Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

[Asomodai]

Well basically i have had huge electronics issues with the guitar since receiving it.

Here is a E-mail i just sent jackson.

Hello.

My names Rob i am from the UK, I recently started playing guitar again. I bought a Jackson Warrior WRMG, which i was very happy with. So happy, i decided to buy Jackson again.

I picked up a Jackson RR5 from Reverb/Sound Control Bristol UK.

I got it home and realised that there was a huge wiring problem.

When i have both volumes up and switch on the bridge position, the neck pickup is still on, but at half volume. If i turn the neck volume right down, it sounds better, but still sounds as if the bridge pickup hasent got alot of bite. Anyway, I did a little investigating and realised that this was a common problem.

The tone pot appears to be wired as if the bridge volume. And the neck pickup has been wired to the bridge pot. Not only that, the tone capictor is on the wrong prong and the Switch/Pickup prongs on each volume is on the wrong way. Which causes the above problems.

Here is a homemade rough diagram of what it was like.

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/815/wiringrr5.jpg

And a diagram that is correct.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_1t_3w

Why is there such a large discrepency between the recommended SD pickup wiring diagram and the Jacksons (Which although makes a sound, does not sound great?)


Luckily i am a little handy with the soldering iron so i managed to sort the wiring out and now both pickups work as they should, However i still felt that the bridge pickup sounded muddy. Looked at the pickups, and for some reason i had a SD TB-4 in the bridge position. Which whilst it is a bridge pickup, they are built for wider spacing that a tremelo equipped guitar would have use for. This being a fixed bridge i was baffled, and also explains why there is a real muffled tone from the pickup. Why is there not a SH4 in the Bridge as well as the neck? I cannot use the TB-4 in anyway in the bridge position or the neck position. It is far too muffled.

Honestly for a 1400 dollar (£900+over here) Japanese built guitar, i was very dissapointed. The warrior was wired far better and i have had zero problems with the EMGs.

Is there anything you can do to help me?

Cheers. Rob.

I am very unhappy about this. I thought considering this being a more expensive guitar it would be of better quality then Warrior i recieved. But at the moment the Epi SG i received from a fellow MR member was far far better in quality.

Will keep you up to date with any correspondence.

Rob.

 

[jasona84]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

This isn't the first time I've heard about this problem on a RR5. Good luck man! Sorry about the disappointment.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

Do the strings still cross the poles evenly? It is possible to mount a tuneomatic bridge at less of an angle so the string spacing matches a Trembucker.

The wiring does sound screwed up, but rather than asking for Jackson to kick you a small refund for fixing the problems, perhaps you should have invoked the return policy instead?

 

[Asomodai]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

Do the strings still cross the poles evenly? It is possible to mount a tuneomatic bridge at less of an angle so the string spacing matches a Trembucker.

The wiring does sound screwed up, but rather than asking for Jackson to kick you a small refund for fixing the problems, perhaps you should have invoked the return policy instead?

Yes it crosses the poles evenly.

To return it, i would have to pay for it to be shipped to Jackson, yaddah yaddah plus i am in the UK.

It cost me £10 to buy a Soldering iron and do the wiring myself, I already waited weeks to get the factory setup sorted out and just want to play it. However now i have mismatched pickups, I am hoping to just get jackson to send the correct pickup out to me in exchange for the Tb-4.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

I was referring to the store return policy that you bought it from.

If it was not purchased new from a dealer, Jackson has no obligation. Since you've already been under the hood, they owe you nothing since all they have is your word vs their Quality Assurance policy.

Sell/trade the TB-4, sort out the wiring, live happy.

 

[Asomodai]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

I was referring to the store return policy that you bought it from.

If it was not purchased new from a dealer, Jackson has no obligation. Since you've already been under the hood, they owe you nothing since all they have is your word vs their Quality Assurance policy.

Sell/trade the TB-4, sort out the wiring, live happy.

It was purchased new. They wont take it back, they say it was a manufacturing error. I have to send it back to Jackson myself. I am sure i am getting the run around. Other then the electronics issues i love the guitar, its very lightweight and has a lovely neck. I would rather keep this guitar but have the electronics sorted, then have another guitar of unknown quality.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

^^ Didn´t read the whole thread, but traditionally Rhoads have a master volume and 2 TONES.

Also, the use of a TB-4 at the bridge of an RR5 is absolutely OK because the bridge has a wider spacing than a traditional tune-o-matic. If you were to put an SH-4 in there, it would (usually) line up worse than a tb. Assuming that a TB is for trem equipped guitars only is 100% false. They are made to compensate for wider string spacing, such as that found on most Trems and many modern Tune-o-Matics.

If hte string spacing at the height of the bridge PU is under 2", a standard spaced will line up better. if it is 2" or over, a TB is proper.

The muffled tone is also almost certainyl not a product of that "issue", but of a knackered pot.

It was purchased new. They wont take it back, they say it was a manufacturing error. I have to send it back to Jackson myself. I am sure i am getting the run around......

The store not doing the RMA work for you is in direct violation of multiple EU directives and as such they can be massively fined and possibly even shut down for it. A good Barrister would be in order, here.

However, as soon as you touched the electronics with a soldering Iron you voided the warranty at least as far as the electronics go, so JCMI has no obligation whatsoever anymore to attend to this issue..

