Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions?

Kipp73 · 10-23-2008, 05:48 AM

Did a bit of a cosmetic overhaul on my les.. mainly involving new chrome, scratch plate.. also removed the standard pickup covers and now have the pups de-waxed and exposed.

problem is, when i reassembled the guitar, my bridge pickup seems to be working on about half capacity, as if the vol was sitting at 5/10. cant explain it. i was as always very careful when i had the guitar in pieces.

Any suggestions?

Bowhunterwt · 10-23-2008, 06:24 AM

I'm not sure but you might of broken the winding in your pickup when you removed the cover and dewaxed it. You might have to take a ohm reading and see if half the ohm it supposed to.

Kipp73 · 10-23-2008, 06:43 AM

thats prob the only explaination i feared also... but i cant think how i damaged it tho. was all very touchy feely...

Fader · 10-23-2008, 02:37 PM

I posted this on another p/u volume loss thread but this is the one I meant to post to.

I had a similar issue when I was upgrading my pots. The neck wasn't even half as loud as the bridge. I thought the pot was bad and replaced it. Not it. Then I started trying other pots and no luck. Then I got nothing. Zilch. I found out that the braided ground shield from the toggle switch had shorted out on the pot side. I cut the braided wire back and reconnected and it sounds full again.

Here's my halfass theory. I work with robots and harnesses for a living and have repaired many a robot by replacing the wire harnesses. My point, if you are using braided wire that has "stranded wire" as the lead and you've maybe done some mods over time or the braided wire has been bent severely, it may cause the stranded wire to fatigue and not provide a good signal path.

Just my two cents worth. If your pickup reads the proper ohms spec then it might be worth asking your tech to upgrade your wire harness from the toggle switch. That shouldn't set you back to much.

Kipp73 · 10-23-2008, 05:14 PM

ill look into that dude.
oh, and nice deliverence avatar

10-23-2008, 05:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kipp73 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 1,899 Thanks: 16 Thanked 57 Times in 22 Posts	Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions? Did a bit of a cosmetic overhaul on my les.. mainly involving new chrome, scratch plate.. also removed the standard pickup covers and now have the pups de-waxed and exposed. problem is, when i reassembled the guitar, my bridge pickup seems to be working on about half capacity, as if the vol was sitting at 5/10. cant explain it. i was as always very careful when i had the guitar in pieces. Any suggestions? __________________

10-23-2008, 06:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bowhunterwt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bowling Green, Ky Posts: 412 Thanks: 32 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions? I'm not sure but you might of broken the winding in your pickup when you removed the cover and dewaxed it. You might have to take a ohm reading and see if half the ohm it supposed to. __________________ And the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth Rush 2112 http://www.myspace.com/blackdungeoninc 2007 Gibson Les Paul Classic Zebrawood 2007 Brian May Red Special Epiphone Ultra Les Paul Highly mod with EMG's & Tone Pro Dean Accoustic Fender P-bass 60th Anniversary Model Acoustic B200 Bass Amp Bugera 333XL 212 Tube Amp Modified Hartke 2x10 with Legend Speakers Fender Bassman 250 head with 4x10 Cab

10-23-2008, 06:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kipp73 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 1,899 Thanks: 16 Thanked 57 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions? thats prob the only explaination i feared also... but i cant think how i damaged it tho. was all very touchy feely... __________________

10-23-2008, 02:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fader Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 72 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions? I posted this on another p/u volume loss thread but this is the one I meant to post to. I had a similar issue when I was upgrading my pots. The neck wasn't even half as loud as the bridge. I thought the pot was bad and replaced it. Not it. Then I started trying other pots and no luck. Then I got nothing. Zilch. I found out that the braided ground shield from the toggle switch had shorted out on the pot side. I cut the braided wire back and reconnected and it sounds full again. Here's my halfass theory. I work with robots and harnesses for a living and have repaired many a robot by replacing the wire harnesses. My point, if you are using braided wire that has "stranded wire" as the lead and you've maybe done some mods over time or the braided wire has been bent severely, it may cause the stranded wire to fatigue and not provide a good signal path. Just my two cents worth. If your pickup reads the proper ohms spec then it might be worth asking your tech to upgrade your wire harness from the toggle switch. That shouldn't set you back to much. __________________ sidewinderdayton.com It's not a hobby, it's a way of life.

10-23-2008, 05:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kipp73 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 1,899 Thanks: 16 Thanked 57 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions? ill look into that dude. oh, and nice deliverence avatar __________________

Today
Les Paul	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on My Les Paul Forums

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bridge pickup has lost its zing.. suggestions?	Kipp73	Tonefreaks	4	10-27-2008 05:54 PM
Strat bridge puckup suggestions?	Redbird	Tonefreaks	5	09-18-2008 03:48 PM
Lost pickup spring question	LPC60	The Custom Shop	2	05-06-2008 06:55 PM
Pickup suggestions, please!	irunnoft	Pickups	5	04-08-2008 10:07 AM
JR. bridge suggestions	Mitch Malloy	Tonefreaks	10	03-10-2008 09:59 AM