Issue with EMGs in an HSS setup

[SZjammin83]

I am wondering if anyone else maybe has EMG pickups in their Stratocaster in an HSS configuration, and if so, are you able to use positions 3 through 5 without the humbucker coloring the tone?

I have an EMG 89 SA SA setup in my guitar, and I thought that the SA set sounded different than when I just had them in the SSS configuration, but then I figured I must be crazy. But I did some work on the guyitar recently and due to some difficulties I was having, I came to find that no matter what position I have the 5 way blade switch in, or the TW Push/Pull potentiometer, the 89 is always active. When you come out of position 1 (bridge only) the output seems to drop, but the pickup is still on and therefore always coloring the tone. I haven't read anything about this and I am wondering if its just the way it is, or if there is a way I can wire it up to change this, like a kill switch for the 89. I have been through the guitar over 10 times and I am absolutely positive that I have it wired up exactly as the diagram on the EMG top diagrams section of their website says I should for a 3 pickup Strat with one push/pull TW master volume, and 2 passive tone controls for a dual mode EMG humbucker and 2 EMG active single coils.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

[Teleplayer]

Have a look at the instruction sheet for the 89 and check the jumpers and interconnect wires are in the correct positions. You have to swap around the connections and jumpers depending on whether the push-pull is used as individual volume, master volume, or tone control. If you get the jumpers in the wrong place, the routing of the signal to the volume control could get mixed up.

 

[SZjammin83]

This is an image of the wiring diagram that EMG has posted on their website which I used for my guitar. EVERYTHING in my guitar matches this schematic/diagram 100%. I have been over it with a fine toothed comb and there is no stone that I left unturned. My guitar is absolutely positively indefinitely for sure hooked up exactly as pictured here.

 

[SZjammin83]

Have a look at the instruction sheet for the 89 and check the jumpers and interconnect wires are in the correct positions. You have to swap around the connections and jumpers depending on whether the push-pull is used as individual volume, master volume, or tone control. If you get the jumpers in the wrong place, the routing of the signal to the volume control could get mixed up.

I just included a diagram that I got from EMG website which depicts EXACTLY the way in which my guitar is wired. I have been over it so many times that I am 100% absolutely certain that there is nothing on my guitar that isn't exactly as the diagram says it should be. I am thinking the Master Volume control has got to be where the signals are crossing paths and getting mixed because it is literally the ONLY component upon which they are connected in any way.

 

[Teleplayer]

I just included a diagram that I got from EMG website which depicts EXACTLY the way in which my guitar is wired. I have been over it so many times that I am 100% absolutely certain that there is nothing on my guitar that isn't exactly as the diagram says it should be. I am thinking the Master Volume control has got to be where the signals are crossing paths and getting mixed because it is literally the ONLY component upon which they are connected in any way.

The Push-pull switch assembly allows a jumper-shut to be placed on H4 to connect the 89 preamp output directly to the volume control.
You appear to have H4 location empty which is correct. Perhaps you can check there is no metal object or manufacturing fault causing a short.
Apart from that I am out of ideas.

 

[PFDarkside]

Honestly I’d email EMG tech support. You are saying that in the neck only position you are getting some bleed from the 89? Check for any issues with the 5 way switch. I know this is all solderless, but when I was doing a Strat I dripped a little solder into the contacts and had an issue.

If this was me trying to troubleshoot I’d start by removing the 89 connection from thr 5 way to see if everything was correct. If so I’d directly plug the Humbucker output of the 89 into the 5 way to see if it was still acting up. Then put the Humbucker output on the push pull along with the jumper to the 5 way, then swap just the S and remove the H, etc. Isolate where the bleed is coming from. I have an odd feeling you will just need a new 5 way switch.