Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: JonnyScaramanga on April 05, 2007, 05:20:20 PM

Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: JonnyScaramanga on April 05, 2007, 05:20:20 PM
Just got my Les Paul back from the shop where it was having the pickups changed...

There is now a lovely set of Bareknuckle Mules in the bridge and neck position.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the lovely bridge Mule is in the neck position, and the vice versa.

I don't have access to anything that can check the resistance, but I'm 95% sure I'm right about this... I can hardly get a pinched harmonic out of the "bridge pickup", but they come screaming out of the neck pickup.

And now the guitar repair dude is away for ten days, so I can't sort it out. I've been on the phone to him and he is making out it isn't his fault because I told him the pickups were labelled, and he didn't know they were second-hand. Well, it's $%&#ing obvious they were second hand! You could see where the braided cable had been previously soldered. And he said he was going to measure them.

 :evil:

I'm furious.

I was just on the verge of writing a post about how the Mules didn't sound as good as I was expecting, and then I realised the problem! I must say Tim, the Mule neck pickup isn't that bad in the bridge,  :lol: . It kind of has a smokey, vocal quality, a bit like a half-open wah pedal.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: 38thBeatle on April 05, 2007, 06:05:09 PM
What a p*sser is all I can say. Typical that it happens when the guy is going to be away unless you know someone else who can swap them about. Maybe have a bash at DIY( here is the post of a hypocrite)-maybe Phil could talk you through.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Ratrod on April 05, 2007, 06:08:13 PM
On wich side are the pole screws?

When installed right, the neck pole screws are on the neck side and the bridge pole screws are on the bridge side. The lead wire is on the high E side.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: 808 on April 05, 2007, 06:22:02 PM
I was gonna say what Ratrod said.

I wired my Mules in and they sound awesome in my LP!
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Philly Q on April 05, 2007, 06:27:20 PM
It sounds strange that you can get screaming harmonics out of the neck pickup but not the bridge pickup - even if the pickups were transposed I wouldn't expect that.  A bridge pickup sounds bright because it's in the bridge position, not because it's "a bridge pickup".

I'm wondering if he's wired the switch the wrong way round - try selecting Rhythm then tap on the neck pickup polepieces with a screwdriver or something.  You should get a loud clank.  If you don't, try tapping the bridge pickup polepieces.  

Then with the switch set to Treble, try the same exercise.

You might just need to swap the two connections to the switch.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Davey on April 05, 2007, 07:10:39 PM
Quote from: Philly Q

You might just need to swap the two connections to the switch.


or just turn it upside down ;)  


try doing the "tap on the pup with a screwdriver" test first.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: JonnyScaramanga on April 05, 2007, 07:36:10 PM
I am going insane...

Or someone has pulled the most ingenious April Fool on me ever, several days too late...

After I wrote this, I plugged in to a different amp, to double check. And it sounded fine.

So then I went back to the original amp, and it was fine there too.

This is very weird indeed. And quite embarrassing. But the Mules now sound very good, so happy ending!  

I think I need to see a doctor though  :lol:
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: WraithChild on April 05, 2007, 09:27:36 PM
If anything, there could be a loose solder at some point. Whenever that dude comes back i'd take it back and have him take another look at it.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: noodleplugerine on April 05, 2007, 09:40:13 PM
What the hell? xD
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Canadian Steve on April 05, 2007, 09:45:41 PM
I'm pretty sure they're the right way around if the wires were still labeled.  I thought the exact same thing when I got my Rebel Yells installed and the neck seemed louder than the bridge because I only had a mixing desk to play through.  When I finaly got my new amplifier the pickups sounded just right.  Handwound p'ups are more sensitive to p'up height as well, so make sure to set them up right as well.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Muzzzz on April 06, 2007, 06:04:36 AM
Wait a minute... I don't spose you were thinking that the 'rhythm' position was bridge and the 'treble' position was neck? I'm pretty sure someone on this forum has made that screwup in the past...
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Philly Q on April 06, 2007, 09:44:50 AM
Quote from: Muzzzz
Wait a minute... I don't spose you were thinking that the 'rhythm' position was bridge and the 'treble' position was neck? I'm pretty sure someone on this forum has made that screwup in the past...

Not mentioning any names, *cough* Joe *cough*...

Sorry.
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: BloodMountain on April 06, 2007, 12:54:04 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
Quote from: Muzzzz
Wait a minute... I don't spose you were thinking that the 'rhythm' position was bridge and the 'treble' position was neck? I'm pretty sure someone on this forum has made that screwup in the past...

Not mentioning any names, *cough* Joe *cough*...

Sorry.

you cheeky person!  :D
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: 99_not_out on April 06, 2007, 06:04:30 PM
Dudes, I c--ked taht up too.  Soldering from the back ... I got everything back to front.

I currently own an SG with 'eccentirc' rythmn and treble switch positions, plus my volume and tone knobs are all back to front.

The important part is that it works though :) Oooo yeah, Warpigs ....
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Crazy_Joe on April 06, 2007, 08:03:08 PM
Ahem...... :roll:
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Philly Q on April 06, 2007, 09:10:23 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Joe
Ahem...... :roll:

Oops.  That's me bang to rights.  It's a fair cop, guv.  :oops:
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Muzzzz on April 07, 2007, 05:17:17 AM
Sorry Joe! :oops:

But it was pretty funny... :wink:
Title: *Doh*... never mind
Post by: Crazy_Joe on April 07, 2007, 01:32:36 PM
:lol: i know it was haha