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Post subject: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:33 pm
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Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:57 am
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Hi there,

My guitar Fender US Highway One HSS had the following pickups:
2 single coils Fender Usa standard (Alnico 3 probably)
1 Humbucker DiMarzio Steve Morse DP200 Bridge
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/824/initial1.jpg

I wanted to improve its sound to get something more dynamic and expressive (single coil) and warm (humbucker).
So, I mounted the following:
2 Fender Texas Special
1 Humbucker Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck TB4
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/after1a.jpg

From an electrical standpoint, everything was OK (coils working, no noise), but the sound of the texas specials was really flat, metallic, without thickness and dynamicity...
Although I know that the output level of the Texas specials is lower than the US standard pickups, I was really disappointed.
I have tried to unwire the humbucker to see if it was the source of the issue, but no improvement.

Was it due to the caps on the pots, or?

Thanx


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Post subject: Re: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 2:50 pm
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Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
First of all, Texas Specials are HOTTER than the American Standard pickups and need to be located further from thestrings to achieve good sound.

Secondly, the S-D humbucker is probably wired out of phase with the Texas Specials. S-D connects the green wire to ground and the black wire to the switch. The rest of the world is the opposite of that. Try switching the green and black wires and see if that helps.

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Post subject: Re: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:07 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
First of all, Texas Specials are HOTTER than the American Standard pickups and need to be located further from thestrings to achieve good sound.

Secondly, the S-D humbucker is probably wired out of phase with the Texas Specials. S-D connects the green wire to ground and the black wire to the switch. The rest of the world is the opposite of that. Try switching the green and black wires and see if that helps.


+1

And lower your Texas Specials a skosh.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 3:58 pm
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If you buy Texas Specials thinking they where low output than American Standard, I have good reason to believe that you have also made ​​mistakes in assembling.

Take your time look at your wiring and/or pickups adjustments and you'll find .


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Post subject: Re: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 7:46 pm
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Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 12:39 pm
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Location: Birmingham UK
Mixing Fender and Seymour Duncan pickups is always great fun.

Each company have a different idea of what colour the hot wire should be - result is an out of phase guitar.

On their own though, each p/up should still sound ok even if they are wired out of phase with each other. You hear the problem when you combine p/ups in positions 2 and 4. Definitely time for another look at the diagram!

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Post subject: Re: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:04 pm
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Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
The OP hasn't returned in a month after making his only post here. Either he has solved the problem or given up. I love people that ask a question, are given good advice, and never acknowledge it. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Why did I fail to install Texas Special Pickups?
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:56 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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+1 Bluesky636


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