Neck Evolution pickup sounds weak and tinny

[nighttraveler]

I just bought a 555 with a hardshell case for $450 from a friend who got it brand new 8 years ago. He played it for a few weeks then put it away. The bridge Evolution pickup is perfect but the neck pickup is Very weak and tinny sounding. As far as I know knowone has ever messed with it so I was wondering if thats just the way Evolution neck pups sound.

[mi2tom]

Might be pickup height or wiring problem, evo neck are kinda aggresive and fat sounding.

[LuredMaul]

Also if that doesn't work try flipping the pickup around. Evo has 2 sounds.

[Viper63a]

Could it be because you are comparing it to the Evo Bridge? I think Vai series pickups are unbalanced on purpose. The Bridge is beefer than the neck and it makes the neck pickup seem wimpy. Guess this is the way Vai likes it? Rather than drop the volume, slide the switch to the neck for clear quiet tone and then to the bridge for fat heavy tone.

[Hunter Wingate]

I seriously doubt it's supposed to sound like that, you should get it checked out.

I also seriously doubt Vai would ever create a pick-up that sounds weak and thin.. And he uses the volume knob a lot I've noticed.

[axemanrio]

Originally Posted by Viper63a

The Bridge is beefer than the neck and it makes the neck pickup seem wimpy.

Yes to the Evo bridge having a beefier tone, but no f'in way does it make the Evo neck sound wimpy!!

If it sounds tinny, it is most likely a wiring issue...

[_FR0D0]

the evo set is very balanced

[Viper63a]

Ok, I installed an EVO set in my 350 and I agree that it should "NOT" sound tinny...

[callen3615]

Originally Posted by LuredMaul

Also if that doesn't work try flipping the pickup around. Evo has 2 sounds.

Vai's EVO has the neck pickup inverted.

[MarkE]

Pretty sure that reversing the pickup is a red herring for this problem as it only determines which coil is dropped in the neck/middle position.

If it sounds thin, check that both coils are hot (with the switch in the neck position) by tapping the polepieces with an Allen key.

If one coil is off/quieter, check your wiring to make sure nothing's grounded where it shouldn't be and that your hot connections are strong.

If both coils are on and have similar output, check that the pickup hasn't been wired out of phase.