Volume Drop when selecting both Pickups.

[Sugartune]

Experts and those with funny (but mostly unhelpful) comments, I present you with the following...

So I'm all happy about doing a pickup swap, but I'm wondering if I screwed something up (or just missed something).

All I did was look at how the pre-existing pickups were wired, snapped some photos and then hooked up the new ones.

One thing different is that the neck is now a P90 (HB size).

Both pickups sound amazing in their respective selections, but when I switch to the middle position for both pups, there's quite a noticeable drop in volume.

Each on their own are at about the same level, but combined, I get the drop.

What am I missing, where did I go wrong?

Does it have anything to do with the pot value for the P90?

[Jakeboy]

Are you certain they are in-phase?

[tomteriffic]

Are you certain they are in-phase?

That would be my first question too.

[murkat]

its wiring on the switch, pups.

check all your leads again, you may have to re do.

[Sugartune]

I'm not certain they are in phase. How does one become certain of this?

Check my leads, okay! I'll do that and see what comes out of that.

Thanks!

[Armitage]

If it's a lot quieter then either pickup on singly, it's probably out of phase... that's how you tell

[Sugartune]

Cool! Sounds like it's out of phase. Also the fact that the volume jumps slightly when rolling the volume down would further indicate such.

In terms of wiring, how could it be wired backwards? There's only one cable, each pickup. Both are sheilded wire is soldered to the 1st vol pot, as they were with the 59s, and then the ends onto their respective pots, exactly as they were with the original pickups.

Say it's not the wiring, then flipping the magnet is the answer? Which magnet? Will that affect the tone at all?

Yep. Amateur hour over here.

[RichRS6]

This might help.

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/68141-getting-out-of-phase-sounds/?hl=phase

[Armitage]

I actually really like the out of phase sound more then both pickups on, and would leave it.

[Sugartune]

I've been playing around with the out of phase sound. I don't mind it, actually. Just don't like the significant volume drop that goes along with it.

Guess I should learn to play like Peter Green, whoever that is. I'm sure that's blasphemous to some, but I have no idea why;)

[RichRS6]

Sorry can't help myself.............

[Armitage]

As Sugartune pointed out, you can just turn the volume down a touch on one of the volume controls and be almost back up to regular volume.

[albacore]

I'm not certain they are in phase. How does one become certain of this?

You can use the screwdriver test - put a voltmeter across your guitar output and then contact each pickup in turn with a screwdriver, and quickly lift the screwdriver off. When you lift the screwdriver you will get a voltage registering on your meter, and if the voltages are all the same direction (negative or positive) then you are in phase.

[velorush]

Different makers use different orientations (ask anyone who's used one PRS pickup with a second pickup from, say, Rio Grande). Swapping the leads on one or the other should get you back on track. If both are single conductor, you can isolate the braid of one of the pickups with shrink tubing.