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Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:42 pm
by JohnnySonic
Hello!

Been a while since I've posted anything, but I still lurk around here daily. I have a problem with my neck pickup, It seems to lose punch and clarity every now and again.

I'm the proud owner of the white Gun-made/M3-operated guitar seen in this thread: http://www.mosriteforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=41227

I've tried to email M3 California to maybe get some advice, but no response, maybe one of you fine people might be able to give me a helping hand.

I've tried to catch the phenomenon best I could on video.

Here's the "right" sound: http://s870.photobucket.com/user/JohnKOTJ/media/Right.mp4.html?sort=3&o=0

Here's the "wrong" sound: http://s870.photobucket.com/user/JohnKOTJ/media/Wrong.mp4.html?sort=3&o=1

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:52 am
by MWaldorf
Your guitar has the dual output pickups, right? To me, it sounds like the "right" sound is full output and the "wrong" sound is the half output.

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:47 pm
by JohnnySonic
It does have the dual output ones. But actually, it's the "right" sound in the video that is the half output. :P
The switches and knobs are all set exactly the same in the two clips.

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:22 pm
by MWaldorf
Have you tried reading the output with an ohm meter?

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 6:20 am
by JohnnySonic
I have not. But that sounds like a good idea. The electronics/pickups specialist in the local shop doesn't come around that often. And when he does, it's kinda expensive to troubleshoot it. But it would probably still be worth it just to get this thing sorted out.

I've tried to contact Matt for the schematic, which might be useful if I hand the guitar over to be tinkered with. But I can't get a hold of him. :(

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 8:09 am
by 101Volts
JohnnySonic wrote:I have not. But that sounds like a good idea. The electronics/pickups specialist in the local shop doesn't come around that often. And when he does, it's kinda expensive to troubleshoot it. But it would probably still be worth it just to get this thing sorted out.

I've tried to contact Matt for the schematic, which might be useful if I hand the guitar over to be tinkered with. But I can't get a hold of him. :(


Herein lies the source of the trouble, I do believe, And information about how to get past it were you to to turn it around. I suggest you check out Afformations as they've helped me a lot and continue to do so.

Austin

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:44 am
by raygun85
Hey,
I've gone back to college because business hasn't been so good, especially with my dad's health the way it is. I'm extremely busy. I'm trying to make pickups practically by myself again. I'm having a really difficult time keeping up with emails. I'm on the road about 12 hours per week, and in class over 20 hours. The rest of the time is homework and running the business. Very sorry I didn't get back to you.

After listening to the sound samples, I can't say I hear a problem per se. If you have Dual Tone pickups then it sounds to me like one is on the full output setting and the other is on the lower output setting. If so, then it's working as it should.

Re: Neck Pickup Troubles

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:16 pm
by JohnnySonic
raygun85 wrote:Hey,
I've gone back to college because business hasn't been so good, especially with my dad's health the way it is. I'm extremely busy. I'm trying to make pickups practically by myself again. I'm having a really difficult time keeping up with emails. I'm on the road about 12 hours per week, and in class over 20 hours. The rest of the time is homework and running the business. Very sorry I didn't get back to you.

After listening to the sound samples, I can't say I hear a problem per se. If you have Dual Tone pickups then it sounds to me like one is on the full output setting and the other is on the lower output setting. If so, then it's working as it should.


Sorry to hear about your stressful situation Matt! I'm glad to see your alive and well atleast.

It's kinda hard to capture the phenomenon with my smartphone.
The thing is, that the controls and the knobs are set excactly the same in both videos (Neck pickup, half output).
The pickup just loses its edge every once in a while. I'm not sure how though.

Sometimes, if you lovingly slap the guitar around a bit, it goes back to normal. I'm just not sure how to pinpoint the problem.