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Post subject: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:50 am
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Hi All,
I have a problem with my American Deluxe, N3 Bridge pickup.
My bridge pickup does not work all the time, when you screw the height adjustment screw, it comes on. This sometimes happens to the middle pickup as well however the bridge works fine.
I initially thought it was the S1 switch so I replaced it however this is still happening. I have gone through the whole wiring diagram and everything is fine. I have also tried another pickup in the bridge position and it works fine, I am thinking that it is the pickups however it must be something minor as you can also press on the scratch plate and sometimes they will kick in. I have re soldered the connections on the pickup and this makes no difference.

does anyone have any suggestions.

Cheers
Harras


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Post subject: Re: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 1:43 am
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Connection / solder ON the pickups not at the end of it wire . That is you do ; under the pickup ?

If yes ,only thing is to replace the pickups if you are sure to do a GOOD new solder . Sometime we need to remove varnish on the thin pickup wire before solder it.


No warranty on guitar ?


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Post subject: Re: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:38 am
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Stratele is I think pointing you in the right direction - that is, whether the thin coil wire is properly connected to the solder on the baseplate, to which the wires are connected. Pressure on the PUP (which is what you are doing when raising the pup or pressing down on the guard) might momentarily reconnect the circuit.

You need to work out where that broken connection is.

Sometimes, on a typical PUP, one or other end of the coil wire (which is hair-thin) can break or come away from its solder point, meaning no output. These fine wires usually each run along the top edge of the base plate to a small hole towards the central edge of the PUP, and as such are fairly exposed when the PUP is out of the guitar. They break easily.

When this happens, the solution is to resolder/reconnect it. This can be super fiddly and super difficult. I have repaired pickups which have been damaged like this, sometimes resorting to unwinding a turn or two from the coil to have enough wire to reconnect - that's very much a last-chance saloon scenario though, the other options being a full rewind or the bin.

N3 PUPs are not like your typical PUP - they do not have that fine wire running along the top of the baseplate from the coil to the solder points. Instead, the underside of the N3 incorporates a very basic etched circuit board. The coil wires, rather than running along the top ot the board, connect to poles on the top of the base plate, one at each end of the N3 and under the cover. These poles then run through the baseplate to the PCB underneath. The main wires which go to the selector switch etc connect to the other end of the PCB in more-or-less the usual place. I guess the idea is that the fine coil wires are kept shorter and protected from damage by the cover. This flip side is that there are extra solder joints which might be at fault.

If you have a multimeter, I would start by checking the resistance between the two outmost poles on the underside of the N3. You're looking for a resistance of around 6.8k here. If it is infinite, there's something wrong with the connection of the coil to the poles. If around 6.8k, just move outwards in the circuit one connection/solder point at a time, until you find the dodgy joint.

Hope that helps.

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Post subject: Re: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 5:19 pm
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Thanks for the reply, I'm gonna have a crack at this today. I'll post the outcome later.


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Post subject: Re: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:35 am
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I had a problem like this on one of my Strats, (G&L Legacy). I sheilded the body and pick-gaurd with copper sheilding. The leg on one of the tone pots was touching the copper sheilding when the pick-gaurd was screwed down. Once I repostioned the tone pot the problem was gone. I would check and make sure all of the wires are clear(not touching ground). Also make sure the legs on the vol/tone pots are clear. Try loosening the screws on the pickgaurd. With the pick gaurd loose everything will work fine. Then start pusing down on the pickgaurd until the problem starts again. this is were somthing is grounding out. Also Make sure no wires are being pinched when you secure the pickgaurd. This is how I fixed the problem on my Strat( G&L Legacy).


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Post subject: Re: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 5:29 am
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Thanks nobby,
I had a play with this tonight and it worked. The wire is extremely fidley but managed to unsolder them and re solder it.. It was actually the larger of the wires under the pick up that goes form top to bottom. The only hassle I have now is the bridge pick up is very quiet, it's almost like a short or something, the good news is I can now push on the pick guard and the bridge and middle stay active.

Thanks for your help and any advise on the other problem please advise. I think it's minor and will try tomorrow.

Harras.


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Post subject: Re: N3 Noiseless Pickup Problem
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 4:23 am
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no worries. Was it quiet at the times it was working, before it broke down completely? I'd go back and check the things you have just done and make sure all the connections are good - use a meter if you have one.

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