New pickguard and added a neck humbucker to my SUB!

[mwinemil]

I got what I considered to be a fantastic deal on a Sub some time ago. It was in great condition, the only flaw I could find on it was in the aluminum pickguard, near where one might rest their pinky. My particular Sub only had the bridge humbucker, and while I like the look, my long term plan would be to have a HH config and several switch for tone options of series/parallel/out of phase/sing coil etc.

Anyway, the first step in creating my project sub was to get a HH pickguard and another pickup for the neck. I picked up a Air Norton for the neck and an official EBMM 3 way switch (thanks AJ!), and a new set of strings and prepared to do the install. All in all took about an hour. Here's some pr0n to show the process.

The abalone guard looks pretty good with the cinnamon but when it changes to green or yellow it looks unbelievable. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but I'm not in love with the Air-Norton. The output of the pickup is quite a bit less than the output of the bridge so I run into problems with my volume being ridiculously high for the neck and then knocking ceiling tiles down when I switch to the bridge. I don't think there is anything wrong, per se, with the pickup - it's just not mated well to the bridge. So I think I need to get something that plays a little nicer to the complete environment.

Anyway, as always I had fun and will post again when I tear the thing back apart to install the 4PDT switch that I'll install for tone options. I'll probably swap the Air-Norton out at that time too.

I still think this is an amazing guitar .

 

[fbecir]

Nice job !
Your SUB was already routed for 2 pickups ? Or have you done it ?

 

[mwinemil]

To the best of my knowledge, they are all routed for HH regardless of how many pickups are actually installed in them from the factory.

 

[browndog]

Nice work. Looks good.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Looks great!

 

[azazael]

The abalone guard looks pretty good with the cinnamon but when it changes to green or yellow it looks unbelievable.

Ye mine changes colour too.

 

[Sticky1973]

.... The abalone guard looks pretty good with the cinnamon but when it changes to green or yellow it looks unbelievable. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but I'm not in love with the Air-Norton....

Very nice, looking good.

I too opted for an abalone PG and Air Norton setup in my black Sub.

Shame you didn't feel the love for the Air Norton, I find it to be a fantastic pickup.

I fully appreciate the level problem though. What about tweaking the pickup heights?

 

[azazael]

Very nice, looking good.

I too opted for an abalone PG and Air Norton setup in my black Sub.

Shame you didn't feel the love for the Air Norton, I find it to be a fantastic pickup.

I fully appreciate the level problem though. What about tweaking the pickup heights?

Surely the Bridge humbucker on the Sub1 cant be that high output? I never really noticed it to be high gain if i am honest.

It'd probably be worth considering replacing the bridge humbucker for another if you're having output issues. Get a more evenly suited pair.

 

[mwinemil]

Surely the Bridge humbucker on the Sub1 cant be that high output? I never really noticed it to be high gain if i am honest.

It'd probably be worth considering replacing the bridge humbucker for another if you're having output issues. Get a more evenly suited pair.

The difference is substantial. I did buy the pickup used, but I can't imagine how it could be defective and causing this problem. I suppose it could be a soldering issue, but it's a pretty straight forward thing (pickups permanently in series and connected to a 3 way switch). The volume difference between the pickups is near 50% I would say.

 

[Sticky1973]

Surely the Bridge humbucker on the Sub1 cant be that high output? I never really noticed it to be high gain if i am honest.

It'd probably be worth considering replacing the bridge humbucker for another if you're having output issues. Get a more evenly suited pair.

The difference is substantial....

Mmmm, does sound a bit off actually.

I flick back and forth between the Air Norton and D Sonic, with no real level change. Granted, that's an established combo, but 50% sounds like something is up.

 

[mwinemil]

Mmmm, does sound a bit off actually.

I flick back and forth between the Air Norton and D Sonic, with no real level change. Granted, that's an established combo, but 50% sounds like something is up.

I need to pick up a few things, but after I do I'll take it all apart again and get out my meter and test the output. Anyone have a neck humbucker from a Sub they're willing to let go cheap? I figure I can test with that - but otherwise if the Air Norton tests out ok my only option (that I can see) is replacing either the neck with something more fitting for the bridge or put a D Sonic in the bridge and call it a day.

 

[Sticky1973]

Certainly do some testing before going buying a bridge replacement.

At the moment, do you have the middle position wired up?

Perhaps isolate the two pickups and switch between the bridge and neck only, and see if the levels are vastly different?

You've probably already done the legwork for wiring, but the DiMarzio diagrams reference the EP1111 4 pole 3 way switch:

http://www.dimarzio.com/media/diagrams/D.pdf

Apologies if you already have it; if it helps, it might save a pickup .

 

[Sweat]

Nice Job love the look and Abalone is nice

 

[Trent]

Hey Mark,LOOKIN GOOD!!!!!

 

[azazael]

Can anyone supply the specs of the Sub1 pickups anyway?

 

[GreenPeter]

Can anyone supply the specs of the Sub1 pickups anyway?

I don't have the specs, but I think they're fantastic pickups. One of the few guitars I've owned that I was completely happy with the stock pickups. They sound great!

GP

 

[Jack FFR1846]

If you want anything tested on a sub-1 pickup, shoot me a pm. I'm modding my sub with silo spec pickups, so the sub ones are out and easy to test. Just let me know what specs you need.

 

[mwinemil]

Great looking guitar! If I can make a pickup recommendation - The Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" neck pickup is a smooth sounding pickup and has a pretty hot output. I use a pair of them in my "Non EBMM" "LP-type" guitar.

How do you like the Sub? I'm finding they are stupid cheap in the used market. I can't believe they are still a USA made guitar for that kind of money.

It's a great guitar all around. I'm amazed at what you get for the money. I think it's probably the best bang for the buck (pound for pound!) best guitar on the planet. I think the neck issue I have is a wiring problem on my part but I can't test that until I take it apart again - which I haven't made the time to do.