Is my Dimebucker broken ??

[dimebag_jimmy]

I have a Dimebolt 333 guitar and I installed an SH-13 Dimebucker on it about a year ago, Ive had great use from it with no problems..........but last night it started giving trouble.

The sound cut out and cut in, then worked most of the time..........but this morning it doesnt work at all, i get some weak sound when i really hit all the strings hard, but only for a second or two.

Its not the cables, because the neck pickup works perfectly.

Do pickups break ??

Cheers :smack:

 

[MikeS]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

Welcome Jimmy!

It's not at all common for a pickup to break, but that's not to say it can't happen. I would check first the leads to the switch to make sure the solder is solid. Also check the ground for the pickup.

I'd also check the switch itself. Is it a toggle or blade switch? I've had many problems with the contacts of Gibson design toggle switches. The neck pickup on my LP would always cut in and out and I came to find out that one of the contacts was slightly bent.

Hope that helps a little. Sometimes you have to do a little poking around in teh control cavity.

 

[theodie]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

I would say it will most likely be the Swtich, jack, or a pot. I wouldnt put $$ on saying the pickup itself is broke.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

I am sure it is the switch, get it checked . I had a simlar problem 4 yrs back it was with my neck pup. I have two mini toggel switches ( one for each of the pups). The bridge worked fine but if switched to the neck it sounded distorted. ( as if I had stepped on a distortion pedal). I thought it was the pup, so got it checked turned out to be the switch had gone bad. Dont fret I am sure ur pup is fine.

 

[dimebag_jimmy]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

Hi, thanks for replying.

It has a 3-way toggle switch just like the les paul types.

Im going to take your advice and have a look at the switch to check its ok, Im not a complete idiot when it comes to this kind of electronics thing, I installed it myself, but Im not an expert either.

Another strange thing, on my other guitar, maybe unrellated ?

I bought some EMG-81 and EMG-60 for my Ibanez RG and tried to install it all during the weekend, (pickups, and all the elctronics) and when complete the neck pickup sounded OK, but the bridge pickup had a similer problem to my Dimebucker on my Washburn Dimebolt.
The problem with the Ibanez was that I replaced everything except the 5-way selector switch, and the schematic diagram for the selector switch wasnt very clear..............so I sent it in to a music shop to get sorted, still waiting.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

hhmm I am sure the problem is at the switch, or some soldering has come off.

 

[dimebag_jimmy]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

Hi there people.

The problem is sorted, it was the selector switch.........I pulled the switch out of the cavity, then it started working, so i placed it back in the cavity and now it works fine.
I think some of the bare conections were touching.

I was really sh*ting it thinking I'd have to replace it or send it in to get fixed...........but because of you guys everything is COOL.

Cheers again. :burnout:

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Is my Dimebucker broken ??

Hey cool bro.. glad it worked.