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Post subject: pups and pup covers. What did I do?
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:34 pm
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OK, so finally got around to giving my strat a face lift including new pick guard, knobs and pup covers and back plate. (black git, black knobs and pup covers, mother of pearl type pick guard) But I ran into some problems.

First, I have the noise-less pickups and the pup covers that came standard are larger (ie deeper) than the black replacement pup covers I ordered. I have not seen deeper ones available. Does anyone know anything about this?.....So in the meantime I just put it back together without pup covers. It does not sound the same. Is this due to the lack of covers or because I have the pups the wrong distance away from the string?

Second, and most perplexing, when I switch into the brige pickup the sound is not as loud coming out of the amp as when I switch to the other two pickups despite the bridge pickup being as close to the string as is possible. ALso, the tone knob for the bridge pickup acts something like a volume switch....it definitely turns the sound down, but not totally off for that that one pickup when turned. What the heck have I done to my baby?


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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:31 pm
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sounds like you didn't label anything and stuff back together in the wrong place :roll:


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:09 am
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I wonder whether you put the pickups back in the right order. On a calibrated set, which is most of 'em these days, the bridge pickup is higher in output so's to counteract the smaller movement of the string at that point. If you accidentally swapped them then you'd have a marked drop in output when you go to the bridge.

Often pickups are labelled "neck", "middle" and "bridge" on the bottom - but not always. You should always label parts like that before removing. And always make a drawing or take some detailed photos of your wiring setup before changing anything, so's you can put it back how it started if you don't like the mods you made.

If you can't tell them apart visually, then you have five more configurations to work your way through to find the right arrangement. Or check the output of each with a meter. Also, wire length may be a clue as to which goes furthest from the control cavity.

On the covers thing: single-coil pickups come in (at least) two sizes, to allow for the wider string spacing and angled pickup at the bridge. Though most guitars use three pickups all the same size.

Pickup covers are available in (at least) two sizes to match. From center to center of the outer poles, these sizes are 50 mm and 52 mm. Annoyingly, most sellers of replacement covers don't mention which size they are, so you need to know to ask. And now you do.

I wouldn't play the guitar for long without pickup covers. If you catch your pick in the coils and break a loop it is so hard to repair that in reality you will just have to buy a new pickup. Even so-called "uncovered" humbuckers still have that plastic top piece to protect them. Keep 'em covered!

Cheers - C


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:42 pm
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Not only that but some aftermarket and not Fender genuine parts always fit right. Even some aftermarket pickguards that aren't made by Fender claiming to be Strat replacement pickguards will sometimes not line up with the holes being in the wrong place. Are you replacement covers original?

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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:38 am
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the best way is you buy genuine fender parts


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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:44 am
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I bought a Fender accessory kit and the pickup covers didn't fit my Hot Noiseless pickups, the pole pieces were on the pickups were more narrow, the cover fit on the bridge though.

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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:52 am
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Put the origianal pickup covers on. Is the colour of em realy that important, you had it on there before.

With vintage noiseless the yellow and black leads go to the bridge pickup (they are all rated at 9.5k). I however found that pickup too weak for the bridge and swapped it round with the neck pickup. It gave a more balanced output across all 5 settings.
A lot of people bemoan the low output of the bridge pickup with Vintage Noiseless, its a usuall thing with em from what i can make of it.
I had all sorts of problems with mine and up till now have had a real love/hate/love relationship with em. They seem to be a very unforgiving pickup that amplifies your mistakes, but when you get used to em their sweet as sugar.
Perseverence is the key to success with em.

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