Pickup combo problem

[Aceman]

So I have two pickups that refuse to play nice:

Neck: DiMarzio PAF of unknown age (potentially 70's....)

Bridge: 59/Custom Hybrid (Build by Odie)

(Both double cream...)

Here is the issue: The neck output is weak. As in sounds like it is parallel or something. And just for fun.....

Either pickup sounds fine on its own. PAF can be wired in solo - all good. %(/C works just fine on it's own. But when BOTH are hooked up, the PAF is just tragically weak.


Now - I know we have a SD/DMZ issue. But no wire swap combo works!!!! What's the deal?!?!?!?!?!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Pickup combo problem

Some component you have in the neck circuit is fried.....assuming when you say hooking the neck only means you have done it to the jack.
Or, maybe some part of the grounding of the second pickup is touching a hot for the first.

Either way, its not the pickups but the wiring.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Pickup combo problem

The bridge tone is dominant with both pu's on? No Pagey chirp?

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup combo problem

Switch bad?

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Pickup combo problem

Curious... What DC readings do you get at the jack, for the pickups individually and combined?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup combo problem

I did not do the work - reputable tech; But -

Neck pup hooked up without Bridge connected - Fine
Bridge hooked up without Neck connected - Fine

To their respective pots....

Bridge + neck - not fine

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Pickup combo problem

bridge + neck - out of phase??? Just flip a magnet.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Pickup combo problem

The way I'm reading it is that as soon as the second pickup is connected (to the switch??) things that worked before don't anymore.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickup combo problem

yeah, me too

seems like you are saying the paf is fine when it is the only pup wired up in the guitar but when you solder the other pup in, it loses all its output. is that correct? loses all its output even if the switch is on neck alone?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup combo problem

yeah, me too

seems like you are saying the paf is fine when it is the only pup wired up in the guitar but when you solder the other pup in, it loses all its output. is that correct? loses all its output even if the switch is on neck alone?

Yes - the neck is low output if it is in there. Even if it is the only pup "on." The switch you say??????


This is an intriguing theory....

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Pickup combo problem

Does the resistance measurement at the jack show different if you select only the neck pickup when the bridge pickup is not hooked up, vs. selecting the neck pickup when the bridge is soldered in?

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Pickup combo problem

Check with multimeter in all 3 positions with knobs dimed. DiMarzio PAF should read high 7's to low 8's, 59 about low 7's, together about 3.5 to 4k. (*Note: all will read lower than nominal spec in circuit than when yanked out of the guitar.)

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pickup combo problem

I may just get a new-three way anyway. The current one is a bit "loose" in the action.


And you know me, I'm a bit of a toggle abuser....