PC1 pickup question

[MountainDog]

I recently got a PC1 and noticed on the PCB board there is a small hole with a white pot shaft under the hole. I played around with it (it was about 80% clockwise originally on mine) and it appears to be a gain control. You guys might try checking yours (make a mark with a Sharpie on the PCB before you turn it so you know where to put it back to) and see if turning it up full gives you the more output you are looking for.

[neilli]

I remember someone mentioning that before. Is that a control for the pickup output or the sustainer though?

[rjohnstone]

It's primarily for the sustainer and there are actually two adjustments on the board.
Gain and attack.
All the pickups go through the PCB and adjusting it will increase your gain to some extent.
There is a trade off for that though.
Shorter battery life and you lose some clarity when running through a clean channel. The signal is too hot in some cases.

Be careful when adjusting the pots. They are very fragile.
Use a proper nylon tipped screwdriver when adjusting the pots. (Potentiometer-Trimmer Adjustment Tool)
They are only $2 or $3, but can save you from making a $200 mistake.



Metal tip screwdrivers can damage the board.

[markD]

can adjusting those keep your sustainer from squealing? my sustainers squeal and make a horrible noise when they are on.....

[SouthernXer]

can adjusting those keep your sustainer from squealing? my sustainers squeal and make a horrible noise when they are on.....

My susatiner works fine its the frickin POS other trinket on the PC1 that aggravates me. Not to metion Jackson installing the switch upside down. Idiots.

[hippietim]

I would love to hear a Duncan Scott Ian El Diablo pickup in there. I always loved the sound of the JJ2.

[rjohnstone]

can adjusting those keep your sustainer from squealing? my sustainers squeal and make a horrible noise when they are on.....

Yes and no. Using a sustainer properly requires a bit of getting used to.
They can run away on you if you don't mute the strings properly.
It's a combination of palm muting and gentle picking.
You can also try turning down the intensity knob.

My susatiner works fine its the frickin POS other trinket on the PC1 that aggravates me. Not to metion Jackson installing the switch upside down. Idiots.

Upside down? Not sure I follow.
And what other trinket are you referring to?

[SouthernXer]

Upside down? Not sure I follow.
And what other trinket are you referring to?

The harmonic switch is mounted to the board upside down. In other words, it is activated in the off position. Besides, it only works on the middle strings. I can't get the harmonics ot work on the 1-2 strings at all.

[markD]

i know how to use the sustainer. i have had PC-1s since 2001. they are my main stage guitars. the sustainer itself started making a squealing noise about 2 years ago.....

[Bengal65]

can adjusting those keep your sustainer from squealing? my sustainers squeal and make a horrible noise when they are on.....

Yes! They are attenuators. You can back them off until your squeal goes away.

It did on one of mine anyway!

[rjohnstone]

The harmonic switch is mounted to the board upside down. In other words, it is activated in the off position. Besides, it only works on the middle strings. I can't get the harmonics ot work on the 1-2 strings at all.

So the switch operates differently than this?



MarkD... wasn't saying you didn't know how to use it, just wasn't sure.
But as Bengal stated, the gain may be up a bit to high.

I noticed when I switched amps, from SS to tube, I had to make a small adjustment to the sustainer. I had to back off the gain about an 1/8th of a turn.

[shredmonster]

Duncan Custom 5. Put one in a long time ago and never regretted it. Sound much deeper than the original pup. More articulate, tremendous sustain.

Once really nice thing also about the Custom 5 is when you turn the volume down slightly is gets less hot and becomes more dynamic.

[neilli]

How did you do the pickup swap? Did you feed the new wires into the connectors, or did you break the wires and join them?

[rjohnstone]

Splice them.
Cut the wires above the connector and solder the new ones together. Then use some heat shrink tubing to cover the splice.

[neilli]

Cool - I can manage that!!