Going from active pups to passives, RR5???

[MartinBarre]

I have an RR5 with Blackouts in it. They are way too hot for my liking, they just send the shitty amps at my local rehearsal studio into squealing feedback, so I'm going to put in a Custom/59 type combo.

My questions
1) Will alpha pots fit in the holes, or will I need the wider CTS pots? I fitted a set of Blackouts to an RR3 I used to have but I dont remember having to make the holes any bigger so I'm guessing Japanese Jacksons come with pots with bigger shafts than alphas as standard?

2) Does it matter whether I get a metric or imperial threaded jack socket? I can't see how, but maybe one type won't go into the jack plate, I dunno? :think:

3) Have I missed anything lol?

[toejam]

Why change the jack? The stereo jack will be fine with passives.

[MartinBarre]

Yeah, I was thinking that but I thought it might be easier to sell the Blackouts if I have the complete wiring harness there, ready to go.

[toejam]

Ah, I gotcha. Not sure about the metric or imperial thing or size of pots, though.

[MartinBarre]

Fuck it, I'll figure it out, just sold some old pickups so might just go for the CTS ones anyway.

[MartinBarre]

The holes in the scratchplate are only about 8.5mm, smaller than CTS shafts from what I can see, so I just ordered alphas.

I've got a Duncan Custom and just ordered a 59b for the neck, should sound pretty fucking sweet!

[toejam]

Cool. Would love to hear your review when it's all set up.

[MartinBarre]

I just hope it's not like that RR3 I had where I tried all sorts of pickups and it just never sounded good. I like the BO Bridge in this, but the neck is like a Jazz- totally bland and soulless. I'm hoping for a creamier neck tone.

[Newc]

You coulda put another Blackouts Bridge in the neck...Aren't these basically active JB and Jazz?

[toejam]

You coulda put another Blackouts Bridge in the neck...Aren't these basically active JB and Jazz?

The Dave Mustaine Live Wires are an active JB/Jazz.

[MartinBarre]

Plus, the Blackouts are just too hot for the amps at the rehearsal studio we use and I prefer passives anyway, I know where I am with passives.

[Newc]

I thought the LiveWires were rolled-over into the Blackouts?

[MartinBarre]

They're different pickups as far as I know though.

[MartinBarre]

Okay, got it all done tonight. I used alpha pots, as stated, CTS ones would never have fitted. I've only tried it into my Toneport so far, but I'm liking what I'm hearing a lot more than I did with the Blackouts.
The Custom sounds about the same under "gain" as the BO bridge did, which is cool.
The 59 sounds much nicer, creamier, than the neck BO which is what I hoped for. It's also really nice sounding clean and in the middle position. I'm thinking I should have used a 250K pot rather than a 500K though, but I might do my wee mod where I set the master tone to only affect the neck pickup, and I can then set the tone at 6 and perhaps get closer to my ideal tone. Or I may just keep my eye open for a DiMarzio PAF, the best neck pup ever.

The one thing is, the Blackouts LOOKED way cooler in this guitar, oh well...

[DalyTek]

The one thing is, the Blackouts LOOKED way cooler in this guitar, oh well...

Maybe try going with THESE?