Strange P90 Behavior

[WH_AUSTX]

Hey everyone, I have a Les Paul that came with P90's I wanted to upgrade the stock P90s so I had 2 SD Hot P90's installed at Guitar Center. Something isn't right. The bridge pickup sounds great, the neck pickup sounds great. When I have it in the middle position playing both pickups and have both volume knobs on 9 it sounds great. If I move either knob to 10 or below 9 there is a drastic drop off in volume. Anyone ever seen this? Any ideas what's wrong?

Thanks, W

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

If you had it installed at GC, there's no telling what they did. Take and post some pics of the wiring to show clearly all of the connections and we'll see if we can figure it out for you.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

My guess is the pickups were wired out of phase....

Pro tip: NEVER EVER let anyone from Guitar Center work on your guitar.
Anyone with knowledge or skill leaves that ****hole ASAP.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

Yep, out of phase. Thats the standard wiring of Hamer USA guitars. That give you an additional sound without drilling a hole or buying an expensive push/pull pot.

 

[WH_AUSTX]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

I thought it might be out of phase wiring. As for GC, I agree.

Thanks!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

OOP was my first thought too, BUT he said it sounds great when both volumes are at 9 and there's a "drastic" volume drop if either vol pot is increased or decreased. OOP is most oop when the volumes of the pups are equal and becomes less oop as that equality is changed...just the opposite of what he is experiencing.

I wouldn't use the term "drastic", but I have noticed a similar effect with some pups (I can't remember if it was with 50's or modern wiring, however).

 

[Mincer]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

OOP was my first thought too, BUT he said it sounds great when both volumes are at 9 and there's a "drastic" volume drop if either vol pot is increased or decreased. OOP is most oop when the volumes of the pups are equal and becomes less oop as that equality is changed...just the opposite of what he is experiencing.

I wouldn't use the term "drastic", but I have noticed a similar effect with some pups (I can't remember if it was with 50's or modern wiring, however).

This is exactly why it didn't sound like it was out of phase to me. Can we have some pics of what the GC person did in there? It might help clear things up.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Strange P90 Behavior

This is exactly why it didn't sound like it was out of phase to me. Can we have some pics of what the GC person did in there? It might help clear things up.

Yeah, it's absolutely not an OOP problem.