand, the neck and general "feel" of the guitar is great.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Installation challenges

I saw something about Orange Caps elsewhere (took me a while to figure out that CAPS were capacitors - I thought they were talking about pickup covers :laugh2: ) Do you have a good source for them?

Not sure about the quality of the pots either - this is not a USA Washburn.

On the other hand, the neck and general "feel" of the guitar is great.

Thanks,
Rick

Another thing Rick, if you haven't noticed this forum is different we assume all parties are fairly intelligent unless they open their mouths and prove otherwise. :laugh2:

There are actually a few different dealers of SD products, and miscellaneous items.

www.blackrosecustom.emerchantpro.com

www.lewsguitars.com

www.martinsixstringcustoms.com

I use orange drops, and CTS pots, Dimarzio audio taper pots are also pretty good, but I don't plan on them getting my money again after trademarking another color.
Hope that helps!

Luke

 

[RW James]

Re: Installation challenges

Thanks Luke,

I'll try to be a little less "open mouthed" in the future...

Thanks for the link to Black Rose - looks good. Lewguitar didn't work

Are there particular values for CAPS that will match the pickups - or is that just a personal preference thing. For that price I could buy two of each and experiment.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Installation challenges

Thanks Luke,

I'll try to be a little less "open mouthed" in the future...

Thanks for the link to Black Rose - looks good. Lewguitar didn't work

Are there particular values for CAPS that will match the pickups - or is that just a personal preference thing. For that price I could buy two of each and experiment.

:laugh2:

By all means be as "open mouthed" as you desire! I was simply stating that unlike some forums when you are a newer member you aren't consider and moron.

Anyway I fixed the links, try em now.

Cap preferences.........I tend to like the .022, some guys like .01. The Gibsons come with .047 as their OEM cap value. I also have a .033 in my Godin LG with P90s and LOVE it.

For pots you will get mixed reactions....particularly with the JB. If it's too bright a normal mod is a 250k pot to tame down the high end. I use 500k's with buckers and 250k's with Fender style SC's.

Luke