Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: _tom_ on February 28, 2016, 08:27:18 PM

Title: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: _tom_ on February 28, 2016, 08:27:18 PM

Any ideas what could be causing a really low and thin sounding output from my bridge Pig 90? I recently put it in my SG and has been working fine until today where all the output and low end dropped out whilst I was playing. I have been swapping out loads of pickups in this guitar recently so possible that I could have damaged the pot somehow? My soldering iron also appears to have stopped getting hot enough at the very tip so could it be a cold solder joint perhaps? I'll get a new iron soon anyway so is it just a case of re-flowing the solder on the wire/tag that connects to the pot?

edit - should say the neck pickup works completely fine.

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: Dave Sloven on February 29, 2016, 06:33:26 AM

I think you've answered your own question: bad solder joint

I use a 40W iron with 60/40 solder, it allows me to get in and out fast without damaging the pot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUVX_RTS-Z8

He doesn't use the lead solder (60/40) but I have found it flows more easily.

The point about the stuff to remove the solder is really good.  Those suction pumps are useless.

Be careful if buying those helping hands things.  They can be poorly weighted and thus useless.  Also they rust easily

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: _tom_ on March 08, 2016, 05:51:38 PM

Cleaning the pot/tags and re applying some fresh 60/40 solder hasn't done the trick either so I'm guessing the pot may be broken? It's weird that it works full power for a short while then dies again. Guess i'll try a new pot and see what happens but any other ideas?

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: Dave Sloven on March 08, 2016, 11:20:47 PM

I guess it is always possible that a wire in the pickup is damaged, in which case you could send it back under warranty.

I would check that you have the hot wire soldered to the correct lug on the volume pot.  I wired my P-90 up incorrectly at one point and it sounded awful. Sounded like the volume was wound right down.  A defective pot could have the same effect.

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 09, 2016, 06:24:35 PM

try wiring it directly to the output jack to rule out the pickup itself being defective.

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: _tom_ on March 10, 2016, 07:29:48 PM

Definitely not the pickup, I put the stock 498t back in and it's still doing it. Got a new pot on the way anyway so that should hopefully solve it!

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: AndyR on March 11, 2016, 10:01:41 AM

Another possibility is the switch?

I had this happen to me years ago and eventually figured out it was the switch. Ever since then, my first action on "bridge going thin for no reason" is to check out and clean the switch.

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: _tom_ on March 13, 2016, 10:38:57 PM

New pot has sorted it all out :D

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: Andrew W on March 14, 2016, 05:58:48 AM

I love a happy ending.  :laugh:

Title: Re: Really weak sound from bridge Pig 90
Post by: AndyR on March 14, 2016, 10:16:08 AM

Nice one :cheesy: