SLSDimarzio

[drockilles]

So, I finally swapped out the HZs on the SLSMG for a pair of Dimarzios. X2N in the bridge, Tonezone in the neck. Both pickups sound great individually, but the middle position sounds like ass. Sounds almost like the tone knob is rolled all the way down.
Wired it up as usual, red to the switch, green and bare to ground, and black and white taped off together. Any ideas why the middle position would sound so bad? I know if the pickups are out of phase, it can sound off, but why would wiring it the normal way make it out of phase? Thanks for any help.

[Rich#6]

The fact that you have a higher output pickup in the neck could cause a problem. You do have 2 bass sided pickups so I would think the two together would be muddy.

[Cuthbert]

They can sound out of phase if the polarities of the magnets aren't opposite but equal, being both bridge PUs it is possible.

Just invert the two wires of the front PU as listen to what happens.

[toejam]

The fact that you have a higher output pickup in the neck could cause a problem. You do have 2 bass sided pickups so I would think the two together would be muddy.

The X2N is a higher output pickup than the Tone Zone.

[toejam]

They can sound out of phase if the polarities of the magnets aren't opposite but equal, being both bridge PUs it is possible.

Just invert the two wires of the front PU as listen to what happens.

Mike Romeo uses the X2N/Tone Zone combo. It's got nothing to do with them being both "bridge" pickups. You can use them in either position.

[toejam]

So, I finally swapped out the HZs on the SLSMG for a pair of Dimarzios. X2N in the bridge, Tonezone in the neck. Both pickups sound great individually, but the middle position sounds like ass. Sounds almost like the tone knob is rolled all the way down.
Wired it up as usual, red to the switch, green and bare to ground, and black and white taped off together. Any ideas why the middle position would sound so bad? I know if the pickups are out of phase, it can sound off, but why would wiring it the normal way make it out of phase? Thanks for any help.

I think your wiring is off somewhere. When you say "wired it up as usual", do you mean you used the same wiring that the HZs had? DiMarzio uses a different color wiring code than Duncan, and I think the passive EMGs are the same as Duncan.

[Cuthbert]

Mike Romeo uses the X2N/Tone Zone combo. It's got nothing to do with them being both "bridge" pickups. You can use them in either position.

The polarity of bridge PUs are the same, while a neck PU has a inverted polarity in conparison with a bridge. There is no problem using a bridge PU in the neck position but still, the polarity will be the same as the other PU.

[drockilles]

Joe, yeah, I wired it using the Dimarzio specs, which were actually the same as the EMGs, surprisingly.

Just invert the two wires of the front PU as listen to what happens.

Cuthbert, do you mean swapping the ground and hot?

[toejam]

Joe, yeah, I wired it using the Dimarzio specs, which were actually the same as the EMGs, surprisingly.

Ah, okay. For some reason, I thought the EMGs were the same as the Duncan specs. Interesting.

[Rich#6]

The X2N is a higher output pickup than the Tone Zone.

I am confused then the dc resistance on the TZ is 17 and the x2n is 15.
what do you use for output?

[toejam]

DC resistance doesn't always equal output. Ask about that on the Duncan Forum. It could depend on the gauge of wire used, how it's wound, etc.

The X2N is the highest output pickup DiMarzio makes. I've used both the X2N and Tone Zone, and the X2N definitely is quite a bit hotter.

Also, on DiMarzio's site, they state the output of the X2N is 510 and the Tone Zone is 375.

[Rich#6]

Also, on DiMarzio's site, they state the output of the X2N is 510 and the Tone Zone is 375.

Thanks toejam. I never noticed the output line before. That's better then SDs just showing a flame for high output.

[Cuthbert]

Joe, yeah, I wired it using the Dimarzio specs, which were actually the same as the EMGs, surprisingly.

Cuthbert, do you mean swapping the ground and hot?

Yup, it wouldn't hurt.

If my theory is correct, it may solve the problem, anyway it would be just a trial.

[Cuthbert]

DC resistance doesn't always equal output. Ask about that on the Duncan Forum. It could depend on the gauge of wire used, how it's wound, etc.

These parameters, in particular the the size of the wire, influence the DC resistance according to Ohm's second law.

The output of a pickup is defined by the strength of the magnetic field, aka inductance, and DC resistance, for instance, the Custom Custom is wired like the Custom and the Custom 5, but weaker magnet, lower output...

[drockilles]

Yup, it wouldn't hurt.

If my theory is correct, it may solve the problem, anyway it would be just a trial.

Thanks, I'll give it a try