New Humbucking Pickup Sounds Thin
2 CONDUCTOR PICKUP
With a 2 conductor pickup the first thing to do is check the resistance of the pickup as per the instructions above. If the pickup sounds thin with two pickups switched on together it is possible that the pickups are out of phase. The easiest way to correct this with a humbucker is to flip over the magnet in one pickup. This is done by removing the cover (if there is one one), removing the adjustable polepieces, unscrewing the bobbin screws on the underside of the pickup baseplate and then gently withdrawing the magnet before turning it through 180 degrees and reinserting it. Tighten the bobbin screws, reinsert the adjustable polepieces and reattach the cover (if there is one).
4 CONDUCTOR PICKUP
Many pickups are only available in a 4-conductor package even if you intend to use it in a conventional configuration. You therefore need to attach the end of one coil to the start of the other (see our colour codes section in Circuit Diagrams). It is vital that this junction is properly insulated otherwise there is a good chance that the joint will touch a component in the control cavity which will short out one of the coils and result in a thin weak sound. |
