any suggestions?
as some know, i ordered a prewired pg with:
texas spcl in neck and mid
dimarzio hb 36th ann paf dp 103. 4 wire
volume is 500k
tone pots are 250k. push pull
ive messed with pickup heights started @4/64 i was getting some nasty overtones. currently is on 8/64.
im thinking maybe the strings... first i will change the strings and then tested again, until sunday though.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Your's is a very common complaint regarding PAF type pickups.

With the OD on, adjust the DiMarzio's low E screw head polepiece down ever so slightly. If this doesn't resolve your problem, raise all the DiMarzio's other strings' polepieces ever so slightly in order to further compensate.

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thanks, i changed strings and still muddy.
i will try that.
another thing i was thinking do you think that it was probably wired out of phase accidentally, considered that its wired to a blender pot and another push pull pot coil tap. i just realized, i really dont get that open humbucker sound, except i cant tell if it sounds out of phase.
ill have to take pictures under the pickguard.
i was thinking of ordering a couple of tonepots cts 250k, regular and rewiring it to have normal fx.

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

You've listed a lot of info. Let me break it down:

Typically, if pickups are out of phase with each other, you will get a volume drop and a hollow, nasal sound usually devoid of any bass when they are combined. The same holds true when a humbucker is out of phase with itself. So, if you are asking the question, is the PAF's coils wired out of phase with itself? All things considered, I highly doubt it.

As to the blender pot, what is it blending into the circuit?

As to the push/pull pot, what is the switch wired to do?

If you're unsure, yes, pictures would be vital.

Before you go ordering more components, consider this: If you use 250K pots, premising the PAF is wired normally with both coils in series, you will ramp up the PAF's midrange at the expense of its highs and lows to where it will sound quite 'fizzy' and characterless. Further, that bassy 'bong' you're presently getting on the low E will turn to a dull, yet ubiquitous 'oink'.

Here's the gist of what I'm thinking:

Keeping in mind what I've said above about 250K pots and PAFs (along with their ilk), Texas Specials (TS) are over wound Strat type coils with a higher DC resistance yet they were designed with 250K pots in mind so to give them that extra 'oomph'". So we have the exact opposite going on here with 250K pots and PAFs. See, using a 500K volume pot with TS essentially makes them sound like, say, "pseudo CS 69s". Albeit they will remain more powerful, the 500K pot diminishes their midrange in favor of highs and lows. So, using a 250K pot on a PAF defeats the purpose as does using a 500K pot with TS. Obviously, this is your immediate dilemma sidestepping any perceived phasing or other improper wiring issues. And yes, the resistance value of the volume pot affects any and all of the above more dramatically than a tone pot in terms of a pickup's frequency response.

At the risk of being redundant:

The problem: For optimum performance, the TS will need to have a 250K volume pot yet the PAF will need to have a 500K volume pot.

The solution: Use a 500K volume pot with a 500K resistor in line with the TS to make each 'see' a 250K.

Caveat: Although 500K resistors aren't that easily found, 470K ones are and 470k resistors are definitely close enough for our purposes.

The how to and what is accomplished:

On the pickup selector switch, solder one 470K resistor each from the TS neck pickup's terminal to ground and do the same with the TS middle pickup's terminal to ground. This creates a parallel wiring condition where the the sum of the pot and the resistor (500K + 470K = 970K) is quartered where each TS 'sees' a 242.50K resistance load on the volume pot.

With resistors, they can be bought with a 5% tolerance and a 10% tolerance. Obviously, you'd want the 5%. As to the composition of the resistor, the 1/2 Watt, carbon film ones found at any Radio Shack type store at 5 for 99 cents are fine.

As to you rewiring your guitar to remove the blend pot, push pot, etc, you bought that circuit for a reason and I would think that it would surely defeat your purpose and be a wasted expense to remove it all especially if all it needs is a few tweaks per the above for your satisfaction and ultimate enjoyment.

I hope I've been at least, somewhat helpful to you with the LONG response!

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martian,
wow man, thanks for the long response. i dont mind reading when youre giving advice..

ill make it short.

1st pot closer to the bridge, blends the neck and bridge (i believe neck to full humbucker).
2nd pot makes humbucker single coil.

3rd issue, i mentioned buying cts tone pots valued at 250k for the tone and keeping the 500k volume pot. but you are right if i keep do some simple tweaking and keep my initial wiring, that would be ideal.

the "oink" sound is present when pu height is at 4 or 5/64, and im fretting the top 3 strings e,a,d with some od.

martian, i think im gonna have to take some photos, i could probably email you the sounds it makes using my iphone when i get out of work.
shoot me your email to junmon94@yahoo.com.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

I thank you and that really is some wacky wiring!!!

Yep, you've got issues there but we'll sort them out.

I've e-mailed you with the subject being, "Your Pickguard".

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a million thanks,
ill get to it as soon as im off duty, and head home..

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

No problem; sounds like a plan.

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