Lots of Noise with New SH-4 JB Humbucker

[MrStanaland]

Can somebody please help me out. I hate guitar hum ALOT and so this is really bothering me. So I have a 7-String Jackson with 2 humbuckers, 1 Volume Knob, 1 Tone Control, and a 3-way Switch. Originally, the guitar had 2 Duncan Designs humbuckers. I replaced the bridge pickup with the SH-4 JB (7 string version).

The problem is that new Seymour Duncan creates about double the noise as the Duncan Designs no matter what I do with the ground. I mean, I love the sound of the SH-4 JB...it's exactly what I was looking for. But the new amount of noise is terrible. I am simply playing in my room...I can't imagine what the noise will be like when the volume is up! My main problem is that I'm forced to be near the computer when recording which causes the noise to sky rocket AND that the noise suppressor can't distinguish between a soft note and the crazy amount of noise.

Wiring:

The red and white are soldered together and taped.

Due to overlap, both of the original humbuckers were completely unsoldered. Then, I resoldered the original like it was (green on switch, black on back of tone pot). I soldered the new SH-4 JB with green & bare on switch and black on pot (like the original). Due to the noise, I used the schematics online and rewired the SH-4 JB with green & bare on back of tone pot and black on the switch (just reversed live wire and ground). Didn't seem to do anything with the noise. I added an extension to the green and bare wires so that I could try grounding it to different places, but they all seem to have the same noise. Also, the noise does go away in very certain positions of the guitar, so that makes me feel that it is not a grounding problem. Could it just be that the Sh-4 JB just picks up more noise than the Duncan Designs???

Also, it seems the guitar produces less noise with the switch in position 2 (both humbuckers on). Does this signify any polarity problem? I'm not sure if this matters or helps, but the adjustable pole pieces on the neck pickup face the neck and the ones on the bridge face the bridge. Also, when the ground was completely disconnected the pickup worked just a little...is this normal?

Just give me your suggestions and or knowledge. I've been working on this for days mainly to try to learn from it. If I can't figure anything out, I can always take it to get worked on professionally...but I don't think I'll learn much from that.

 

[GRC]

Re: Lots of Noise with New SH-4 JB Humbucker

It doesn't matter what you do to the wiring if you are going to be in front of the computer. The wiring of your house can make noise, flourescent lights, all kinds of stuff. The way it sounds, you've got it wired right.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Lots of Noise with New SH-4 JB Humbucker

The JB isn't inherently noisey so lets look at a couple of things.

Disconnect the leads from the guitar. Get ahold of an ohm meter and measure the resistance across the black and white wires. Do the same across the green and red wires. You should get a reading of aprox 8k ohms for both of these readings. If you do then good, if not then that is your problem. It is possible that the leads were connected incorrectly at the factory and we can sort that out.

Assuming that the leads are correct, at least per bobbin (proper readings) try connecting the JB directly to the output jack. Connect the black to the tip terminal, the green, plain and bridge ground to the sleeve terminal. If the hum goes away you most likely over-heated a pot when you were lifting and re-attaching the ground wires to the pot chassis.

If the noise doesn't go away when you attach the JB to the jack, try switching the red and green wires. The coils may be wired incorrectly on one coil which would make the HB properly phased but the wind directions would match, making the HB no longer hum cancelling.

One of those three things should indicate what your problem is.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Lots of Noise with New SH-4 JB Humbucker

I always face away from the computer, or turn the monitor off when recording. CRT monitors make TONS of noise.

 

[kite73]

Re: Lots of Noise with New SH-4 JB Humbucker

I did word to word what you just said with SH-2n Jazz. The hub connected straight to jack socket , just like pedal output. Same result. Any other possible things to check. Resistance measured. Black and white=3.92kOm, Red and Green = 3.78kOm.