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Pickup Issue

DWBass

The Funkfather
Jan 24, 2003
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Newport News, VA via NYC
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Had some Fender Noiseless pickups installed and an issue has come up. With both volumes on full, the pickups seems to cancel each other out and they seem to go out of phase. Not sure if I'm describing the problem correctly but if I roll a knob back slightly, it seems to correct but I always run my pickups fully open. Anyone come across this issue?
 
Yup, the pickups are wired out of phase. Its an easy fix to do yourself, but if you paid someone else to install them, might as well make them fix it.

But next time, take it somewhere else. They should have checked it before they gave it back to you.:rollno:
 
Im sure someone will post a more detailed answer but this is what i would do.
Normally you have the white (hot) wire going to a lug on the volume pot, and the black (ground) wire going to the back of the pot (or ground). If one of the pups are reversed this will cause the drop in volume when both are on.
If both are wired the same way then the white and black wires from one pup (i dont think it matters which) needs reversing.

This happened to me recently when i changed just one pup in my Jazz and went by the colour of the wires. Turns out the new pup uses black for hot and white for ground. Reversing them sorted it.
If you have two of the same pups then it sounds like it could just be that your friend wired one in the wrong way. Its a easy check to do.
 
You can download a wiring diagram from here. Invalid Link Removed Since you got a friend to do it I assume you aren't familiar with this kind of work so here's some advice; take it to someone that knows what they are doing. Pots can easily be ruined from incorrectly doing things. That being said, if you are up for replacing some parts then go ahead learn away!
3 things:
1) USE A HEAT SINK!!
2) there are all sorts of videos on you tube about correct soldering
3) A "pretty" solder really is more functional