marnold
June 11th, 2008, 09:38 PM
On my way back from a convention yesterday, I picked up an All Parts 500K push-pull pot, five-way switch, black knobs, and black switch tip. I thought about waiting until my Screamin' Demon came in to do any wiring, but I couldn't resist. Since I was getting nowhere with my sermon this afternoon I opened up my Floyd for an electronics overhaul. I installed the new switch and set up the push-pull for a neck-on switch. Amazingly, when I was done everything worked! Unfortunately once I got it back together I found out that the humbucker was out-of-phase with the other two. Odd that it didn't do that with the old switch. Anyway, just now I took it back apart and switched the humbucker leads.
I learned that I really need to get a solder sucker. I also learned that "switching the leads" is harder than it sounds when there are so many other wires nearby. I found that pickguard material doesn't like having a bit drill bit taken to it. I had to expand the hole for the pot a little bit. Right now, if the push-pull is pulled up, it impedes with the travel of the whammy bar ever so slightly. If that really annoys me, I could add a spacer on the back of the pickguard. For now, it's fine.
Now I can truly enjoy the bridge-middle position since that shorted on the old switch. Think of it as "turbo quack from Hades." The bridge-neck combo is really enjoyable. It adds the power and treble of the 'bucker with the smoothness of the neck without that much "quack." The all-three pickup setting is another cool tone that really surprised me. I halfway expected it to be as muddy as all get out, but it isn't at all. I really can't describe it because I've never heard anything like it before. I like it a lot. I think it will be even better with the Demon because it will be brighter and with less power so it won't overpower the Area 61s.
It may be a figment of my imagination but I think things sound a bit better with the new pot too. It may be wishful thinking. Interestingly, the old pot was a linear taper one. The new one is audio.
Eventually, I hope to find the time to record some clips, especially so I can do a before-and-after comparison with the Demon.
My main problem right now is that I'm loopy from solder fumes.
Special thanks to DVM for answering a distress wiring email too :)
I learned that I really need to get a solder sucker. I also learned that "switching the leads" is harder than it sounds when there are so many other wires nearby. I found that pickguard material doesn't like having a bit drill bit taken to it. I had to expand the hole for the pot a little bit. Right now, if the push-pull is pulled up, it impedes with the travel of the whammy bar ever so slightly. If that really annoys me, I could add a spacer on the back of the pickguard. For now, it's fine.
Now I can truly enjoy the bridge-middle position since that shorted on the old switch. Think of it as "turbo quack from Hades." The bridge-neck combo is really enjoyable. It adds the power and treble of the 'bucker with the smoothness of the neck without that much "quack." The all-three pickup setting is another cool tone that really surprised me. I halfway expected it to be as muddy as all get out, but it isn't at all. I really can't describe it because I've never heard anything like it before. I like it a lot. I think it will be even better with the Demon because it will be brighter and with less power so it won't overpower the Area 61s.
It may be a figment of my imagination but I think things sound a bit better with the new pot too. It may be wishful thinking. Interestingly, the old pot was a linear taper one. The new one is audio.
Eventually, I hope to find the time to record some clips, especially so I can do a before-and-after comparison with the Demon.
My main problem right now is that I'm loopy from solder fumes.
Special thanks to DVM for answering a distress wiring email too :)