What I see here is the shop giving you the run around, a few issues not being issues at all, and you shafting yourself by taking matters into your own hands....

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

The muffled tone is also almost certainyl not a product of that "issue", but of a knackered pot.

I agree. I've used the SH & TB versions of the same pickups many times, and have heard extremely negligible differences in the sound.

Also, the RR5 is advertised as being loaded with TB-4 pickups.

 

[Asomodai]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

I agree. I've used the SH & TB versions of the same pickups many times, and have heard extremely negligible differences in the sound.

Also, the RR5 is advertised as being loaded with TB-4 pickups.

They have many different RR5's, this particular one was advertised on the stores website as having two SH-4's

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

^^ This is incorrect.. the RR5 has remained unchanged since it´s introduction over 10 years ago (in ´96 to be exact).

Specs have ALWAYS been: MIJ, Maple Neckthru alder wings, 22 fret rosewood fretboard with MoTO sharkfins and jumbo frets, tune o matic, string thru V-tailpiece, gold hardware, SH-4@ Neck, TB-4 @ bridge. Available finishes: white with gold pinstripes and black with gold pinstripes. I don´t even need a catalog to recite this after all these years... These are the defining features of an RR5.

In other words, EVERY RR5 in existence looks exactly like yours#, in either white or black. Period. Any dealer that says different needs to look at 12 years worth of brochures and the Jackson websites of the last few years and reassure themselves oif what they´re selling.

The ONLY other neckthru Jackson Rhoads models in existence bearing an "RR" designation (either previous or current production) are the RR24 (MIJ, singlehum, 24 frets, Floyd Rose, introduced about 3 years ago), RR24M (singlehum, 24 frets, Floyd Rose, maple fretboard, introduced last year IIRC), KBRR (Keven Bond signature model, mahogany body and neck, ebony fretboard, singlehum, 22 frets, Tune-o matic, pentagram inlays) and the USA made RR1 series.

Any MIJ Rhoads from before that period will say "Professional" on the headstock, and any current RHoads that is not neckthru cannot be an RR5.

Again, anybody that wishes to denounce this can gladly come over and peruse 15 years of Jackson brochures and websites

 

[Asomodai]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

Maybe its because i dont like the tone of the pup.

I currently downtune C to C, I use 12's and go through a Marshall mode four half stack. the TD-4 sounds very muddy on the lower strings. I hear that the TD-4 may get quite muddy on downtuned guitars. What do you guys think? I play Death metal, which requires a grindy palm mute tone. The TD doesant get that, it's very warm. Almost sounds like a neck pup when palm muted (EQWise) Does my description of the pup sound right?

^^ This is incorrect.. the RR5 has remained unchanged since it´s introduction over 10 years ago (in ´96 to be exact)

Specs have ALWAYS been: MIJ, Maple Neckthru alder wings, 22 fret rosewood fretboard with MoTO sharkfins and jumbo frets, tune o matic, string thru V-tailpiece, gold hardware, SH4@ Neck TB-4 @ bridge. Available finishes white with gold pinstripes and black with gold pinstripes. I don´t even need a catalog to recite this after all these years...

Any dealer that says different needs to look at 12 years worth of brochures and the Jackson websites of the last few years.

Also according to the current Jackson website you are wrong.

http://www.jacksonguitars.com/products/specSheet.php?product=2913002877

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

^^ WHOAH!! That honestly just really surprised me, in January (before Namm and the new website) the specs were still as listed. I know because I was researching a leftie version for a buddy that I was sure didn´t exist but he insisted did... I see they added treans black as a finish, too..interesting...

*edit* OOH, and an RR5 with Floyd.. they seem to have started listening after all...

Newc, TJ: you guys are on teh JCF more than I am, did they change the specs during NAMM???

BTW, what you´re desccribing is very typical of "fresh "jb users.. try lowering the pu and raising teh poles.. if that doesn´t get you wherer you want to go (and it lilkely won`t becasue the JB doesn´t "Grind" per se ) then a Duncan Custom or Distortion would probably serve you better.

BTW it´s TBfor TremBucker as opposed to SH for Seymour Humbucker

 

[Asomodai]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

Newc, TJ: you guys are on teh JCF more than I am, did they change the specs during NAMM???

Also guys, get a mod to allow me access to the JCF forums, i applied to join, authenticated my email address and i am still waiting for access from a mod.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

The way it is wired right now, what you are experiencing is quite normal. Take a look at the way Gibsons used to be wired. This is what is called, decoupling the volume controls. It allows you to turn down the volume of one pickup without affecting the other. Perfectly normal in dual volume control guitars.

Now, if you want to change it, it's an easy fix. Just swap the wire going to the switch with the pickup hot lead on each volume pot. However, with it this way, turning down one volume pot will effectively "kill" the entire guitar as if it had one volume.

As for the tone pot, that is wired correctly. There is nothing wrong with having the cap come off the outside lug of the pot rather than the middle. Both ways are correct, it's just preference over one way or the other.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Problems with a jackson RR5 with SD's.

Zerb - Haven't been tracking the RR5, so I can't say what specs changed other than the RR5FR (Floyded).

It is possible they changed the pickups - some other models are now getting real Duncans and real Floyds (FRT2000) as well.