Replaced single coil in PGM- now noisy!

BeastofLove · #1 03-09-2003, 10:45 AM

The middle pickup on my PGM300 was far too weak... actually think it was damaged. While the guitar was in for a complete setup last week, I had the tech install a DiMarzio Blue Velvet (DP170).

Sounds great. Nice, balanced output and I can drop the single coil low so it's out of the way while still being able to practically use it.

However, all pickup positions are now noisy. It's not a grounding issue. It's that, "I'm 4 feet away from my computer monitor, what the hell is that buzz" noise. And it's on ALL the pickup positions! Plugged in my RGT3120- no prob. Plugged in the JEM- no prob.

What should I do?! If I got a reverse-wound, reverse polarity Blue Velvet, would that solve all the problems while maintaining the sound and output of the non-modded Blue Velvet? Help!

-Ben

frankfalbo · #2 03-09-2003, 08:39 PM

If all the positions are noisy then a mistake was made. Replacing your middle pickup can't make your bridge and neck positions noisy unless something is wired incorrectly or your tech broke something loose or de-soldered and forgot to resolder some ground somewhere. If you don't know how to troubleshoot it, take it back and blame the tech and ask for it to be fixed. Your middle position could have noise from the single coil pickup, but even if you needed a RWRP pickup and you didn't get one, your outside positions would be quiet. Maybe a mistake was made at the 5-way that's resulting in the humbuckers being split to single coils all the time. By the way, without getting a RWRP, if you aren't cancelling hum in your 2 & 4 positions, that can be remedied by activating the opposite coils on your humbuckers, or by reversing the phase of both humbuckers. You'd then be using the coil of the humbucker that did cancel hum, instead of the one that doesn't

JESTER700 · #3 03-09-2003, 08:42 PM

If it buzzes when the velvet is switched out (position 1 or 5, say) then either the wiring is wrong or it is a grounding/sheilding issue. When the pup isn't in circuit, it can't add noise in a properly wired axe. If it's only when the pup is switched in with other pups, it's a polarity issue.

frankfalbo · #4 03-09-2003, 08:49 PM

That is unless the tech did something to remove the coil cutting ground, then you'd have single coil noise from the middle pickup regardless of polarity, because you would have 3 coils active and no hum canceller for the third coil.

BeastofLove · #5 03-09-2003, 09:56 PM

What a pain... I'll definately print out this thread and a wiring schematic from ibanez.com and put them in the case before I send it out again, hopefully this week. But thanks for the tips guys. Someone from DiMarzio wrote me back and said the same thing as well.

-Ben

Akhenaten · #6 03-10-2003, 05:24 PM

Look at the jack and see if it's wired backwards...reverse the wires and see if it helps you out. I occasionally screw up that way, and get hum in all positions...lol

vaijem777 · #7 03-10-2003, 05:55 PM

Just try reversing the pickups' black & white wires. According to DiMarzio, that SHOULD help.

BeastofLove · #8 03-10-2003, 06:29 PM

Hmm...good idea guys... I'll break out the soldering iron and take a look later. Will update when I can.
-Ben

BeastofLove · #9 03-10-2003, 07:07 PM

Umm... right.... where to begin!?
Click on the pictures to see the big 370k images.

Akhenaten · #10 03-10-2003, 09:16 PM

Is that blob of solder touching the surrounding contacts between the two red wires on the switch?

BeastofLove · #11 03-10-2003, 09:21 PM

Nope.
I just moved the black cloth insulated wire aside, and there's no solder from that contact touching the other 2 surrounding ones (red).

-Ben