Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

[Howie]

First post on the forum. Needing some help with a pickup issue!

I recently purchased a Blacktop Telecaster and replaced the pickups with Pearly Gates humbuckers. Also new switch, CTS pots, orange drop cap, and s better output jack.

The neck pickup works flawlessly, but the bridge pickup is very noisy and keeps cutting out - dropping in volume to almost nothing.

At first I thought the noise was due the hardtail bridge not being grounded - a common issue with these guitars, but that doesn’t explain the pickup cutting out. I would also think that both pickups would make noise if it was the bridge? The neck pickup is quiet

Anyway, I replaced the switch and the volume pot again - and basically rewired most everything. I also applied new heat shrink tubing to any bare wires. Still having the issue, even with the new parts.

It plays fine, then cuts out suddenly, then comes back on. When it cuts out, there is a very light distorted signal, and the output measures around 0.46 ohms. Also, when the bridge cuts out, the middle position just plays the neck pickup at normal volume, as if it’s in the neck position.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

welcome to the forum!

good close up detailed pics of the wiring could help us diagnose the issue

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

I’m noticing now that the lead wire running to the jack is extremely microphonic to the touch, especially in the bridge position

My other guitar doesn’t do this

There’s cavity paint, but it doesn’t register continuity. I do get co to unity from the back of the pots to the ground screw

 

[jeremy]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

it sounds like its a grounding issue. some investigation while the controls are out might lead you to the culprit. theres nothing glaringly wrong in the wiring that i can see

 

[Mincer]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

Yes, I would re-flow the solder on the bridge pickup connections. That will either solve it or eliminate it from being a problem.

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

Yes, I would re-flow the solder on the bridge pickup connections. That will either solve it or eliminate it from being a problem.

I completely replaced the switch and the pot, so those are new connections. Same problem

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

So, an article on SD’s website in the FAQ section says that a pickup registering low DC resistance could have a short in the coil

I’ve also seen that elsewhere online in pickup troubleshooting articles

I have an email into SD about it, but haven’t received a reply. It’s been a couple of days, I may call tomorrow

 

[Mincer]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

Certainly call if you can. But what is the DCR, btw?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

Maybe red and white is connecting intermittently. Or the other leads inside the pickup. You could fiddle with those and check with your meter. I've had on 2 occasions, a humbucker going down to split because the leads in the pickup were getting pinched. Even though the solder joints were good.

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

Certainly call if you can. But what is the DCR, btw?

When working properly, it is 8.3 ohms, which is in the normal range.

When it cuts out, it is around 0.43 ohms. That’s measured at the tip of the guitar cable, and also from the switch lead to the ground. When the pickup comes back, everything is back to 8.3 ohms

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

Maybe red and white is connecting intermittently.

I had thought about that - need to check. I soldered them together, then for neatness, folded them back against the main lead and applied heat shrink. They could have come loose in there. Still not sure if that would cause the resistance to drop like that

 

[jeremy]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

its odd that its so intermittent. by fiddling around can you find a way to consistently replicate the issue, either by moving wires or pushing on the pup or anything?

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

its odd that its so intermittent. by fiddling around can you find a way to consistently replicate the issue, either by moving wires or pushing on the pup or anything?

No. It just comes and goes

I thought at first something was making contact when everything was squished down into the control cavity. But it also happens with the control panel open

If it was grounding, I would think it would completely cut out. This still has a small amount of output

 

[Mincer]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

A few strands of wire grounding out can cause just a tiny bit of output. I've had that happen to me, and it drove me crazy trying to track it down.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

FWIW I've had a bad positive solder joint behave as described.

In my case it was the pickup black/positive to the volume pot (my situation was a Les Paul)

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

While the guitar is plugged in (so you can hear what happens) wiggle every wire connection and lug and wiggle the wire coming from the pup. Don't just gently wiggle the wires, but wiggle them as if you're trying to pull them off (don't worry, if they are soldered correctly they won't come off. But if they are not soldered very good, you WANT them to come off so you can resolder them correctly).

 

[Howie]

Re: Issue with Pearly Gates Bridge

So, I emailed SD about the issue, and they said it sounded like a faulty pickup. I could return it for repair.

Fast forward to yesterday, and I finally had time to take the guitar apart and pull the pickup.

When it took the pickup out, it appeared that the lead wire was wedged under the pickup leg, and the leg had cut through the sheathing of the lead.

So, I'm assuming now it was making contact with the ground and/or another wire and shorting itself out. That would certainly explain the intermittent nature of the problem, as it was probably making contact at certain times and not making contact at other times.

I'm going to try to remove the sheathing and see if the sheathing on any of the individual wires was also cut.

I ultimately decided on different pickups for the guitar in question, so I won't know for sure until I install the Pearly Gates in something else.