Jackson w/HB10n-HB103b pots question

[Jarrodpimentals]

Hello. I purchased a Jackson Scott ian kvt that came with DD HB103 pickups. I don’t mind the tone but I’ve noticed that they are weak compared to my other guitars, I’m thinking they might be running like 10k pots or something. My plan is to either run higher pots to push them or I’ll just get a full kit of jb/jazz with new pots. I do also wonder if I had higher pots with it would just accentuate them cheap sound of the DD. I’m not a luthier at all so I don’t know what I’m talking about and I can’t find any real specs on what I have so I’d appreciate anyone with knowledge in this department dropping some knowledge. Thanks very much.

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!
The DD HB103 set was patterned after the Distortion set, so they are pretty hot. The pots should be 500k in there (if you look at them, you might see their value stamped on there). Pot value doesn't boost output...they either roll off volume at a different rate, or roll off highs (for the tone knob). So what kind of sound are you looking for?

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

Ok good to know. I was slightly misinformed about what higher pots would do. I may be in the market for better pick Ups is all then. The tone is fine, I can work with it but the output is like 60% of what my burstbuckers provide on my main guitar.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Try raising the pickups so they're closer to the strings.

 

[Artie]

HB103's should definitely NOT be weak. I wonder if there's some other issue?

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

I have them max height. About 1/8” from the strings. The tone isn’t weak it’s the volume. Really feels like it’s a weak cheap pick up compared to my burstbuckers and honestly I have a dean with standard dean pickups that are also louder output. If no one has any other theories I’m just going to buy a whole new set of pickups a guess and chalk these up to being cheap China pickups.

 

[Mincer]

Do you have a meter to test the pickups? If they are that weak, something is wrong. No matter where they came from, they shouldn't sound like that.

 

[beaubrummels]

Duncan Designed HB103s are not stock for that guitar. Someone replaced them. I don't believe the stock wiring has splits, so I would expect the JB/59 that was in there were braided single conductor. My guess is they got the wire colors wrong when putting in the DDs.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

This is the “mid price” Scott ian and it’s said to come with these pickups on Jackson’s website.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

I could test the pickups I have a meter but o don’t know what they should be reading.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

Ok. I had a friend come over and he is saying and I now agree that these pickups are just more highs and mids and my burstbuckers are more low so I feel like there is more volume. It’s relative to where I’m standing at my amp. When I stand right in front I notice it now. Basically I’m an idiot.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

So they are still less output from the Gibson’s but not as dramatic as I thought based on how I have my amp EQd I just wasn’t hearing the highs so much.

 

[Mincer]

I'd still be interested on what their reading is (and if they are wired correctly)...they should be pretty loud.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

When I change strings I’ll pull the pick guard and test it

 

[beaubrummels]

Distortions are more output than Burstbuckers, and IME it's very obvious when switching between those pickups in the same guitar. Something else sounds like it might be off.

 

[nexion218]

Duncan Designed HB103s are not stock for that guitar. Someone replaced them. I don't believe the stock wiring has splits, so I would expect the JB/59 that was in there were braided single conductor. My guess is they got the wire colors wrong when putting in the DDs.

Hah, nice observation! But why would someone swap in a DD set into a USA Jackson???? Unless it is a KVXT, in which case the DD would be stock. My guess would be that the perceived loudness of the higher frequencies could be tricking OP into hearing it as quieter...

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

Hah, nice observation! But why would someone swap in a DD set into a USA Jackson???? Unless it is a KVXT, in which case the DD would be stock. My guess would be that the perceived loudness of the higher frequencies could be tricking OP into hearing it as quieter...

Many many apologies. My model is certainly the KVXT. And to confirm the hb103 certainly have less output than the burstbuckers. No doubt about this at all. Maybe 10-15% less only and then the perceived loss due to high frequency of the pickups themselves compared to the full bass range of the burstbuckers.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

I tested the dcr output of HB103 bridge reads 15.96. The burstbuckers bridge is 7.89. I have no idea what that means.

 

[Jarrodpimentals]

Also double checked the pots are in fact 500k

 

[Artie]

I'm just going to buy a whole new set of pickups a guess and chalk these up to being cheap China pickups.

Just as an FYI, Duncan Designed's are from S. Korea. Not China.