Fuzzy Static Sounds on Custombucker Bridge Pickup?

[Adambomb]

So it's time to fix this issue I have with my 2014 R9 Custombucker bridge pickup. It use to be a faint static sound behind the notes but now it's gotten worse. It's not a grounding noise or issue. The neck Custombucker is perfectly fine and it not the amp or just the guitar I'm 100% sure it either wiring or somethings wrong with the pickup.

The wiring looks good, since I did it myself I know it's done right. I replaced the fake bees and pots with a Martin Six String harness with Russian PIO caps.

This is exactly what it's doing. I play a note on the bridge and static and fuzz is behind the tone until the sustain dies off and then the static fuzz disappears. It doesn't do this on the neck pickup.

Any suggestions on whats up with my bridge pickup? Thanks in advance.

 

[Dolebludger]

Adam,

If the guitar is a 2014 , this matter should be still in warranty. Call Gibson and see if there is a warranty repair center near you. If so, take it there.

 

[Adambomb]

Adam,

If the guitar is a 2014 , this matter should be still in warranty. Call Gibson and see if there is a warranty repair center near you. If so, take it there.

Thanks. Yea I actually go to Nashville twice a month and I think the Custom Shop in there. I hope the pickup isn't going out cause it's been about my favorite stock Gibson pickup, and they vary in tone seems like.

Also I'm afraid that since some of the electronics they might say that voids warranty, but surely they wouldn't be dicks if I brought it in the Custom Shop myself. I'll call ahead of time but if nobody answers then what do ya do... Simply walk in the Gibson Custom Shop

And what happened to the "Like" button on this forum?

 

[AJK1]

Swap the pickups around and see what happens

 

[chasenblues]

Adam,

If the guitar is a 2014 , this matter should be still in warranty.

I doubt after this it isn't..

The wiring looks good, since I did it myself I know it's done right. I replaced the fake bees and pots with a Martin Six String harness with Russian PIO caps.

From Gibson's warranty info..

This Warranty Is Subject To The Following Limitations
THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER:
1. Any instrument that has been altered or modified in any way

 

[Tsquared]

I'd look for either a cold solder joint on the bridge pot (most likely) or a dirty switch contact if I was having that issue..

 

[Adambomb]

I'd look for either a cold solder joint on the bridge pot (most likely) or a dirty switch contact if I was having that issue..

Thanks. Last night I did take the switch and backplate off and played a bass note to produced the static sustain and took a plastic probe to the contacts of the switch and bridge volume and tone contacts but couldn't make it go away. I figured if it was a bad solder joint it's on the switch as I've reflowed the tone controls joints awhile back.

The static stops when the sustain of the note stops, and it gets louder when moving only the bass side of the pickup closer to the strings but the high E string side does not even produce the static so it only makes the noise on the low E and wound strings, a little on the G string.

So if I fire up the soldering iron I can detach the NOS PIO cap also to see if thats the problem.

 

[bill m]

Hit a note to make the static happen again and now take a plastic or wooden stick and apply pressure to the side of the bridge pickup and see if it goes away?

 

[Dolebludger]

Guys,

Federal law invalidates any "modification" exclusion from warranties UNLESS the mods are shown to be the cause of the malfunction, and the manufacturer has the burden of proof. This law was enacted to stop warranty abuse by auto makers which put the owners at risk if they had any non OEM parts installed, thus pressuring owners to have all non-warranted maintanence done at the dealer with inflated prices. An example is a guy who gets a non-OEM brake job (not warranted) and then blows a head gasket during the power train warranty period. As there is no connection between brake pads and rotors and head gaskets, a modification exclusion in the warranty would not apply under this law.

Here, if the pup is defective, it should remain covered under warranty, as there is no way defective wiring can damage a pup. But if it is the modded wiring that is defective, that would not be covered.

 

[ARandall]

Yeah, but you'd have to get to court before something like that was resolved.....how long would that be, years perhaps??

 

[Adambomb]

Hit a note to make the static happen again and now take a plastic or wooden stick and apply pressure to the side of the bridge pickup and see if it goes away?

Ok I'll try that, Thanks. I actually think I tried that with my thumb and it went away a little but I'll try in a bit to make sure.

 

[bill m]

Ok I'll try that, Thanks. I actually think I tried that with my thumb and it went away a little but I'll try in a bit to make sure.

The reason I mention that is sometimes loose sprigs, or covers can have that effect.

 

[Adambomb]

Ok so I think I may have figures this out but I'm not sure still. Today I picked up my R9 (only guitar thats making the static) and it's not making it. In the past I noticed also that some days would be worse than others. Maybe this is STATIC ELECTRICITY!? Cause I've really noticed this noise since I've been running my heat which is dry gas heat. I have a humidifier in the studio always around 40-50% RH. So maybe that's the reason.

Funny thing is that only my Reissue Historic is making the static noise on low bridge notes, and no other guitar or amp is doing that, not even my other Les Paul Std USA (chambered) with BB1-2 pickups. Maybe it's because of these unspotted Custombuckers, atleast I believe they are unpotted. I don't know man.