Howdy folks! So, recently I got a Squier HH strat for Christmas and of course I tried to switch the pickups for something better. I bought a pair of Dimarzio pickups, one air norton for the neck and a super distortion for the bridge. Weeks later they arrived and I got em installed, but much to my dismay they sounded awful. The air norton I thought was going to be fat and clear, but I got thin and weak. Maybe I got a defective one, but it sounded like a single coil. Similar story with the super distortion. I thought it was going to be big, fat, and cutting. It was thin, nasal, bright, and gritty. Overall just weak and gross. So, I took the pickups out and I'm in the process of trying to send them back and get em changed or refunded so I need some advice. I'm looking for a nice, fat neck pickup that's clear and has some good sustain and good cut. Mostly same for the bridge, I want a good thick, fat, beefy tone that has good harmonics and enough high end for some sparkle. A good fluid lead tone .I was thinking on getting the JB/Jazz set but I don't know how good it will sound in my guitar. In the Dimarzio domain I was looking at something like the liquifire for the neck mainly. For the bridge I was thinking either the Air Zone, At-1, or maybe the gravity storm. The guitar has a basswood body and a rosewood fingerboard. It's fairly light and resonant, but it's also kind of bright. So the pickups need some beef. I look at the gravity storm set, but I'm worried about them not having enough high end. I'm just at a loss because I've heard that basswood can be a finicky wood to work with because of how pickups in them are often hit or miss. I'm running this through a Peavey Classic 30 with a WGS Reaper, JJ EL844s, and TAD 12AX7S. Also have a bbe green screamer and a rangemaster treble booster clone to boost.
Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
- Thread starter Arkas6767
- Start date
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
Are positive that you definitely had the DiMarzios wired correctly? The poor sound you describe is a classic symptom of improper wiring, or a short or other problem inside the control cavity. What about the pickup height adjustment?
Are positive that you definitely had the DiMarzios wired correctly? The poor sound you describe is a classic symptom of improper wiring, or a short or other problem inside the control cavity. What about the pickup height adjustment?
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
I haven't tried those models of pickup before, but I know DiMarzio makes good products, and I wouldn't expect a Super Distortion to sound like that. What to do? You could put a set of Invaders in it.
I haven't tried those models of pickup before, but I know DiMarzio makes good products, and I wouldn't expect a Super Distortion to sound like that. What to do? You could put a set of Invaders in it.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
I was just trying to think of pickups that wouldn't sound thin and weak. '59 neck and Custom 8 bridge. I still feel like there is something else going on and would like to know what others make of it.
I was just trying to think of pickups that wouldn't sound thin and weak. '59 neck and Custom 8 bridge. I still feel like there is something else going on and would like to know what others make of it.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
This statement is tantamount to an admission that you do not know how to tell whether the installation is good or not.
This statement is tantamount to an admission that the shop guitar tech cannot tell whether the installation is any good or not either!
Normally, at this point in a troubleshooting thread, it is customary to request photographs of the unsatisfactory wiring. Obviously, in this instance, this is not possible.
SD and DiMarzio use the same four colours to code the output conductors of their humbucking pickups BUT in a different order. The sonic shortcomings described above are what would be expected if DiMarzios had been installed according to a Seymour Duncan schematic diagram.
This statement is tantamount to an admission that you do not know how to tell whether the installation is good or not.
This statement is tantamount to an admission that the shop guitar tech cannot tell whether the installation is any good or not either!
Normally, at this point in a troubleshooting thread, it is customary to request photographs of the unsatisfactory wiring. Obviously, in this instance, this is not possible.
SD and DiMarzio use the same four colours to code the output conductors of their humbucking pickups BUT in a different order. The sonic shortcomings described above are what would be expected if DiMarzios had been installed according to a Seymour Duncan schematic diagram.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
If possible,I'd take it back to the shop first.
If possible,I'd take it back to the shop first.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
Er, just to clarify. You purchased pickups via mail order then took them to a local shop (i.e. NOT the retailer from whom you purchased the pickups) to have them installed by their guitar tech.
Is that local shop an authorised DiMarzio dealer? :scratchch
Er, just to clarify. You purchased pickups via mail order then took them to a local shop (i.e. NOT the retailer from whom you purchased the pickups) to have them installed by their guitar tech.
Is that local shop an authorised DiMarzio dealer? :scratchch
iamthesuck
New member
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
I'd guess wiring issue. The odds of both pickups having a defect are low. But I'm not sure, you'll need to try again with new pickups I suppose. We can check your wiring.
I'd guess wiring issue. The odds of both pickups having a defect are low. But I'm not sure, you'll need to try again with new pickups I suppose. We can check your wiring.
chadd
New member
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
I'm with you on this. The odds are against both being defective in the same way, it's much more likely that the tech messed up the colors and wired them incorrectly.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
^^^^^^
+ another
Prolly installer error.
