Volume drop in notch position?

[disturb]

Why is there such a volume drop when combining the neck and middle singles on a strat? The volume is nice, clear, and powerful in the bridge alone, bridge/middle, middle alone, and neck alone positions. In the neck/middle position, it's clear, but substantially lower in volume. The pickups are Dimarzio Blue Velvets, neck & middle, and a JB Jr. in the bridge.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Volume drop in notch position?

Is the neck pickup wired out of phase with the middle pickup?

 

[disturb]

Re: Volume drop in notch position?

No, I checked the polarity. It sounds clear, just more acousticy. No wierd tone, like when it's out of phase.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Volume drop in notch position?

Well a big part of your problem is the JBjr. is rated at almost 17k and the Dimarzio Blue Velvets are just hair over 6k. So yes in terms of output, the JBjr is going to be A LOT louder than the Blue Velvet singles.

I also find it hard to believe that your pickups aren't out of phase somewhere. I've never been able to get Duncans to be in phase w/ Dimarzio's using stock wiring schemes. I'd switch the green and black leads on the Duncan and see if that helps as well.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Volume drop in notch position?

Like the guys said, the pickups could be out of phase. I believe Duncans and Dimarzio single coils are out of phase with each other when wired according to the wiring diagrams from each manufacturer. You might want to reverse the wires on the JB JR. and see if the sound improves.

Is it only when the JB JR is combined with the Dimarzios that you're having this problem? If so, the JB JR is out of phase with the Dimarzios.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Volume drop in notch position?

There is a level of mid cancellation that happens when any two pickups are connected in parallel. The closer the pickups are to each other the more noticeable the effect.

Try lowering the middle pickup a little and see if that helps your levels.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Volume drop in notch position?

Neck + Middle is a very clucky, airy combination, in part because they are wired in parallel, and two parallel coils are always going to be quieter than one coil alone or two in series.