Wiring problem or bad pickup?

agentzero12

agentzero12

New member
I have a STR-2 that I put in a Tele with a lp style switch in the plate and 500k pots because it has a humbucker in the bridge. The neck position sounds really weak compared to the bridge. Right now it has a crunch lab in the bridge but I'm probably gonna change it. Do you think wiring would be the problem even with a 2 conductor? I haven't dug too deep but I'm not sure what the deal is.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

The Crunch Lab humbucker is of considerably higher output than the STR-2 single coil. No matter how close to the strings you adjust the STR-2, it is always going to be overpowered.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

Funkfingers said:
The Crunch Lab humbucker is of considerably higher output than the STR-2 single coil. No matter how close to the strings you adjust the STR-2, it is always going to be overpowered.
Click to expand...

Exactly, you need a much lower output humbucker to balance your STR-2.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

Looking at it, the dc resistance seems high enough. I'll try a couple other bridge pups though and see where I end up.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

right, dc resistance does not equal output. there are lots of other factors involved. the crunch lab is much higher output
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

You should do a quick test disconnecting the pickup from the wiring and putting it into a guitar cable with crocodile clips.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

I have a 59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge of a strat with "standard" output single coils in neck and middle. Granted, the 59/Custom Hybrid doesn't have the output of a Crunch Lab but I would still think that it wouldn't be difficult to figure out the difference between a single coil sounding weak relative to the humbucker versus the single coil having low output due to a problem with the wiring or the pickup itself.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

I swapped the crunch lab out with a jb I had laying around and surprisingly enough that fixed my issue. I did double check the joints on my switch too so it may have been a combination of things.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

agentzero12 said:
I swapped the crunch lab out with a jb I had laying around and surprisingly enough that fixed my issue. I did double check the joints on my switch too so it may have been a combination of things.
Click to expand...

Still an overpower neck humbucker to pair STR-2 IMO. But if you're happy with it, then the problem is solved!
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

the jb is still pretty hot (and usually a bridge bucker) but if the str2 sounds more balanced now then who cares. play it and have fun!
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

jeremy said:
the jb is still pretty hot (and usually a bridge bucker) but if the str2 sounds more balanced now then who cares. play it and have fun!
Click to expand...
It's in the bridge position. And the str2 is hot for a single coil. I have the jb a bit lower than normal too. Its not a perfect balance and the biggest problem is the difference in clean volume. Distorted its a lot closer.
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

It sounds like changing the bridge pickup wiggled whatever might have been mostly-broken wiring for the neck pickup was.

OP, do you plan to react in any way to the specific testing suggestions such as in post #7?
 
Re: Wiring problem or bad pickup?

I had planned to try it if just swapping didn't work. I probably won't try any direct wiring for now. Thanks for the tip though.
 
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