When do you know is time for guitar rewiring?

[OsvyRock]

Greetings. I have a DBZ Bolero since November 2010. I replaced the stock pickups with a SH-5 and a PGn. At first I didn’t get well alone with the combination, but now I really like it since is a very versatile combination. Thing is my guitar (is a import made in Korea) is giving me some problems. I hear the SH-5 taming the natural ‘’noise’’ an amp gives and when I switch to middle or neck position the hum (ground/static) noise ‘’takes over’’ my signal. When I use a distortion, internal or external overdrive, the Duncan Custom stays normal, but my Pearly Gates get really noisy. It wasn’t this way before. Is this normal? Does this means guitar rewire or not? It looks like DBZ Guitars are made in the same fabric as the PRS SE Series. I don’t know if that gets to the point; but someone may know what the problem is.

Do you think is time for rewiring the guitar? My guitar had the following mods since his purchase: brand new toggle switch, Duncan Custom (SH-5) on the bridge, Pearly Gates on the neck. All the stock electronics are still in the guitar. What do you think the problem may be?

[Gearjoneser]

Did you check to make sure the Pearly Gates neck has it's red/white wires soldered together and taped down? Are both the green and silver wire going to ground?

If you turn the amp up and tap on all the pole pieces with an allen wrench, when they're switched on, are you getting a loud clank? It sounds like your neck pickup is running split.

[OsvyRock]

Did you check to make sure the Pearly Gates neck has it's red/white wires soldered together and taped down? Are both the green and silver wire going to ground?

If you turn the amp up and tap on all the pole pieces with an allen wrench, when they're switched on, are you getting a loud clank? It sounds like your neck pickup is running split.

Well....yeah (forgot to write it), my guitar has coil/split capabilities and is set-up to do it. I know is on full humbucker mode since the knob is pushed down and is giving the ''humbucker'' sound, if I get it out there's the split (a la single coil) sound.

Is there something wrong with it?

[OsvyRock]

I just noticed the guitar gets more quiet when is split and gets noisier in full humbucker mode. I made a fast recording so you get to know how it's actually operating. The ''heavy parts'' are with the humbucker mode, then there's the split mode, and in the in betweens you can hear my strange noise. I hope this can help you guys figure out what it may be.

Here it is on a Mediafire link since I can't upload WMA files here.



http://www.mediafire.com/?9i1q4ij5992ozp4

[Funkfingers]

Obvious possibilities.
1) The coil split push-pull switch is connected upside-down. You are splitting in the down position and getting full series HB in the up position.
2) Something on the push-pull switch is shorting between the contacts.
3) The internal contacts of the push-pull have failed.
4) Poor ground is creating earth loops and, hence, inducing hum.
5) The grounded red/white conductors in Split mode are forming a better connection than the supposedly permanent green and bare/drain conductors.

Check thoroughly for dry/cold solder joints.

[OsvyRock]

Obvious possibilities.
1) The coil split push-pull switch is connected upside-down. You are splitting in the down position and getting full series HB in the up position.
2) Something on the push-pull switch is shorting between the contacts.
3) The internal contacts of the push-pull have failed.
4) Poor ground is creating earth loops and, hence, inducing hum.
5) The grounded red/white conductors in Split mode are forming a better connection than the supposedly permanent green and bare/drain conductors.

Check thoroughly for dry/cold solder joints.

Thanks! I'll check them out tomorrow morning, and comment back with the findings.

You don't think is time for a rewire right? Well... let's check the pickups first then!

[Funkfingers]

To my mind, the expression "rewire" implies a complete overhaul of the control circuitry.

If the stock cabling in your guitar is suspect, feel free to dismantle and replace everything. I (and a few others) suspect that you have one bad solder joint connection. The remainder is in good working order.

As always, photographs of your wiring would have helped.

[OsvyRock]

Greetings! Today I was with my friend (who's also my guitar tech) checking out the guitar. We checked it and there was no apparent problem at all. My friend has power conditioners in his rig and well....the guitar was very quiet, no problems at all.

With my rig (without power conditioning) I had no problem today playing my guitar during practice. Thing is.... once I hit my BOSS OS2 Overdrive/Distortion pedal, things get noisy. I planned to use it on my rig alongside my Blackstar HT-40 so I can use his distortion as a 3rd channel like I did at a previous practice.

I actually got the pedal out of my pedalboard and only use my Dunlop 535q Crybaby.

That may be all... for the moment!