Is my wiring screwed up, or am I going crazy.

[Pewtershmit]

Hi guys, I've been a looooong time Lurker, and I really need your guys help on this one, this is driving me crazy.

I have two nearly Identical guitars with pickup configurations. My RG550 and my PGM301.

My Rg550 is completely stock. The wiring is exactly how Ibanez has wired it.

My PGM301 has a Dimarzio Tone Zone in the neck and bridge, and the stock Ibanez/Dimarzio ISCV1 "Jem" Single Coil. I have used an Allparts/Dimarzio switch and have wired it completely correct as to this wiring diagram.

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

Here lies my problem.

please listen to my Clip. I'm cycling through the pickup positions on each guitar, starting with the bridge going to the neck, then back to the bridge. The first guitar is the RG550 and the second is the PGM.

SoundClick artist: Explosivo - A rag tag bunch of hooligans and flim flams

The difference in output in positions 2 and 4 (middle and neck/middle and bridge ) on the PGM compared to the humbuckers in position 1 and 5 is huge! And when comparing the output in positions 2 and 4 with my RG550 and a Jem with Dimarzio Evolutions (which are even higher output than the Tone Zones ) and a Jem single coil (same as the PGM ) there is far less of a output difference.

Now I realise that the Tone Zones are quite high output, which would be understandable that the output difference to the single coil would be much different, but I've tested this problem against a Jem with similar pickups and there isn't a volume loss as substantial like this PGM.

Could anyone shed some light on this one? Perhaps one of you with a stock PGM or Tone Zones could tell me if their's sounds like that? Am I wrong and should there be such a volume difference? At this point the volume drop is so severe that using the 2 and 4 positions is totally impossible as the volume is so different.

Thank you so much in advance, I'm not a tard, I swear!

[andrewsfury]

sounds like they are out of phase dimarzio says do something with a green wire when they are like this its in the instructions that came with the pups its swapping a green wire.

[Vim Fuego]

Yup, sounds out of phase, try reversing the wires on the single coil.
If it sounds better but you get a lot of hum there's a fix for that too.
Jim

[Pewtershmit]

I've swapped the wires on the single before, and it didn't do anything to fix it. I'm going to stick a voltmeter to the PGM and the Jem to see if the pickup is kufuffled.

I've also heard reports that this is an intentional feature for the PGM's because Paul likes how it cleans up the distorted amp considerably, but I can see no concievable difference in wiring that would make it do it.

Maybe I am actually going crazy

[littlephil]

Have you double checked the wiring? It cant be intentional, there is no way that could happen if you wired the guitar.

[pinto79]

I'm the one that wired that guitar. Everything works fine except the middle pup, even on its own. The next check will be to determine if the pickup itself is functioning properly.

[andrewsfury]

on the dimarzio instructions it says if one is louder than all others it is a pohase issue let us know how it goes.

[Pewtershmit]

we've isolated down to pretty much, that the tone zones are far higher output than the middle pickup. The Jem we were comparing it to in fact, has a hotter pickup the middle.

ISCV1 vs. ISCV2 supposedly, the 1 is matched to PAFPROS wereas the 2 is matched to EVOs. This is the only concievable diagnosis to this problem.

Thanks for all your help, and now even though my question has been answered I feel I shall stick around at this there jemsite.

Thanks again

[AKJC1977]

Hey man I just went thru same thing with a cheaper RG4EX1. I was putting a Evolution in the bridge. Following instructions I soldered the red (hot) in the same position as the IBZ pickup had been. Everything sounded fine except the 2 position. So I switched the Red with the white and black which are connected together for most standard wirings. It did fix issue,but I really dislike the Evolution in that guitar. I have Evo's in several of my guitars and they are great in all of them. I can tell ya one thing not the RG4ex1. I think it may be the quilted maple top, over basswood. The sound is shreil,on high notes and thin on bass and chords. So I have sent it in to trade for a Tone Zone. If this sucks also what should I try. I like a high output in the bridge but nothing real high like a X2n. As I predominately play and record thru effects processors and they have all the gain one neeeds. I just want a real clear,versatile rythym and solo pickup that is well balanced . Hope the Tone Zone fits that bill. If not I will stick it in my son's JS-100 and start trying Seymour's. Yeah I said it. I have a Schecter with Seymours in it that sounds better than any of my IBZ Dimarzio EMG equipped guitars. send me some opinions.