volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
- Thread starter kend410
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
That's normal. Those positions are parallel wiring, which equals lower output.
That's normal. Those positions are parallel wiring, which equals lower output.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
raise your middle pickup as much as you can without warble
raise your middle pickup as much as you can without warble
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
Two points: if you have two tone controls when you combine two pickups that each have their own tone control you also combine the two tone controls. And that results in a loss of treble even when both are on "10". Two 250K tone pots in parallel = 125K or thereabouts. It's why all of my Strats have only one tone control...I think it sounds better that way: brighter and stronger when two pickups are combined.
Regarding raising the middle pickup, the magnetic polepieces will "pull" on the low strings and "pull" them out of tune. The magnetic effect is cumulative and if one pickup is further from the strings there will be less "pulling" on the strings.
I like to keep my middle pickup further from the strings than the neck and bridge pickups for that reason. With the middle pickup further away I can move the neck and bridge pickups a ittle closer to the strings...especially the bridge pickup.
Two points: if you have two tone controls when you combine two pickups that each have their own tone control you also combine the two tone controls. And that results in a loss of treble even when both are on "10". Two 250K tone pots in parallel = 125K or thereabouts. It's why all of my Strats have only one tone control...I think it sounds better that way: brighter and stronger when two pickups are combined.
Regarding raising the middle pickup, the magnetic polepieces will "pull" on the low strings and "pull" them out of tune. The magnetic effect is cumulative and if one pickup is further from the strings there will be less "pulling" on the strings.
I like to keep my middle pickup further from the strings than the neck and bridge pickups for that reason. With the middle pickup further away I can move the neck and bridge pickups a ittle closer to the strings...especially the bridge pickup.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
The neck pickup is the biggest culprit for "Stratitis" though, because the string is easier to pull the farther you get from the end of the string (bridge or nut). You have to set it as low as you can and still have it sound good/loud enough.
But you can get away with it a little higher if it's an A2 or A3 because they're not as strong as A5.
The bridge is the one you can get away with setting the highest.
The neck pickup is the biggest culprit for "Stratitis" though, because the string is easier to pull the farther you get from the end of the string (bridge or nut). You have to set it as low as you can and still have it sound good/loud enough.
But you can get away with it a little higher if it's an A2 or A3 because they're not as strong as A5.
The bridge is the one you can get away with setting the highest.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
Yep. Exactly. I'm able to keep my bridge pickup pretty close to the strings because that pickup is so close to the bridge saddles that the string doesn't move as much.
But the middle pickup does have a strong magnetic pull on the wound strings...maybe not quite as much of an affect as the neck pickup but it still has a negative affect.
I find that if I move the middle pickup further away that I can move the neck pickup a little closer.
That's what I meant about the magnetic pull being cumulative.
It's also a factor (not the ONLY factor) in why Teles sustain and ring a little better than Strats: no middle pickup pulling on the strings in a Tele.
And why an Esquire sustains and rings a little better than a Tele: no neck pickup pulling on the strings in an Esquire.
Yep. Exactly. I'm able to keep my bridge pickup pretty close to the strings because that pickup is so close to the bridge saddles that the string doesn't move as much.
But the middle pickup does have a strong magnetic pull on the wound strings...maybe not quite as much of an affect as the neck pickup but it still has a negative affect.
I find that if I move the middle pickup further away that I can move the neck pickup a little closer.
That's what I meant about the magnetic pull being cumulative.
It's also a factor (not the ONLY factor) in why Teles sustain and ring a little better than Strats: no middle pickup pulling on the strings in a Tele.
And why an Esquire sustains and rings a little better than a Tele: no neck pickup pulling on the strings in an Esquire.
