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Question Neck pickup on 20th Silhouette

paranoid70

paranoid70

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Lately I have noticed that when I use the neck pickup on my 20th it really amplifies the noise when I tap the pickup with a pick. Is it because the pickup has the metal plate over it? I never have that issue with my SUB1 or SS. Also, I don't really get nearly as much amplification if I tap the bridge pickup. Has anyone else noticed this?

I have been thinking about trying new pickups, and I have seen some cool photos of modded 20ths, but I really like the look of the guitar the way it is now.
 
A

Ahess86

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That shouldn't' be happening if everything is functioning correctly. I'd contact customer service or get it to a tech to be checked out.
 
B

Bluplirst

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You could also try lowering the pickup a little. This is pretty common-you tap the pickup with your pick, you're going to hear it. It is louder on covered pickups because the metal cover produces more vibration.
 
H

herbbuz

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Nov 4, 2008
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I also have a 20th Anniversary model. This tapping noise in the neck pickup is really annoying on this guitar. I do a lot of recordings and have had to stop using the guitar for this reason. I will be going along great and then by mistake hit the pickup with the pick and out goes the take.

I have been playing for over 30 years and it is hard to change my technique to play this guitar.

It has not gotten to the point where I want to sell the guitar. It is great instrument - just don't want to record or use it live.
 
A

Ahess86

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Dizzy said:
?????

Metal covers always produce more sound, due to the metal & small voids under the cover.

Both my 20th's do it !
Click to expand...


Metal covers do in fact produce more sound, but in my opinion, not like he is describing. Read his first post again, he describes "amplification" as much stronger in the neck pickup than in the bridge (I'm assuming he still has the cover on the bridge PU)

I'm not a 20th Silo owner but I've had loads of guitars w/ metal covered hb's an although they pick up physical taps more than uncovered pickups, I haven't experienced it being more of a problem on the neck pu than the bridge pu. A lot of players naturally hit the neck pickup more while playing, but if he's tapping both of them to compare and getting a lot more noise out of the neck pickup, that doesn't seem right.

Please correct me if I'm wrong and thats just a characteristic of these particular PU's.
 
beej

beej

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Personally, I haven't noticed this. But I don't see why it would be any different than any other covered p'up. If you're hitting it while picking, that seems like something you need to address in your technique (like getting used to a middle p'up).

Aren't the covers removable? If I was hitting them all the time and it was an issue, I'd probably take 'em off.
 
whitestrat

whitestrat

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beej said:
Aren't the covers removable? If I was hitting them all the time and it was an issue, I'd probably take 'em off.
Click to expand...

No the covers aren't removable. I've tried.:D

But having said that, I've only experienced such noise when it comes to my 20ths ONCE. AND, if memory serves right, then that was because the wiring for that particular pup was wired as a single coil instead of a humbucker.

Remember Beej? You helped me siphon out this issue before.

So, I'm not saying that this is the problem, but paranoid70, do you notice any mild humming noise from your neck humbucker when using high gain? If so, then that's your problem.
 
paranoid70

paranoid70

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Whitestrat, it's more than mild. I have to be careful when using the neck pickup because I get a lot of feedback. I can't imagine why the pickup would be wired as a single coil, but I guess that is possible. I should take a look at it.

Beej, there are plenty of my guitar playing techniques that could be improved. I am self-taught, so that means I had a pretty lousy teacher. ;)
 
whitestrat

whitestrat

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paranoid70 said:
Whitestrat, it's more than mild. I have to be careful when using the neck pickup because I get a lot of feedback. I can't imagine why the pickup would be wired as a single coil, but I guess that is possible. I should take a look at it.
Click to expand...

Yep, sounds like the SAME problem I experienced. Search for a thread I made on this. Beej and Pete Dubaldo helped me out bigtime. It's just a matter of 2 wired being swapped. Mine was the bridge pickup.:D

Here you go... Save you the trouble: http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/30856-wiring-diagram-silhouette-20th.html
 
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