Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

[Gerryblue]

Hi
I just wired two Hot rails neck (Neck, Middle) and one Hot rail bridge in the bridge, using this diagram:



Well, the meter reads 2.64 for the middle pickup and the 2nd and 4th positions of the switch, I believe that is too low, right? The neck pu is 10+ alone and the bridge 15+, how can the middle be only 2+ DC.? Although there doesn't seem to be a volume drop when using those options. What happens if I reverse the cables and wire it like the neck and bridge ones?

Thanks

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

IF you wired it according to the diagram and there are no bad solder joints or other errors then it is correct. You cant measure DC resistance at the switch and compare them to the readings that are taken at the factory straight to the pickup leads.

 

[Gerryblue]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Thanks, it is wired ok. I'm measuring at the output, at the jack with a cable, shouldn't the middle pickup be 10+ when selected alone?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

No it shouldnt. Not of its wired correctly according to that diagram.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

The main thing is...does the pickup balance with the other pickups? Is there hum on that pickup alone? Is it working correctly except for the reading? What is the reading on the pickup outside of the circuit?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Perhaps you have the middle pup wired in parallel rather than series...that would give you the readings you are reporting.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Perhaps you have the middle pup wired in parallel rather than series...that would give you the readings you are reporting.

Sorry Doc... but I swear i'm the only one actually looking at the diagram he posted. It is in parallel. Its correct per the diagram. Thats why I kept telling him its ok.

 

[Gerryblue]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Sorry Doc... but I swear i'm the only one actually looking at the diagram he posted. It is in series. Its correct per the diagram. Thats why I kept telling him its ok.

You a right sir, it is as per diagram and it sounds ok, no volume drop, what intrigues me is the reading, although the pu read 10 outside the circuit. Now, the Dave Murray pickguard has all three pickups wired the same, meaning the red and white together, the black to switch and the green and bare to earth, I wonder if I changed my middle to that what would happen?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Sorry made a mistake in my earlier post the pickup is in parallel not series.

The duckbucker has always been recommended to be wired in parallel instead of series to give you more of that spanky quack tone. That will go away some if you rewire it in series. It will be a bit louder and fatter.

The dave murray pickguard uses hotrails and little jb's which are normally wired in series.

You can try it... if you dont like it put it back to how you have it now. The idea behind the everything axe set though is just a wide range of tones and the wiring set up is to compliment this.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Sorry Doc... but I swear i'm the only one actually looking at the diagram he posted. It is in parallel. Its correct per the diagram. Thats why I kept telling him its ok.

Yes, you are correct. I was merely indicating that his resistance reading is correct if wired in parallel (which is shown in the diagram). Series would give him the 10+ ohm reading of the neck pup (which is obviously wired series).

 

[Gerryblue]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Thank you Edge and Doc, I just reversed the wiring to Series, and indeed, I get the 10.5 DC in the 3rd position and 6.39 in the 2nd and 4th. I find the sound a little more robust and great for overdrive rythm. Will leave it at that for a while see how I like it, fun thing is I can always go back.
Take care

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring... am I doing it wrong?

Absolutely. Nothing is carved in stone. And there are no rules...only your ears.