Installation of the Seth lover

I_M_Ken

I_M_Ken

New member
Hi All,

Just got my hands on a used Seth lover neck model (SH55n).
Noticed that its a braided single conductor wire.

How do i go about installing this?
From what i read, the braided jacket is the ground? So do i just solder the jacket to the back of the pot?

I did the above (soldering the hot lead to the lug and and braided jacket to the back of the pot). Its installed into a LesPaul btw.

However the pup sounds weak. Its like theres a huge signal loss. Bridge pup is fine (its a JB)

Sorry if someone has already posted this question/or of similar type as there were like hundreds of posts on the Seth Lover pup and i couldnt filter thru it all.

Thanks
 
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Re: Installation of the Seth lover

I had a similar problem, though I suspect yours is simpler. BTW, you've installed it correctly. Check your grounds, and if the pup is too low, try raising it up a little.

My previous Seth had the hot wire touching the cover INSIDE the humbucker. I doubt yours has this problem though. Let's see if the other wiring gurus can chime in.

:)
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

raistlin said:
I had a similar problem, though I suspect yours is simpler. BTW, you've installed it correctly. Check your grounds, and if the pup is too low, try raising it up a little.

My previous Seth had the hot wire touching the cover INSIDE the humbucker. I doubt yours has this problem though. Let's see if the other wiring gurus can chime in.

:)
Click to expand...

i see. but how is the hot wire touching the inside of the humbucker since its in the braided mesh and cloth? how did u find out?

i totally forgot to use a multimeter to check the output before installing. big mistake. Maybe i need to re-wire the guitar as its alittle messy now.

btw, you're the dude from m'sia yeah?
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Almost 100% sure you got a bad solder connection.

I'm no soldering expert, but resolder it, making sure the old solder is wiped away first. Take your time and make sure nothing moves after you remove the iron from the connection. The solder should "dry" shiny. If it looks all dull and crumply, that's a bad sign.

Good luck!
 
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Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Did you scratch up the back of the pot with some sandpaper or a nail file or something first? Sometimes there is an outer layer on the pot that isn't all that conductive.
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Ventilator said:
Did you scratch up the back of the pot with some sandpaper or a nail file or something first? Sometimes there is an outer layer on the pot that isn't all that conductive.
Click to expand...


If it's a CTS or RS Guitarworks pot, they actually have a thin layer of solder on the back of the pot, so they recommend you DO NOT scratch it up first. If it is another type of pot, it's a good idea.

My guess is a bad solder joint also. Conversely, it could be that you just have the pup set too low compared to the bridge pup and need to adjust it also. I would do both.

Let us know if it works.
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Make sure you don't overheat the wire when you solder the braided shield to the back of the pot or you risk to melt the isulation separating the hot lead from the braided shield. If some of it goes away then it might cause a short between the hot lead and the grounded shield.
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

I_M_Ken said:
i see. but how is the hot wire touching the inside of the humbucker since its in the braided mesh and cloth? how did u find out?

i totally forgot to use a multimeter to check the output before installing. big mistake. Maybe i need to re-wire the guitar as its alittle messy now.

btw, you're the dude from m'sia yeah?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm from Malaysia. :)

Well, when I wriggle my Seth, sometimes the signal cuts out. So I opened up the cover and visually inspected the wiring at the coils. Before the hot lead goes into the braided shield, some of it (don't ask me how) touches the cover when I wriggled the pup. So I just wrapped the exposed hot with cellotape and voila!
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

hi guys, thanks for the input.. i just remove the pup from the guitar... used a multimeter and checked the pup. it reads 1.6kohms... thats bad... i believe the pup is damaged.. guess i got conned? anyway to remedy this??

(i put the tips of the multimeter on the hot lead and the ground tip on the outer braided cover, correct yeah?)

Thanks.
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Hi,

Is your selector switch on your multi-meter at 20kohm? If it is, something's wrong with the pup, get a refund from the seller.

Thanks.
 
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Re: Installation of the Seth lover

raistlin said:
Hi,

Is your selector switch on your multi-meter at 20kohm? If it is, something's wrong with the pup. I'd go to Davis and change for a new one,

Thanks.
Click to expand...

yo man, thank for the reply.
yeah i set it at 20k ohms. reads 1.6k earlier.. now it reads, 0.8k after i tugged the pup leads alittle.
However i might have a faulty multimeter as its giving off really low readings for all my spare pups... argh...
getting confused now.. wonder if i should buy another multimeter or something

by the way, u got msn man?
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Hi Ken,

Yeah, try to get a new MM if possible... Or borrow one. I suspect it could be the same problem as mine.
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

I_M_Ken said:
getting confused now.. wonder if i should buy another multimeter or something?
Click to expand...

Maybe its too easy but try some new batteries, dont use rechargeable ones - they have a too low voltage. Maybe lend a friends meter to check again.

By the way i would be interested in a dead Seth Lover! I have a winding machine and do repairs too. PM me!
 
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Re: Installation of the Seth lover

Thanks all for the tips and info.
It's been resolved at last.
Not really sure what was the issue, pots and pup is ok.
Apparently after i changed all the wiring in the guitar, it works now. Must have been one of the wires that got messed up.

Appreciate the help! Woohoo.. now i can enjoy the Seth Lover neck with the JB in bridge!
 
Re: Installation of the Seth lover

I usually put a little dab of flux on the braided jacket and then heat some solder onto it. then I run a separate lead from that point on the braided jacket to ground. Easier to work with than trying to move the whole cable over to the back of the pot to solder.

Glad you figured it out!
 
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