Guitar Gear Forum

hey guys...

I am having this really weird issue with my SG Special where the pickup in the bridge position has a lower output than it should have.

For example, right now I have the same pickup on my SG-X and my SG Special (Custom 5). But the output on the Special is considerably lower than the SG-X. With the Special, I need to set the gain on the amp at 6 to get the same output I get with the X at 4.

I know it's not an issue with these particular pickups because the same thing happened with a Seymour Duncan JB, DiMarzio Super D and DiMarzio PAF Pro. The output is always lower on the Special.

The pickup height and polepieces adjustment is exactly the same on both guitars.

I originally thought it could be a bad potentiometer and I replaced the volume pot on both guitars with CTS 500k pots but the issue still persists.

I don't have the tone controls connected on either guitar so it can't be caps or anything like that.
What else could it be? The switch? Jack?

Look at the switch & see if you have a cold solder joint.

Clean the jack too.

Interesting dilemma Billy. Would like to see the suggestions of others on this one.

My gut reaction could be wrong: The wiring of that SG's electronics. Maybe rewiring everything could help?

100 watt wrote:Look at the switch & see if you have a cold solder joint.

Clean the jack too.

While on the cleaning part, maybe clean the volume pot too.

You may try re-flowing the solder on the back of the pot as well. I changed a pot out once, & had that problem. After re-soldering that, the output issue was gone.

that is odd... I'd do pretty much what has been said already... resolder the electronics, which shouldn't take too long... 20 minutes maybe and see what happens..

did you put a multimeter on anything yet ? see what the pup reads at.

+1 for the cold solder joint on the switch. I've had this problem a couple of times and it has always been a shitty joint.

Had this problem years ago.. wasn't able to pinpoint it exactly but re-wiring the guitar fixed it... I know exactly what you are talking about as far as the less gain feel... like cutting the output in half almost, zero sustain etc...

Yeah it can't be the pot or pickup because both were replaced several times. I will look into the joints in the switch tonight.

And yeah it's a weird sound, it's almost like the pickup is split, but it still sounds like a humbucker, just way weaker.

fretless wrote:did you put a multimeter on anything yet ? see what the pup reads at.

it didn't bother because it happened with multiple pickups, which all sounded fine in a different guitar, so I know the pickup is not the issue.

Maybe try switching around the ground and hot leads on the bridge pickup, just for shits and giggles? Sorta sounds like a phase issue even though that generally happens when using more than one pickup

Devin wrote:Maybe try switching around the ground and hot leads on the bridge pickup, just for shits and giggles? Sorta sounds like a phase issue even though that generally happens when using more than one pickup

This won't happen unless the two pickups are wired out of phase with each other AND he was playing with both pickups on. I guess it's possible that the pickup's two coils are wired out of phase with each other, but that would be a very distinct sound. He said, "...but it still sounds like a humbucker, just way weaker.".

Bill, weren't you having an issue recently with your SGX sounding better to you than your SG when they both had Super Distortions installed? It's always a good thing to check the electronics, but I'm not sure what wiring issue would cause the issues you're describing. Unless I'm misunderstanding. If the only things left to check are the switch and jack, then you might as well check those. But this is sounding more and more to me like a case of that guitar just not being as resonant as the SGX. This is a very common occurrence with guitars. Even of the same model.

Cflat wrote:

Devin wrote:Maybe try switching around the ground and hot leads on the bridge pickup, just for shits and giggles? Sorta sounds like a phase issue even though that generally happens when using more than one pickup

This won't happen unless the two pickups are wired out of phase with each other AND he was playing with both pickups on. I guess it's possible that the pickup's two coils are wired out of phase with each other, but that would be a very distinct sound. He said, "...but it still sounds like a humbucker, just way weaker.".

Bill, weren't you having an issue recently with your SGX sounding better to you than your SG when they both had Super Distortions installed? It's always a good thing to check the electronics, but I'm not sure what wiring issue would cause the issues you're describing. Unless I'm misunderstanding. If the only things left to check are the switch and jack, then you might as well check those. But this is sounding more and more to me like a case of that guitar just not being as resonant as the SGX. This is a very common occurrence with guitars. Even of the same model.

Well, yeah. The SG-X is a better sounding guitar, no doubt about it. But with tonal differences aside, I think at least the pickup output should be the same, with same pickup model and height? It's weird, I will buy a new switch and jack and see if that helps.

I am seriously thinking about getting a set of EMGs for that guitar and calling it a day.

guitarbilly74 wrote:Well, yeah. The SG-X is a better sounding guitar, no doubt about it. But with tonal differences aside, I think at least the pickup output should be the same, with same pickup model and height? It's weird, I will buy a new switch and jack and see if that helps.

I am seriously thinking about getting a set of EMGs for that guitar and calling it a day.

Win.

I dont care what anyone says. If you know how to utilize them, you cant beat EMG's. They're way more versitile than alot of men believe they are.

I would wire the pickup straight to the output jack. Take everything out of the chain and listen to it. Then, I would add the other components in one at a time.