Single coil issue - Faulty pickup?

[Dayeeeve]

Hello, I recently rewired one of my guitars, New pot, Switch and mini toggle. I also installed a Quarter Pound in the neck position.

The guitar is fine in the bridge position, no buzzing or hums, Usual 60's cycle hum when split but all is good.

However when I switch to the neck position it has a horrible earth hum, the pickup works but its as if the whole guitar hasn't been grounded. It stops when I touch the bridge or switch etc. Obviously I figured this is a ground issue so I rewire it, no joy. I send it to my tech he rewires it, no joy. It is doing the same thing.

The bridge pickup behaves fine, there is no noise. No earth hum no problems at all but if I switch to the neck pup (Quarter Pound) it buzzes and seems as if the whole guitar now isn't grounded! I have no idea what to do and I am wondering if the pickup is faulty somehow.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am stumped!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Single coil issue - Faulty pickup?

The most likely culprit is the soldering on the switch. Something's touching something somewhere, causing the buzz.

HTH,

 

[DreX]

Re: Single coil issue - Faulty pickup?

It sounds like unwanted resistance in the signal path, which causes exactly what you're describing. It could be caused by a oxidized over selector switch nodes, or it could be a cold solder joint. The problem is somewhere between the selector switch for the neck pickup's connection point, all the way through the pickup, to where the pickup connects back to ground. So it could even be a defect in the coil of the pickup that's causing the resistance. The only way to know is through process of elimination; switch the bridge and neck pickups on the selector and see which pickup the buzzing follows, if either.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Single coil issue - Faulty pickup?

Are you getting signal plus buzz or just buzz?

How are your single coil pickups mounted onto the guitar - suspended through a plate or screwed directly into the body wood? Some guitar pickup cavities are screened with paint, connected to ground via a metal lug, a small screw and a run of insulated wire. This could be making physical contact with the pickup.

 

[Dayeeeve]

Re: Single coil issue - Faulty pickup?

Are you getting signal plus buzz or just buzz?

How are your single coil pickups mounted onto the guitar - suspended through a plate or screwed directly into the body wood? Some guitar pickup cavities are screened with paint, connected to ground via a metal lug, a small screw and a run of insulated wire. This could be making physical contact with the pickup.

I am getting signal and buzz.

This could well be an issue, the pickup is mounted directly to the guitar body, no rings or scratch plate. However the pickup is resting on a layer of foamy stuff (no idea what its called!) so it isn't sitting directly on the wood.


I will try switching the pickups on the switch and determine if it is a cold joint etc. I am pretty sure I tried this however, I have rewired many guitars, I recently did a full rewire on my S-series new pups, pots, switches etc too and it is as quiet as a mouse so I am not completely writing off my soldering ability just yet