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Post subject: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 4:21 pm
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Hey guys, this is my first post here, and unfortunately it's because I'm having issues with my new american deluxe fat strat.

I bought it used on ebay, and it's from 2009/2010 (manufactured at the end of 2009, but with 2010 features like S1, passing lane, noiseless pickups, etc). The issue that I'm having is related to pickup output. To show you what the problem is, I have recorded two samples with JamUp Pro (I don't have a mic to record with the amp, so this will have to do), one with the fender and another with my PRS Custom 24 (so we have a baseline). I've done nothing to these tracks, just recorded them with the exact same settings in JamUp: clean sound, amp only, eq at 5. Volume on both guitars was at 10 all the time.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/210 ... t%20S1.mp3
Fender Strat Sample (turn up the volume, otherwise you won't hear the middle pickup)

Start from position 1 to 5 with S1 off (bridge, bridge middle, middle, middle neck, neck) and then 1 to 5 again with S1 on (I don't remember what the configurations are for this).

The bridge humbucker has the highest output of the 3 with S1 off, and is basically what I would think is normal. The neck pickup produces lower output (a bit more than 3/4 of the bridge output, according to the audio meter). The middle pickup, however, produces extremely low output (less than 1/4 of the bridge). Same goes to all S1 configurations. I have to basically crank up the volume on my blackstar ht-5 to be able to hear it, while with the bridge pickup having the volume at 1 it's already audible, and 2/3 is pretty loud. I've tried adjusting the pickup height, but it didn't make that big of a difference for the middle pickup, even when it almost touches the strings.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/210 ... %20C24.mp3
PRS Custom 24 Sample (it ends at around 0:43; sound after that is from the fender sample)

With the PRS, I go through the different pickup configurations again, using the same settings and everything. Even when the pickups are in single coil mode and in series (3rd configuration), they have pretty high output.

I've played a regular strat (late 80's MIJ) through the same setup, and I would say all pickup configurations had similar output...

Anyway, I've read a few threads that mention problems with the S1 system and so on, but nothing like this.

Any ideas about why this is happening?

Here are a few photos:
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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 5:18 pm
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Hmmm, why are those two wires (one black and one white) coming from the bridge pick up not connected to anything? You sure this is Amer. Dlx Fat Strat? I only ask because I couldn't find a wiring diagram for for a fat strat with S-1 switch.
Either you have a bad middle pick up, bad s-1 switch, cold solder joint somewhere, or those two wires need to go somewhere.

Hope this helps.

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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 5:54 pm
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Those two wires are connected together.

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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 6:15 pm
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socal323 wrote:
Hmmm, why are those two wires (one black and one white) coming from the bridge pick up not connected to anything? You sure this is Amer. Dlx Fat Strat? I only ask because I couldn't find a wiring diagram for for a fat strat with S-1 switch.
Either you have a bad middle pick up, bad s-1 switch, cold solder joint somewhere, or those two wires need to go somewhere.

Hope this helps.


Yes, it is just like the new ones: http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocas ... strat-hss/

What I did find was this:

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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 7:38 pm
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Hi there try measuring across the outer terminals the resistance of the middle picup either while it is disconnected or not engaged by the pickup selector? If it is low a few ohms or unnecessarily high .. 15 k or more then it could be a dud pickup. If it is wrong then disconnect it to eliminate everything else and measure it again.
You are not the first to recently have an issue with a noiseless mid.
Hope this helps :D


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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 4:20 am
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Fender schematics for HSS with S1

support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/010-1590_92Aupg1_SISD.pdf

Or any stratocaster with S1 switch work same . Your humbucker only use 2/3 wire like single coil


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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 4:44 am
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The middle pickups do not have the original solder . The previous owner try to fix something with solder in many points . These pickps use some printed circuit. One of these could have higner resitance to drop output.

With voltmeter on ohms scale you can try to read total resistor of pickups like jimmy_james write.

But with my experience pickup could read good with ohms reading because volmeter could use more voltages to read ohms and not working properley .

Pickup itself just give around 30 millivolts and could not work if "it se" too much resistance with half broken printed circuit or bad solder.

Chance you have to replace the pickup unless you are able to fix printed circuit.


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Post subject: Re: Pickup output on deluxe strat
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 5:23 am
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Thanks for all the help guys. I'll pick up a multimeter later today and start testing this.


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