AL MM90 - Combining neck and bridge pups

[Mpcoluv]

Guys,
Once again, this is a great forum, thanks.
After playing my AL MM90 for A while, I wonder if it is possible to easily add a switch to combine the neck and bridge pups? Or maybe make one of the notch positions the neck and bridge?
I really like that combo on a strat.
I suspect that with the silent circuit, there might be complications....

 

[beej]

You could add a switch ... but the easier way is probably to wire it up as position #3 on the 5-way switch. I've done the same thing in my SSS AL.

You'll need a different switch though. You can get one from EBMM (the kind with multiple poles, like on the Axis SS or HH AL), or perhaps from your local shop. Buzz me if you need a hand.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I have planned to do this mod on mine, I just can't find the time to do it. It's a very simple mod I can send you wiring diagram if you want but you can find those on the web easily (for a strat but it's the same with MM90)

 

[Mpcoluv]

Thanks guys.
I though the silent circuit threw a monkeywrench in the works....
I LIKE all 5 tones so I was thinking of maybe a switch or a pull pot that would add the neck pup in when the 5-way is in the bridge or the bridge/middle positions. This way I could get neck and bridge and all three.....

 

[beej]

Ah, gotcha. Yes, you could wire up an "add bridge" or "add neck" switch then. The Silent Circuit won't be an issue, it's wired to the ground of each p'up, so you won't have to specifically do anything with it.

 

[Mpcoluv]

Well, I did the mod with a DiMarzio push-pull pot.
The results are good but not amazing.
On my Partscaster strat really sounds terrific with the neck and bridge. This guitar has a good tone with the neck and bridge and all three on, but no as beneficial as the same combos on my strat.
BTW I swapped on white pup covers while I had it apart and I like that look better.

 

[browndog]

Are you keeping your black covers?

 

[threeminutesboy]

well sorry to hear that, you kinda stop me doing it

 

[threeminutesboy]

Are you keeping your black covers?

agreed that you CBB will look better with black one and chrome knob

 

[browndog]

The BCB is so dark that I had thought of getting rid of all the cream for black.

I can order the knobs and blade end from EB right?

 

[Mpcoluv]

I am not saying that the tones aren't usable. The mod just doesn't work as well as it does on my strat. Some pickup adjustment make help with that.
BTW what does the rotary switch on top of the silent circuit do?
I am going to keep the black covers BTW.

 

[browndog]

Thanks for letting me know about the covers & sorry for the slight hi-jack.

 

[Mpcoluv]

You should be able to get black covers from EBMM Customer Service or All Parts.
The white ones I got from the Guitar Jones website.
That is the only source I could find, but I didn't call customer service and ask them.

 

[beej]

BTW what does the rotary switch on top of the silent circuit do?

It adjust the amount of hum cancellation (the gain of the out of phase hum mixed with your signal). It's set properly from the factory. But you can adjust it and you'll hear the effect.

 

[Mpcoluv]

I just noticed that the silent circuit battery is dead.
I have heard that the battery being removed doesn't affect tone.
Is this true?
BTW after adjusting the pickups a little (I put a little foam under them while I hat it apart), the neck and bridge combo DOES sound pretty good. Very snappy kind of like hte middle position of a tele. The only bad news is that the taper of the Dimarzio pot is different (in a bad way) from the original pot.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I just noticed that the silent circuit battery is dead.
I have heard that the battery being removed doesn't affect tone.
Is this true?

Interestingly enough I took my MM90 AL around to OlPlayers house the other week and we were trying it through his Blackstar 5W combo.
The guitar seemed to be fading and this was noticeable. The battery was dead and we changed it - problem went.
I thought that the battery would make no difference but based on this experience I'll make sure that I always have a fully charged battery in it.
I bet I'll get told it shouldn't make any difference

 

[threeminutesboy]

a low battery makes a difference with no battery

if the silent circuit is engaged with no enough power to feed him your sound will be altered

if there is no battery, then you are back to the normal PUPs configuration

 

[beej]

With zero power, the circuit is basically at ground (so as if you'd wired it out of the circuit), so it shouldn't affect anything. I've heard people say it does, but I've never been able to tell.

 

[threeminutesboy]

but I've never been able to tell.

me neither