New neck humbucker install sounds strange

LoveMyIbanez

LoveMyIbanez

New member
Hello all. I recently had a new humbucker installed in the neck of a guitar (Dmz Air Classic to replace Bluesbucker). I paid someone else to install it, as my eyes are terrible, and Dimarzio uses ridiculously thin wires in their pups.
When I tried it out, I noticed the new pup sounds muffled like the tone control is dialed back 1/4 of the way. Volume is fine, just muffled, and no dynamics: like it barely picks up light picking. My guitar has a master tone, and the bridge bucker sounds fine. Could a bad solder point have this effect, or is it more likely a bad pickup? Any ideas?

I'll likely try resoldering it myself on my next day off, but I really have trouble with soldering. I don't want to take it back to the same shop, as it took them forever.

Thank you for any light anyone can shed on this weirdness!
 
If the pickup sounds right in all pots full on, it's not the pickup but the wiring or the components used. Sounds you like a treble bleed on the volume and a different cap on the mastertone pot.
Rant: I think a mastertone is generally a bad idea. No position sounds right with both pickups. I have a Hamer Special where I swapped the Mastertone to a bridge only tone pot.
 
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hamerfan said:
If the pickup sounds right in all pots full on, it's not the pickup but the wiring or the components used. Sounds you like a treble bleed on the volume and a different cap on the mastertone pot.
Rant: I think a mastertone is generally a bad idea. No position sounds right with both pickups. I have a Hamer Special where I swapped the Mastertone to a bridge only tone pot.
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The neck pickup sounds muffled with both volume and tone all the way up (it sounds like the tone is turned down about 1/4 of the way). The bridge pickup sounds normal. I also have a direct switch that bypasses pots, but it doesn't do much of anything to the neck pickup's weird sound, so it's definitely not the pots.
 
Troubleshoot: Does the sweep of the volume pot and tone pot work normally? How about the bridge pickup - does it share the same circuit as the neck pickup?

Insist on service: Seems like you could take it back to the shop and tell them it seems off, and they should take care of it quicker than a brand new install.

FYI: Also remember that you swapped a single coil style pickup for a PAF type pickup so even if its wired right it will sound more muffled and less dynamic.
 
alex1fly said:
Also remember that you swapped a single coil style pickup for a PAF type pickup so even if its wired right it will sound more muffled and less dynamic.
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Thanks for the suggestion alex1fly!

It ended up that there was a poorly connected wire that I resoldered, but it looks like this is the most likely case. I had to change the way I pick to get a "normal-ish" tone: the Bluesbucker has a completely different pick attack to the Air Classic, and even the original humbucker I had in that position. I've actually never heard a humbucker sound this rounded (even a Duncan '59 with an A2 swap had a more crisp pick-attack). I might have to try a '59 in there next.

Thanks once again, all.
 
Dimarzio Air Norton is not a vintage sounding pickup. Its popular in 24 fret super-strats, but otherwise its an 'acquired taste' IMO.

I'm curious which Ibanez guitar you love the most.
 
Teleplayer said:
Dimarzio Air Norton is not a vintage sounding pickup. Its popular in 24 fret super-strats, but otherwise its an 'acquired taste' IMO.

I'm curious which Ibanez guitar you love the most.
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Never cared for an Air Norton. This is an Air Classic. Very vintage: maybe too vintage. I have an AZ-242BCDET. It has the best feeling neck of any guitar I've owned, and I've owned 2 Gibson Les Pauls, a MIJ 50's reissue strat, and a US Ultra strat.
 
New development: I bumped the guitar against my guitar stand, and all the glorious treble I was missing suddenly showed up! :banana:
Actually now there's a bit too much as I'd raised all the screws trying to brighten things up. There must be another poorly-soldered wire in there, or something getting partially grounded that shouldn't be. Mystery (partially, at least) solved! Thanks again all!
 
Sorry I didn't read your earlier post properly where you wrote "Air classic". AZ-242 seems a fine guitar.
 
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Teleplayer said:
Sorry I didn't read your earlier post properly where you wrote "Air classic". AZ-242 seems a fine guitar.
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I figured as much. The Air Classic is a really decent humbucker, now that I can hear it properly. Brighter than expected: actually very similar to the Bluesbucker, just a little more throaty and humbuckery. I think it's a keeper.
 
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