85 rhaods sounds different than newer jacksons, why?

[69dodgecharger]

well the more I play it it sounds like it may be an output problem. I play threw a mesa boogy triple rectifier and my other guitars have so much gain, sustain, and great harmonics. But the rhoads almost sounds like I have the volume turned down on the guitar compared to the soloist and the kelly.

[Newc]

Bent prong on the jack? I had a San Dimas Jackson where the jeck had to be turned a certain way in the body or else the prongs would make bad contact with the plug.

But I'd do the pickup swap first, just in case.

Next thing I'd check is for stray "hairs" from the ground wires touching a lead wire or connector, then make sure the lead wires are connected properly, make sure there's no bare solder joints - could be touching when the cavity cover is on- then check if there's a problem with the switch (not making good contact, etc).

[seafoamer]

Maybe some Aqua-Net residue from the 80's shorted the 'lectronics out?

[MountainDog]

From your mention of using the EMG supplied jack, I assume you also installed the EMG supplied 2 volumes and 1 tone pot? They will be 25kohm and have "V" or "T" on them. Also, did you do the install yourself? Did your other Jacksons come w/EMGs or did you install those also?

I would double check your wiring and solder joints as Newc suggests. Can you post a picture of your wiring?

[69dodgecharger]

From your mention of using the EMG supplied jack, I assume you also installed the EMG supplied 2 volumes and 1 tone pot? They will be 25kohm and have "V" or "T" on them. Also, did you do the install yourself? Did your other Jacksons come w/EMGs or did you install those also?

I would double check your wiring and solder joints as Newc suggests. Can you post a picture of your wiring?

I installed them in all of my guitars, I'll see if I can get a pic up. I guess its possibly that I may have overlooked somthing.

[69dodgecharger]

well one thing I just noticed is the pickups on my other 2 guitars are really close to the strings, and on the rhoads the pickups arent as close, but they are as high up as they will go. Could this be the reason?

[MountainDog]

With EMG's being active, closeness usually doesn't matter as much as it does in passive pickups, but that could be part of the problem.
Can you give us a measurement? What's the distance between pickups & strings on the 'other 2' and what's the distance on the Rhoads?

Also, you say the pickups are as high as they will go. This probably means the spring around the mounting screw is all bunched up solid under the plastic mount ring. Remove the spring and cut some off (say 1/4"), then re-install. This will allow the pickup to go higher. If you need more height, cut off more spring, etc.

[toejam]

You can also put some foam under the pickups to make them go higher. I had to do that on my string-thru Dinky with EMGs.

[69dodgecharger]

well I feel like an idiot. I removed the pickups, cit the springs so they could be raised more and now the guitar sounds fantastic!

[MountainDog]

And to think this all started out as a "Kahlers aren't any good" thing!

Glad to see problem solved and welcome to the board!

[Sanctuary]

And to think this all started out as a "Kahlers aren't any good" thing!

Like I said. "Always assume the Kahler is the fault".

[stevieb91]

I've got an 84 with the Kahler and Duncans.My Rhoads has a much meatier tone than any of the newer ones I've played.

Assuming you have a newer set of EMG's,the problem could even be in that plug in harness,a bad connection on a pin in the pickup,or even a bad pot.

[xenophobe]

EMGs do not sound the same in different guitars. After all, they're no different from any other passive pickup except that each passive pickup has an on board amplifier. An 81 sounded much different in a Model 3 than my Warrior or my KV.

Each body shape and wood choice is going to make the same pickup sound different.

EMGs from different years, like a really old one or a brand new one may even sound different. Perhaps the correct pots weren't installed, maybe a battery is low, or maybe your bridge, body shape and wood type are all effecting the overall sound.

[jcm800x]

Read his post, it's fixed! Just had to raise them up! Glad your all set, I'd rather play an 85' anyway! It's got 26 years of mojo in it!

[NextInLine]

I like this thread and how you didn't miss the opportunity to bash kahlers

It's got 26 years of mojo in it!

Sorry for acting like Ron but 2006 - 1985 = 21 :ROTF: