Members Electric Monk Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 I got two new pickups, both Lindy Fralins, a Blues Special neck for my Strat and a stock Tele bridge with a hybrid stagger. The pickups alone sound FANTASTIC, I couldn't be happier with them. They're both pretty much perfect, I can't really imagine wanting them to sound different from how they do now. Getting to play them through my friend's dad's 1971 Marshall Super Lead was a pretty orgasmic experience. But I digress. The pickups alone are fine, but when I go to position 2 on my Strat (meaning the neck and middle pickups, I may have positions 1 and 5 backwards) and the combination of pickups on my Tele sound HORRIBLE. I can't describe it exactly very well, just a drastic volume drop (more than before) and a horrible, tinny, hollow, nasally tone. And no, not nasally in the good, knopflerey Strat way. On my Tele I can see how this may be possible because the neck pickup isn't stock, it's a CS Texas Special. The middle pickup on my strat is the stock factory pickup. I wonder why the Fralin doesn't work with it, because the Duncan SSL-5 I have in the bridge sounds fine in position 4. So, is there anything I can do, or do I just have to go ahead and replace the rest with Fralins? I'd be totally happy with that, tone-wise, but I can't afford it right now. And I really like my Tele's neck pickup anyway. So... What gives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlinytheWelder Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Out of phase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Yeah, most of the time, if after a pickup swap, one of the combination positions sounds REALLLLLY thin, it's a phase issue. Go back in and switch the ground and the + wire. Even if it doesn't look like it should, if the 'right' way doesn't work, go with the wrong way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Monk Posted June 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Yeah, most of the time, if after a pickup swap, one of the combination positions sounds REALLLLLY thin, it's a phase issue. Go back in and switch the ground and the + wire. Even if it doesn't look like it should, if the 'right' way doesn't work, go with the wrong way. yeah, about that... i cheated and cut the leads short, stripped the wires that were already there... This is only the second time I've ever soldered anything. I know that's foolish when dealing with Fralins but the only music store in town charges $50 per pickup. so... am I right in thinking if I just switch the wires it'll work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Sometimes new pickup combinations don't sound good in any case... guitars are usually carefully designed with pickups that are selected to sound good together. Although, in your case it sounds like something else is going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carbohydrates Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Sounds like a 90% chance of a phase issue. If 2 and 4 sound bad, swap the lead and ground of the middle pickup. If position 2 is the only bad one, just swap the wires on the bridge pickup. By the way, when talkin' strats, position 1 is the bridge and position 5 is the neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesbend Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Some pickups don't work well with others. I always try to use the same manufacturer ie: Duncan, Fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Monk Posted June 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Sounds like a 90% chance of a phase issue. If 2 and 4 sound bad, swap the lead and ground of the middle pickup. If position 2 is the only bad one, just swap the wires on the bridge pickup. By the way, when talkin' strats, position 1 is the bridge and position 5 is the neck. I did have it backwards. Position 4 is the one with the problems. Position 2 is fine. But thanks, I'll give it a shot next time I re-string it. Will this work with my Tele, too? just swapping the wires on my bridge pickup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members benzem Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Some pickups don't work well with others. I always try to use the same manufacturer ie: Duncan, Fender. Wow! 8 years later! Welcome back fellow PCNW! I dunno about the clams. last batch from the 3 crabs was not so good:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carbohydrates Posted June 28, 2009 Members Share Posted June 28, 2009 Will this work with my Tele, too? just swapping the wires on my bridge pickup? Can't promise anything, but it sounds like it'd fix it. Besides, it only takes about a minute to swap the wires and find out, so if it doesn't work, just swap 'em back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted June 29, 2009 Members Share Posted June 29, 2009 out of phase...Ive got the stock Fralin with slight raised D and G and thats a great pickup. I have it matched with a Novak neck. BUT I had a phase issue trying to match a Don Mare PUPwith a stock Fender so I had Novak wind me a neck to match the Mare but then later sold the Mare and the Novak just happens to match the Fralin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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