Lil' 59 for tele output problem, Wired to 3-way toggle

[rebel082002]

I put a SD Lil' 59 in the bridge position of my tele and a full size 1959 HB in the neck. I wired the Lil' 59 to a 3-way toggle switch just like the SD wiring diagram shows, I think. The problem is that the switch seems to work, I get 3separate distinctive tones with a hotter series tone, but the output of the pickup is no wear near what I expected from a SD "HOT" pickup. As a matter of fact the 1959 in the neck, which is classified as "Moderate Output" is much louder and drowns it out.

What did I do wrong? Could it be a grounding issue? Could I just have a bad pickup? What else could it be?

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Lil' 59 for tele output problem, Wired to 3-way toggle

I put a SD Lil' 59 in the bridge position of my tele and a full size 1959 HB in the neck. I wired the Lil' 59 to a 3-way toggle switch just like the SD wiring diagram shows, I think. The problem is that the switch seems to work, I get 3separate distinctive tones with a hotter series tone, but the output of the pickup is no wear near what I expected from a SD "HOT" pickup. As a matter of fact the 1959 in the neck, which is classified as "Moderate Output" is much louder and drowns it out.

What did I do wrong? Could it be a grounding issue? Could I just have a bad pickup? What else could it be?

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing is the Lil 59 isn't a "hot" pickup. It's just full-sounding like a PAF. A Hot Rails is much higher-output.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Lil' 59 for tele output problem, Wired to 3-way toggle

^
+1

Much also depends upon how you adjust the height of the two pickups relative to the strings.

Since both of your chosen pickups attempt to emulate the sound of a Gibson PAF humbucker, you are running into the classic Les Paul user's dilemma - namely; that the greater string excursion above the neck pickup creates greater output than is possible from an identical pickup in the bridge position.

The traditional solution is to set the bridge PU close enough to the strings to obtain a good signal then set the neck PU low enough to get a decent balance.

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Lil' 59 for tele output problem, Wired to 3-way toggle

Much also depends upon how you adjust the height of the two pickups relative to the strings.

Since both of your chosen pickups attempt to emulate the sound of a Gibson PAF humbucker, you are running into the classic Les Paul user's dilemma - namely; that the greater string excursion above the neck pickup creates greater output than is possible from an identical pickup in the bridge position.

The traditional solution is to set the bridge PU close enough to the strings to obtain a good signal then set the neck PU low enough to get a decent balance.

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

+1 all the way....