I have an Ibanez RG421 guitar with the Dimebucker in the bridge and the 59 bridge pickup in the neck (Dimebag signature set). I have these set up on the Ibanez 5 way switch. When I switch to the neck pickup, it sounds significantly quieter than the bridge pickup. I also noticed there is no hum when I switch to the bridge, and a slight hum when I switch to the neck. Any idea on what may be the issue?
Quiet neck pickup
- Thread starter Fader138
- Start date
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Quiet neck pickup
When things are cramped like that, sometimes something that's ground can come in contact with a signal wire. My guess is that the red and white to the 59 are getting grounded out, putting the 59 into single coil mode, which will make it quieter and allow it to hum.
If that isn't it, check your solder joints.
If that isn't it, check to see that the pickup and electronics are functioning properly.
When things are cramped like that, sometimes something that's ground can come in contact with a signal wire. My guess is that the red and white to the 59 are getting grounded out, putting the 59 into single coil mode, which will make it quieter and allow it to hum.
If that isn't it, check your solder joints.
If that isn't it, check to see that the pickup and electronics are functioning properly.
Re: Quiet neck pickup
I feel like single coil mode is the biggest possibility here. When I switch the 5 way selector to in between the neck and middle position(parallel), the tone sounds comically weak and wimpy as well. How would I go about fixing that assuming its not a solder joint or electronic issue. The hum i am hearing in the neck position sounds like a single coil hum over a grounding buzz to me. I am far from an expert in this field tho; quite the opposite. I find the Ibanez 5 way switch to be confusing compared to the 3 way switches I am used to. Notice one pick up has the red and white wires together, but another pickup has the red and white wires separate. The white wire is connected to a red wire that connects the switch to itself, and the red wire is soldered one spot below that. Might have something to do with Parallel I'm not sure. I just know a bridge pick up in the neck should be a lot louder than it is. even a 59. I spaced the wires out to make sure nothing was coming in contact with another wire and making sure there wasn't a burn from the iron exposing wire to another wire. All looked good in that regard.
I feel like single coil mode is the biggest possibility here. When I switch the 5 way selector to in between the neck and middle position(parallel), the tone sounds comically weak and wimpy as well. How would I go about fixing that assuming its not a solder joint or electronic issue. The hum i am hearing in the neck position sounds like a single coil hum over a grounding buzz to me. I am far from an expert in this field tho; quite the opposite. I find the Ibanez 5 way switch to be confusing compared to the 3 way switches I am used to. Notice one pick up has the red and white wires together, but another pickup has the red and white wires separate. The white wire is connected to a red wire that connects the switch to itself, and the red wire is soldered one spot below that. Might have something to do with Parallel I'm not sure. I just know a bridge pick up in the neck should be a lot louder than it is. even a 59. I spaced the wires out to make sure nothing was coming in contact with another wire and making sure there wasn't a burn from the iron exposing wire to another wire. All looked good in that regard.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Quiet neck pickup
I don't know what diagram you're working from or how your switch works. But if you can confirm that it's wired correctly according to the diagram and the diagram is sound then I'd try redoing your solder joints.
For the 59 to work in full series mode, the red and white have to get connected somehow. Either directly, or by the switch. So if your diagram is right and the red and white are supposed to go to separate terminals but the switch connects them, then I'd redo the solder joints.
I don't know what diagram you're working from or how your switch works. But if you can confirm that it's wired correctly according to the diagram and the diagram is sound then I'd try redoing your solder joints.
For the 59 to work in full series mode, the red and white have to get connected somehow. Either directly, or by the switch. So if your diagram is right and the red and white are supposed to go to separate terminals but the switch connects them, then I'd redo the solder joints.