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
Thanks all for the input. It sounds a little bit like trial and error. Fender recommends distances to the pickups but since these are hotter I didn't think those specs would be very helpful. As far as tone, I ran a .47 uf cap and a .01 uf treble bleed cap. I put tone control on the bridge and none in the middle position
The bridge pickup with no tone seemed too bright for me. I run my Strat thru a Kendrick 2410 and it absolutely screams! I will mess with the pick up heights and see what happens. Thanks again
Thanks all for the input. It sounds a little bit like trial and error. Fender recommends distances to the pickups but since these are hotter I didn't think those specs would be very helpful. As far as tone, I ran a .47 uf cap and a .01 uf treble bleed cap. I put tone control on the bridge and none in the middle position
The bridge pickup with no tone seemed too bright for me. I run my Strat thru a Kendrick 2410 and it absolutely screams! I will mess with the pick up heights and see what happens. Thanks again
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Fender_Punk
BerriesAndCreamologist
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
This is sort of off topic, but I always keep my Tele bridge pickup really high, in fact so high that my pick sometimes rubs it when strumming/picking. The bridge pup on my strat is also quite high. I've seen a couple people set their brudge pups low, which is complete lunacy in my mind.
Cool to know about string pull affecting sustain, thanks Lew!
This is sort of off topic, but I always keep my Tele bridge pickup really high, in fact so high that my pick sometimes rubs it when strumming/picking. The bridge pup on my strat is also quite high. I've seen a couple people set their brudge pups low, which is complete lunacy in my mind.
Cool to know about string pull affecting sustain, thanks Lew!
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
So would you say that those Vito Bratta/George Lynch 80s super strats with hum in the bridge, nothing in the middle and a single coil in the neck will have noticebly better sustain than usual HSS super strats?
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
Never played one. But all other things being equal, I would guess yes.
For example, I have a bunch of single bridge pickup Strats with various Trembuckers as the bridge pickup and they all intonate better than my Strats with single coils. Duncan Trembuckers have less string pull than Strat single coils because the magnet is under the coils in a Trembucker or paf style humbucker and the magnets ARE the polepieces in a Strat single coil. IMO, the less string pull from the pickups the better the guitar will intonate and ring. As for how noticeable it will be, that depends on how sensitive the player is. I'm extremely fussy and hear and notice things alot of players don't. Lew
Never played one. But all other things being equal, I would guess yes.
For example, I have a bunch of single bridge pickup Strats with various Trembuckers as the bridge pickup and they all intonate better than my Strats with single coils. Duncan Trembuckers have less string pull than Strat single coils because the magnet is under the coils in a Trembucker or paf style humbucker and the magnets ARE the polepieces in a Strat single coil. IMO, the less string pull from the pickups the better the guitar will intonate and ring. As for how noticeable it will be, that depends on how sensitive the player is. I'm extremely fussy and hear and notice things alot of players don't. Lew
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
Me neither, Artie. I'm sitting here with my Strat (Texas Specials) and as I go from positions 1-5, I don't notice a volume drop. I have the neck and middle set at 8/64" on the bass side and 6/64" on the treble side. The bridge pickup is cranked up a little closer with the treble side still a little closer to the strings.
Me neither, Artie. I'm sitting here with my Strat (Texas Specials) and as I go from positions 1-5, I don't notice a volume drop. I have the neck and middle set at 8/64" on the bass side and 6/64" on the treble side. The bridge pickup is cranked up a little closer with the treble side still a little closer to the strings.
veryhungrycaterpilla
New member
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
Well, do you have an Invader in the bridge? you know, that could be the difference.
Well, do you have an Invader in the bridge? you know, that could be the difference.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
No, it's fully loaded with a set of Texas Specials. I've never had an Invader.
No, it's fully loaded with a set of Texas Specials. I've never had an Invader.
bop/fusion freak
New member
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
there is definitely a volume drop on standard Fender's PUs.
there is definitely a volume drop on standard Fender's PUs.
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bop/fusion freak
New member
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
It definitely happens on my strat. I was wondering if I could use a cap of some sort to keep the volume up?
It definitely happens on my strat. I was wondering if I could use a cap of some sort to keep the volume up?
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bop/fusion freak
New member
Re: volume drop on strat position 2 and 4
in my experience only on single coils together. I have a 3 PUs Les Paul SG 1964 reissue.
I wired it to have 3 volumes and 1 tone, no drop at all.
in my experience only on single coils together. I have a 3 PUs Les Paul SG 1964 reissue.
I wired it to have 3 volumes and 1 tone, no drop at all.
