Strange Inbalance on LP

[zozoe]

Greetings,,
HMMM, all i know is that the way things sit, & not at my doing, is that any Volume change of either p/u when in the MIDDLE position, sends me thru a kaleidoscope of phasing issues, along with very uneven Volume taper & sudden drop-off when either Volume is in or around '1'... Hey,, some of the sounds are actually cool & usable, but something is amiss, & I'd like to better understand why & how to remedy, even if I choose to leave it as is....As for Tone, I use a very low cap (less than .01), & only on the bridge,,, No neck Tone Cap...
thnx folks!!

 

[ARandall]

Well, if you are complaining of phase issues then your pick-ups are out of phase......obviously.
And all pots have a certain taper. Generally more vintage spec pots (usually the more expensive ones) tend to have a more even roll-off. But the pickup itself is a little responsible too. Some drop volume where others just thin out.

 

[Musha Ring]

Greetings,,
HMMM, all i know is that the way things sit, & not at my doing, is that any Volume change of either p/u when in the MIDDLE position, sends me thru a kaleidoscope of phasing issues, along with very uneven Volume taper & sudden drop-off when either Volume is in or around '1'... Hey,, some of the sounds are actually cool & usable, but something is amiss, & I'd like to better understand why & how to remedy, even if I choose to leave it as is....As for Tone, I use a very low cap (less than .01), & only on the bridge,,, No neck Tone Cap...
thnx folks!!

Sounds like your pickups are wired out of phase. I wire mine like this on purpose. Lol

If you're handy with a soldering iron you can fix that in four minutes or less. Just switch the leads on one of the pickups. For example if my bridge Dimarzio is wired using the red hot lead, I have the option to wire my neck also using the red lead, it will put my pickups in phase with each other. If I use the green lead however, I get the out of phase sound you're describing.

 

[zozoe]

Sounds like your pickups are wired out of phase. I wire mine like this on purpose. Lol

If you're handy with a soldering iron you can fix that in four minutes or less. Just switch the leads on one of the pickups. For example if my bridge Dimarzio is wired using the red hot lead, I have the option to wire my neck also using the red lead, it will put my pickups in phase with each other. If I use the green lead however, I get the out of phase sound you're describing.

I fully understand what OOP sounds like & how to remedy it, thanks, but this is different,,, In the middle position, it's kind of as if it isn't a full 180° out of phase, if that's even possible, & it sounds like a real quacky Tele,,, great!!
YES, there is a noticeable, but not drastic, low end roll-off, & when I turn down either pup to like 9, full bass is restored, but as a bonus, as I roll off either pup even further, I get this wonderful array of sounds funky & heavy sounds... I really dig it, & I'm not changing it so quickly, but I'd like some more clarity as to what & why this is happening, other than the possible supposition that I'm totally OOP,,,, I'll reverse one just to see what happens, or doesn't, & I'll mist likely return it to its present state...
Is it even possible to be partially OOP, or am I totally whacked, & it's either you are or you aren't,,, no middle ground?? Thanks in advance for all your furthur assistance with this head-scratcher~
Kenny

 

[Musha Ring]

I fully understand what OOP sounds like & how to remedy it, thanks, but this is different,,, In the middle position, it's kind of as if it isn't a full 180° out of phase, if that's even possible, & it sounds like a real quacky Tele,,, great!!
YES, there is a noticeable, but not drastic, low end roll-off, & when I turn down either pup to like 9, full bass is restored, but as a bonus, as I roll off either pup even further, I get this wonderful array of sounds funky & heavy sounds... I really dig it, & I'm not changing it so quickly, but I'd like some more clarity as to what & why this is happening, other than the possible supposition that I'm totally OOP,,,, I'll reverse one just to see what happens, or doesn't, & I'll mist likely return it to its present state...
Is it even possible to be partially OOP, or am I totally whacked, & it's either you are or you aren't,,, no middle ground?? Thanks in advance for all your furthur assistance with this head-scratcher~
Kenny

Did the guitar come to you like this or did you change something recently? Is it new or used? How long has it been like this?

 

[Cjsinla]

Are we to assume that you’re talking about a Les Paul?

 

[zozoe]

Are we to assume that you’re talking about a Les Paul?

Yes, I'm talking about a L.P. that was given to me by a dear friend who is no longer able to play (M.S.),,, I'm certain he got it in this condition, obviously 2nd hand, as he knows nothing about wiring, or modding.....
Many Thanks~

Life is too short to own just mediocre guitars:
I find amps waaay more interesting~
'63 Melody Maker I've owned since I was 8
'54 Tobacco burst Jr., original....
'59 TV yellow LP Special, also original, 2 p/u....
2 custom made Ken Parker's (Parker Fly), one one-off 6 string electric, & one of only four solid body, elec. 12-string
Assorted imports that play, feel & sound better than any 21st century Gibson reissue,,, bar none~

 

[zozoe]

As surmised by all if you, & myself, it was an OOP situation, & the funky blends I was afraid to loose is still all there!! Thnx folks & be well~