I'd get 'em to make it right.
Shouldn't have any trouble with the DiMs,neither should sound as described.
^^^^^^
+ another
Prolly installer error.
I'd get 'em to make it right.
Shouldn't have any trouble with the DiMs,neither should sound as described.
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
The more I think about it, it does sound like it was installed incorrectly. Interestingly enough I did go back to the store (who is a Dimarzio dealer BTW) and I asked the guy if they were installed wrong and he said he followed the wiring diagram that came with the humbuckers. So I wasn't about to just call him a liar, but I did have some reservations. Here's a question though, if the pickups were accidentally wired out of phase would the middle position sound normal? The neck and bridge positions by themselves sounded weak and wrong, but the middle position sounded like how I imagine it should, thick and full. Sorry for the late reply guys, I had been out of power and internet for the past few days because of the weather.
The more I think about it, it does sound like it was installed incorrectly. Interestingly enough I did go back to the store (who is a Dimarzio dealer BTW) and I asked the guy if they were installed wrong and he said he followed the wiring diagram that came with the humbuckers. So I wasn't about to just call him a liar, but I did have some reservations. Here's a question though, if the pickups were accidentally wired out of phase would the middle position sound normal? The neck and bridge positions by themselves sounded weak and wrong, but the middle position sounded like how I imagine it should, thick and full. Sorry for the late reply guys, I had been out of power and internet for the past few days because of the weather.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
This would be symptomatic of connecting the coils of each pickup in parallel and electrically out-of-phase with each other.
It would also be symptomatic of degaused bar magnets.
The proper test is to directly compare the official wiring schematic diagram with what can be seen in your instrument. Did you retain the DiMarzio packaging?
Several points here.
1) Saying, "I followed the supplied diagram" is a poor answer. It shifts responsibility to the diagram and to Dimarzio. Obviously, diagrams sometimes contain errors BUT an experienced tech should spot these. An experienced tech should also be able to talk you through the wiring and explain why it is correct.
2) Did you buy your pickups from the shop that installed them for you? This is important. Some dealerships refuse to work on goods that they did not supply. It is possible that your local DiMarzio outlet was pissed off that you did not purchase through them. They exacted revenge by deliberately messing up the installation.
3) It is perfectly possible that the guitar shop tech is simply not competent or confident in his own work.
One other matter. You have not mentioned the selector switch for the Squier guitar. Is it a simple three-way lever, selecting neck/both/bridge or a five-way with some fancy coil split tricks going on?
This would be symptomatic of connecting the coils of each pickup in parallel and electrically out-of-phase with each other.
It would also be symptomatic of degaused bar magnets.
The proper test is to directly compare the official wiring schematic diagram with what can be seen in your instrument. Did you retain the DiMarzio packaging?
Several points here.
1) Saying, "I followed the supplied diagram" is a poor answer. It shifts responsibility to the diagram and to Dimarzio. Obviously, diagrams sometimes contain errors BUT an experienced tech should spot these. An experienced tech should also be able to talk you through the wiring and explain why it is correct.
2) Did you buy your pickups from the shop that installed them for you? This is important. Some dealerships refuse to work on goods that they did not supply. It is possible that your local DiMarzio outlet was pissed off that you did not purchase through them. They exacted revenge by deliberately messing up the installation.
3) It is perfectly possible that the guitar shop tech is simply not competent or confident in his own work.
One other matter. You have not mentioned the selector switch for the Squier guitar. Is it a simple three-way lever, selecting neck/both/bridge or a five-way with some fancy coil split tricks going on?
DKSEARS
New member
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
This was my thought. I own a couple of each of these pickups in different guitars and the description of thin and weak are the last words I'd use to describe them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This was my thought. I own a couple of each of these pickups in different guitars and the description of thin and weak are the last words I'd use to describe them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Squier HH Strat Pickup Replacement
The wiring needs to be sorted out first. Your expectations as to what the pickups should sound like are based on what others have found, therefore you should first assume that the wiring was done incorrectly.
If the guy said "I followed the diagram provided" but didn't take a second look to see if there might be problems, then that in itself is a problem. Everyone makes mistakes, even the best of us.
Some of the people here have soldered in literally hundreds of their own pickups. You would really benefit from all the people here who want to help you by posting photos. is there a way you can take photos and get them posted here?
The wiring needs to be sorted out first. Your expectations as to what the pickups should sound like are based on what others have found, therefore you should first assume that the wiring was done incorrectly.
If the guy said "I followed the diagram provided" but didn't take a second look to see if there might be problems, then that in itself is a problem. Everyone makes mistakes, even the best of us.
Some of the people here have soldered in literally hundreds of their own pickups. You would really benefit from all the people here who want to help you by posting photos. is there a way you can take photos and get them posted here?
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