DX10D - (Not a "what kind of pickup" thread)

[mkotcher]

Brand new to the forum, and brand new to Jackson... and no, this isn't a "what kind of pickup should I get" thread.

The DX10D I bought of course had the Duncan Designed pickups which were good, but not great. I had been reading a lot about active pickups and decided to dive into the EMG 81/85 rig. Never having done this before, it was no small task. I got through it, everything plays nicely on the first try. One issue though:

Whenever I touch the volume or tone control, I can hear the contact through the amp. I'm assuming this suggests I haven't sufficiently covered a connected wire somewhere and it is touching one of the two pots. Is that fair? I thought I'd get some expert opinion before cracking it back open again. Help is greatly appreciated. I had in the past been a Les Paul player, but wanted something I little heavier (not in weight obviously, LPs are rocks!).

Mark

[Goolash]

Either that or check your soldering. Every now and then I would have a little bit of solder breach over between two points a fuck every thing up.

[wilkinsi]

+1. like he said.

[soc_monki]

PICTURES!!!! i have a Transparent Blue DX10 with the 81/85 combo. i love it!

however, i didnt find the Duncan Designed pickups that bad actually...i did a head to head comparison with my Music Man with a real Duncan Distortion and they were surprisingly similar in tonality, and many of the differences i think were attributed to the hardtail Vs. Floyd. one had more bass and a was a little thicker sounding (EBMM) and one was a little thinner and brighter (Jackson).

[usrname]

Did you change the pots as well? I've got the same problem with an 81 I installed in my son's BC Rich.

[mkotcher]

I did change the pots. Oddly enough, I got home last night and plugged in, and it stopped doing it... weird! I REALLY like the EMGs, the Duncans were alright, but I'm a child of the Ratt/Dokken/etc etc days and really dig the sound now.

My understanding is the pots MUST be changed due to the higher output. Thanks for all the responses!

[usrname]

I did change the pots. Oddly enough, I got home last night and plugged in, and it stopped doing it... weird!

That is weird. Maybe some kind of noise interference from a washer or hair dryer?

[KISSKommando]

Yeah, you have to switch to the 25k pots.... Update if/when you find out what is causing the prob, I'm guessing solder as well.