HS-2 seems REALLY quiet

nullsys · #1 03-19-2008, 12:53 PM

Hi,
I have an RG1570, from around 2003 and I just swapped out my standard V7, S1 and V8 for: Tone Zone, HS-2 and a Air Norton.

Now, the two humbuckers sound great, but when I switch into positions 2 and 4, which is supposed to have half bucker+single it sounds VERY tinny, looses its volume alot and makes a slight buzz sound when I pick hard on the high strings. It also looses its bottom end.

The middle pickup sounds great by itself.

I presume I have wired this wrong.

: Took out old pickups
: Connected BLACK+WHITE together and GREEN+BARE together on all three DiMarzios
: Put them back in as the others were setup.

Have I done something wrong?

If I tap the hums with a bit of metal, I can tell the right coils are working along with the middle, but the sound is so thing and squeeky.

Can anyone help?
PS im a lefty! Forgot to mention that.

**jaxadam** · #2 03-19-2008, 01:46 PM

Yup. HS-2 is really quiet. I haven't found a way to make the HS-2 or HS-3 sound loud enough to match up with powerful humbuckers.

nullsys · #3 03-19-2008, 02:37 PM

Ah right, there we go then lol.
It really is a HUGE difference, when you have a slight crunch on your hums, you can switch to a 2, or ,4 position and you get a clean sound, handy sometimes I guess.

Whats the Blue series like?
I might install a JEM, like PG.

Think that would work in the center?

**jaxadam** · #4 03-19-2008, 02:48 PM

I personally don't like HS-2 or HS-3, I think FS-1 matches up much better with any humbuckers like TZ, AN, etc...

nullsys · #5 03-19-2008, 05:22 PM

I have been playing through the pickup selections and I think something IS wrong.

Heres an example, say volume wise, both humbuckers are at 10, the half-humbucker and half-single comes out at volume 2.

You can HARDLY hear anything when using both the single and humbuckers.

I think I have wired this wrong, can anyone give me any tips?

Also, the sound comes out gritty, digital sounding and just very bitey. This really isnt a normal sound at all.

nullsys · #6 03-19-2008, 05:25 PM

Just looking at this:

http://www.dimarzio.com//media/diagrams/B2.pdf

It looks different to how I have wired the middle pickup, BUT my selector switch doesnt look anytihng like that.

Mine only has a single row of pins on one side. Thats whats confusing me.

barbarelaxe · #7 03-19-2008, 05:28 PM

That is because you have a standart 5 way switch. the one on the diagram is called multiport or something and you can buy one to replace your standart.

nullsys · #8 03-19-2008, 05:36 PM

Why would I want to replace my standard one?
It worked with the S1 and V7 and V8, or are they tottally different?

barbarelaxe · #9 03-19-2008, 05:38 PM

If you wanna go for the wiring on the diagram you posted then you need to replace it.

nullsys · #10 03-19-2008, 09:25 PM

Found out the GREEN and RED wires needed to be changed around.

Still fairly quiet but it works nicely in contrast.

Btw, can you hear a huge difference between the Blue Velvet and HS-2 ?

**jaxadam** · #11 03-19-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullsys

Found out the GREEN and RED wires needed to be changed around.

Still fairly quiet but it works nicely in contrast.

Btw, can you hear a huge difference between the Blue Velvet and HS-2 ?

You can hear a huge difference between FS-1 and HS-2, and I believe FS-1 and BV are close in output.

mscmkr · #12 03-20-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullsys

Mine only has a single row of pins on one side. Thats whats confusing me.

Try this
http://www.dimarzio.com//media/diagrams/C.pdf

nullsys · #13 03-21-2008, 12:05 AM

According to DiMarzio:
Green goes where red should be on the position switch
Red goes to ground
Bare goes to ground
Black and White are connected to each other.

_FR0D0 · #14 03-25-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullsys

Hi,
I have an RG1570, from around 2003 and I just swapped out my standard V7, S1 and V8 for: Tone Zone, HS-2 and a Air Norton.

Now, the two humbuckers sound great, but when I switch into positions 2 and 4, which is supposed to have half bucker+single it sounds VERY tinny, looses its volume alot and makes a slight buzz sound when I pick hard on the high strings. It also looses its bottom end.

The middle pickup sounds great by itself.

I presume I have wired this wrong.

: Took out old pickups
: Connected BLACK+WHITE together and GREEN+BARE together on all three DiMarzios
: Put them back in as the others were setup.

Have I done something wrong?

If I tap the hums with a bit of metal, I can tell the right coils are working along with the middle, but the sound is so thing and squeeky.

Can anyone help?
PS im a lefty! Forgot to mention that.

For the HS-2 you should try only using the red-black coil and keeping the green-white coil out of the circuit. You will get humcanceling in 2 and 4, but a true SC in 3, also your HS-2 will sould a lot more powerfull.