Author Topic: MQ trouble? (Read 4381 times)

Ratrod · « **on:** April 05, 2006, 09:30:49 PM »

I was changing strings on the Dean Psychobilly today. While I was at it, I decided to clean the thing and adjust the pole screws a bit. When I was finished, I went out to try it but the bridge MQ sounded very thin and faint. There was a faint signal coming through but it's virtually nothing. The bridge MQ is fine. I couldn't figure out what's wrong so I took it to a local luthier to check it out. My guess it's the cr@ppy electronics.

While it's at the tuthier, I'm having a graphite nut fitted and have the electronics modified to a single master volume.

I hope there's nothing wrong with the pickups. I doubt that I could damage the coil with just a pole screw adjustment.

I hope the guitar will be up and running before the 22nd when we have our first gig with the rockabilly band.

I'll keep you posted.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2006, 10:10:30 PM »

I've got my fingers crossed for you Ratty but I'm sure it's only a minor problem.

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2006, 12:47:26 AM »

Well I had this problem a while ago, turned out that a wire had just come mislodged.. I'd guess youve tried this but you never know..

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2006, 06:03:45 PM »

My best guess is that it's faulty wiring and /or pot. The trouble with the guitar is that you can only acces the wires and pots through the F-holes.

Luckily it's in the hands of an expert now.

Ratrod · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2006, 05:55:30 PM »

The luthier called today. Bad news. The pickup is broken. It probably has something to do with the wax potting. What happened, I think, is this: As I adjusted the pole screws, the screw tore on the wax wich tore or scr@ped some of the wire. I'll pick up the pickup on thursday and send it to Tim ASAP.

I'm a bit bummed 'cause I was hoping to use the guitar on our first gig this weekend. But hopefully the guitar will be ready before May 13, our second gig.

Shag101 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:03:20 PM »

Sorry to hear Ratty

Note to self - Do not touch anything on the pickup.....lol

indysmith · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2006, 07:37:51 PM »

no spare pickup that yu could throw into it?

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:10:07 PM »

Quote from: indysmith

no spare pickup that yu could throw into it?

No way! I'm not putting in the stock pickups or the Retrotrons I have lying around. The stock ones sound like cr@p and the Retrotrons are too hot.

But I have a spare guitar, the Reverend Wolfman.

I collected the MQ from the luthier today. He took several measurements. At first, absolutely nothing. Measured it again this afternoon and it read a whopping 17. someting K. When checking the neck pickups it measured 6.7K wich is right. Now I finally know how to operate the multi meter, I took some measurements myself. First 8.2K (0.2K hotter than it should be) then it suddenly dropped to 2. something and rocketed up to 17. something it fluctuated between those readings for several seconds.

I'll mail the pickup this monday.

Ratrod · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2006, 11:55:22 AM »

Tim checked the pickup and it's fine. A heat shrink came of a wire wich caused the weird readings because it touched the base plate. This was probably caused by the removal of the cover. The luthier took the cover off to check the wiring, btw.

It seems that it was cr@ppy pots or wiring after all. Tim checked it every wich way he could and it stays at 8.0 K.

I asked Tim to put a new conductor wire on it and he did for a tenner including shipping.

It was nice to talk to Tim on the phone. Now I have a voice to go with the posts.

Great service! Cheers.