OK, confused about a new pickup installed-no pinch harmonics

[Mattfig]

I have a 2012 Les Paul Studio that I just put a Motor City Solution bridge pickup into...It's a hot pickup as far as passives go and should produce a mean tone that squeals when you want it to..It works but is not producing very good pinch harmonics on my low E string...DId I mess something up on the install? Gibson has the prewired boards but I just installed it like the one I replaced...I've been trying different heights but am a little disappointed in the tone because of this issue...

ANy suggestions or help is appreciated...

Also, I changed string gauges from 10s to 9s and am now using GHS Boomers...Could that be an issue?

 

[Deleted member 13074]

You humming along to One Direction again?

Put on some Zakk, that'll sort it out.

 

[LP Freak]

Double check the wiring and connections. Does it sound thin or low output? If so it might be out of phase with your other pickup.

 

[Chris6870]

You say installed it like the one you took out. Did you install it according to the instructions? Is your new pup 2 or 4 wire?If your replacing a 2 wire like a Gibson with a 4 wire like many aftermarkets are, you cant just go color for color. You usually tie two leads together and put them aside.

 

['63-Strat]

You say installed it like the one you took out. Did you install it according to the instructions? Is your new pup 2 or 4 wire?If your replacing a 2 wire like a Gibson with a 4 wire like many aftermarkets are, you cant just go color for color. You usually tie two leads together and put them aside.

This. But also were you happy with the pinch harmonics with the old pickup?

 

[bwgintegra]

If I remember correctly Motor City 4 conductor colors wire up totally different than other brands. Use the search function, pretty sure posted it here.

 

[lolzgreg]

Red and white are the coils. Green is hot. Black and bare are ground.

Cheers,

Greg

 

[reverymike]

Just a thought, could it be more of a technique issue? I've never really considered a pickup to aid or hinder in pinch harmonics - they can be done on acoustic, clean electric, distorted, etc.

Was there a problem getting them with the old pickup?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

All good suggestions so far... another one to consider is that some pups just produce better squealies than others. Maybe it is also guitar dependent but I remember my JB giving me tons of squealies pinch harmonics but my SH-5 being a bit of a dog for me. Maybe my imagination but given that my technique for pinch harmonics stays the same and is Zacktastic', that is the only variable I could think of.

 

[Anonymous]

check your wiring before you start buying more shit, or changing the way you play....especially if you usually can make ANY humbucker pinch harmonic pretty easily, especially on the low strings...some stronger than others, but none thin.

look back at what greg posted on this thread.

 

[Devin]

As has been said you can hit artificial harmonics even on an acoustic, but certain pickups do definitely make a big difference when it comes to br00tal squealies. Some of them just aren't voiced in the right way for ultimate squeals.

In fact, its one of the key things I look for when choosing the right pickup for me. Eventually I settled on the BG Hellabucker for it's awesome combination of thickness and harmonic content.

Others that I've found to excel at the squeals include the Dimarzio FRED and EMG 81 and 85.

Double check your wiring, and if all is good it may just be one of those pickups that doesnt like to scream.

Try adjusting the height/poles, too.

 

[Mattfig]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the help....I know it isn't technique because I can make any pickup squeal...I just cannot get the scream outta this Motor City Solution (high output) that I should...It's wired correctly, I've adjusted the height several times to different results but not what I'm looking for just yet....I don't know if I have a bum pickup or what....

 

[BC Audio]

How does it sound clean? If it's missing a lot of highs, maybe the tone capacitor is shorting against another wire. It can get tight inside a control cavity...

The other thing is, high-output pickups have less highs and tend to be muddier.

 

[LP Freak]

It kind of hard to help if you don't give us any indication of how the pickup sounds.

 

[Anonymous]

i'd guess that your next step is to meter your pots with with wiring off of them.

sounds like a burned out pot to me, or a shorted wire making weak or split output.

read this post if you have time....fluff was having what sounds like the same issues about a month ago with a JB.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=130515

 

[Mattfig]

OK, something is wired wrong for certain....It's like the pich harmonics cancel themselves out....Very odd....I'll post pics of what I'm working with and would appreciate any help from there....

 

[Ventura]

Can you nail pinches on the neck pup? If so, try middle position. If not in middle, could be phasing and that means wiring. Just a guess.

 

[DoomBuggi]

I had that solution in my explorer, and I got mad pinch harmonics. So I'm not sure why you aren't getting any.

If not splitting, Green to the pot lug, black and bare together to the pot base, red&white together, and covered.

 

[jmgman69]

I had that solution in my explorer, and I got mad pinch harmonics. So I'm not sure why you aren't getting any.

If not splitting, Green to the pot lug, black and bare together to the pot base, red&white together, and covered.

this

 

[rupe]

Did you readjust your intonation when you changed string gauge? That can have an effect as well.