New electronics for my Radius...

[LennyNero]

Hi there,

the electronics on my SSH-Radius is getting more noisy nearly every day. So I will change the Volume-, the tone- Know (poti) and the 5 way switch.

Any suggestions where I can get replacement parts here in Germany (or recommendations). Furthermore maybe some ideas to rewire the stuff in another way... like splitting the IBZUSA-Humbucker or whatever...

Any help would be great,
Lenny

[frankfalbo]

I like to split the IBZUSA single coils, either with a push/pull or a mini toggle. The difference is subtle, since the lower coil is not a sensing coil because there's no magnets through it. But it is definitely an improvement on the single coil tone. It adds the single coil noise too, but other guys do it. I think Eric Johnson uses a stack Dimarzio single coil, but only uses one of the coils. I thought Yngwie did for his middle pickup too, but then I remember hearing that he doesn't use it, so maybe I'm wrong about that. But if you are splitting the bridge humbucker, then you can split the middle coil to achieve a hum cancelling sum when they're on together.

To split the pickup you have to tap into the coil junction which is taped together. That has to go to hot, not ground, because if you take it to ground you get the lower coil, and hardly any output. If you did it with a push/pull, you'd put the coil junction on one pole and the hot from the correct switch position on the other. Just a simple suggestion to get more sounds from the same stuff.

[JESTER700]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

I like to split the IBZUSA single coils, either with a push/pull or a mini toggle. The difference is subtle, since the lower coil is not a sensing coil because there's no magnets through it. But it is definitely an improvement on the single coil tone. It adds the single coil noise too, but other guys do it. I think Eric Johnson uses a stack Dimarzio single coil, but only uses one of the coils. I thought Yngwie did for his middle pickup too, but then I remember hearing that he doesn't use it, so maybe I'm wrong about that. But if you are splitting the bridge humbucker, then you can split the middle coil to achieve a hum cancelling sum when they're on together.

Big agreement. My one pacifica has a short and the effect is the neck bucker doesn't work (I know, I'll get on it). So in position 3 I get the normal HS2 stacked single sound. In position 2 I get just the top coil! They had it set up to split when combined with one coil of the neck bucker. Now I could compare the sounds easily and I think it's not really that subtle - definitely a worthwhile improvement. Only problem is, I want to do this on a C1-C1 setup and I suspect neither is reverse wound.

[frankfalbo]

That's right, they aren't, but its still a great sound.

To reference the Yamaha, you may have experienced more difference if the magnets go through the entire pickup. On the Dimarzio's & IBZUSA's the magnet is only in the upper half, so that bottom coil is a little weaker.

I think the C1's are the kind of pickup that has the bobbin protecting the magnets from the wire, so reversing the polarity is just a matter of removing and reinstalling the poles upside down. In pickups where the windings are right against the magnets, you'll short the coil by scraping the magnet against the wire.

[JESTER700]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

To reference the Yamaha, you may have experienced more difference if the magnets go through the entire pickup. On the Dimarzio's & IBZUSA's the magnet is only in the upper half, so that bottom coil is a little weaker.

It's a HS2 - magnets only thru top coil. Actually, as a bucker it still sounds good, but the extra volume & "snap" with only the top coil is worth the hassle.

I think the C1's are the kind of pickup that has the bobbin protecting the magnets from the wire, so reversing the polarity is just a matter of removing and reinstalling the poles upside down. In pickups where the windings are right against the magnets, you'll short the coil by scraping the magnet against the wire.

This is seriously cool info, brother. I'm going to play with this.