Pickup Problem in Les Paul

J

January_Embers

New member
While playing my Les Paul today, I noticed something very strange when using both pickups (the middle position). When both volumes were all the way up, it was very thin sounding, but if I turned the volume down on the neck pickup at all, it all of a sudden got a lot fatter and louder (with the biggest sound being around 5-6). On their own, both pickups sound fine (well, the Custom-5 in the bridge always sounds thin, but thats a different story I think . . . ). What's up with that? I assume this isn't supposed to happen, right . . . ? Is it an easy fix? Help?
 
Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

Sounds like one of the pups is out-of-phase. Turning down the volume starts to isolate it from the other pup. You'll probably need to reverse the wires on one of the pups.
 
Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

ArtieToo said:
Sounds like one of the pups is out-of-phase. Turning down the volume starts to isolate it from the other pup. You'll probably need to reverse the wires on one of the pups.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree... Did you replace the pickup recently?
 
Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

Yes, sounds like an accidental Peter Green mod, done with wiring instead of magnets. Actually, the original Peter Green mod was an accident too. :)

Check the wiring on both pickups. Assuming you have no coil splitting, you should have the red and white wires soldered together and taped off, the black wire soldered to the lug of the volume pot and the green and bare wires soldered to the back of the volume pot.

EDIT - If the C5 always sounds thin, maybe that's the one that's wired wrongly.
 
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Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

I haven't changed the actual pickups in a while. Unfortunately, my guitar is at the practice studio, but I'll check the wiring tonight. Thanks guys.
 
Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

I'm looking at my guitar right now, and while I'm no expert at all, it looks like its wired correctly. I think my neck pickup is single conductor; its just one silver braided strand that is soldered to the volume pot and then the end of it is soldered to the lug. So, what else could it be? Could it be something with the magnets? Help!?
 
Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

Could be...

How many conductors does the bridge pickcup have? Which models and brands are they? This info it is important...
 
Re: Pickup Problem in Les Paul

mongrollo said:
Could be...

How many conductors does the bridge pickcup have? Which models and brands are they? This info it is important...
Click to expand...


if they are not both duncans they can be wired correctly and still be out of phase. if the bridge is 4 conductor i would suggest changing that around a little, it will be easier than messing with the braided cable
 
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