Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

[Empty Pockets]

How come everybody says the DiMarzio Super Distortion is a 'chunky, hi-output' pickup...the one i have wired in my Warmoth is terribly thin and trebley, I have to cut the highs on my amp to about 3 and turn the bass up to TEN, as well as turn on the deep switch. Could something be wired wrong, being that my neck pup is a Duncan '59? I had a pretty experienced tech do the work so I doubt he wired it out of phase but.............i'd rather have to re-solder something than go buy a new pickup.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

I would guess that its wired wrong... the superd isnt the bassiest pickup in the world but it sure isnt thin... If i remember right it would be out of phase to the 59 in the neck... What colours are wired to where on both pickups?

 

[Artie]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

Hey EP; the question of phase is only relevant to use with another pup. If you notice a drastic change when you go from the pup by itself, to use with the "other" pup - thats a phase problem. If it sounds the same as when its by itself - it isn't a phase problem.

 

[BornToShred]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

Maybe he accidentally wired the coils in parallel instead of series?
Phase only affects the sound in the middle position.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

Hey EP; the question of phase is only relevant to use with another pup. If you notice a drastic change when you go from the pup by itself, to use with the "other" pup - thats a phase problem. If it sounds the same as when its by itself - it isn't a phase problem.

Not so, Artie. On four-wire humbuckers (and I believe ALL Superdistortions are 4-wire these days) you can wire the individual coils out of phase. This will make the pickup sound very weak and thin. It also defeats the humbucking nature of the pickup - the 2 coils hum will actually add together, rather than subtract.

Is this pickup noisy as well as thin-sounding? Have your tech check the color code for the DiMarzio; I'll bet one of the coils is wired in backwards.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

Hey EP; the question of phase is only relevant to use with another pup. If you notice a drastic change when you go from the pup by itself, to use with the "other" pup - thats a phase problem. If it sounds the same as when its by itself - it isn't a phase problem.

Not necessarily. He could have the coils out of phase with each other.


EP, The color codes aren't the same for Dimarzio as they are Duncan. Check the instruction that came with or the Dimarzio site for the wiring Diagram.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

Ahh yeah, it's very thin and hums a lot, i'll have to bust out my soldering iron when i get home from school and check the wires 'n' stuff...

-X

 

[SABOTAGE]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

for full series humbucking wire the Super as follows,
red= HOT
black+white= twisted together and taped back
green and bare= GROUND

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

I think you wired it wrong, maybe you used the duncan codes!
And if you wire Duncan & DiMarzio together you have to reverse the hot and ground wires of one pickup.

 

[Artie]

Re: Superdistortion...whaaat is going on?

Not so, Artie. On four-wire humbuckers (and I believe ALL Superdistortions are 4-wire these days) you can wire the individual coils out of phase.

Not necessarily. He could have the coils out of phase with each other.

Ooops . . . yup. You're both exactly correct. I forgot to consider that possibility. :smack: