electronics on Ibanez GAX70

D-Man

Just bought a new Ibanez GAX70 for next to nothing. I love its sound but the electronics are bugging for some reason. I don't know if I'm just being an idiot but here are a few concerns:

The previous owner said he put "Fender hotrod Pickups" in. I can't find info on anything like this.
With the pickup selector in the centre position, you're suppose to be able to blend the two pickups. Firstly, when I change their volumes, It doesn't make a difference. But when one of them is on zero, it cuts the whole signal
when I'm playing cleans on the wound strings, with the tone on full on any pickups, the signal is slightly distorted. With the same circumstances on distortion, it sounds like an intense palm mute. But this is constant
I've heard it has problems with the jack coming loose and I think this might have something to do eith that: at times I get almost a hum when I touch the strings, bridge or the spring on the end of my cable.

Does anyone know how to solve these problems. (BTW it has two volume controls, two tone controls and a three way pickup selector

any input will be appreciated. I am planning to redo all the electronics with new pots, jacks and a new pickup selector. Would that be the best way to make sure all my electronics are up to scratch?

Thanks

guitarboy2828

Hmm, as far as I know Fender Hotrod pickups are single coil. If they make humbuckers, that'll be news to me. So, that could be a problem, if he did change them, he either got sold fakes or he's trying to sell you fakes!

As for the noises and all that, changing everything may help, or their may be some messed up wiring in there. Try find a wiring diagram and make sure every wire is where it should be, seems to be a little dodgy if you ask me.

AlanRatcliffe

I've never heard of "Hotrod" humbuckers either.

Volumes not doing much sounds like cheap/bad/incorrect taper. No volume at 0 is typical of a two volume setup.

Shouldn't hum when you touch the metal parts - that's usually the jack wired backwards (earth to live and vice versa).

tonerider

D-Man wrote: With the pickup selector in the centre position, you're suppose to be able to blend the two pickups. Firstly, when I change their volumes, It doesn't make a difference. But when one of them is on zero, it cuts the whole signal

Does anyone know how to solve these problems. (BTW it has two volume controls, two tone controls and a three way pickup selector
[/quote]

Sounds like your guitar has been fiddled with and something has gone awry. It was probably wired in the standard Les Paul way which means that the signal will be lost in the center/blend position when you roll either of the 2 volume pots to zero (off). This is normal.

I suggest you do a simple wiring mod to the volume pots that will allow you to blend the pickup volumes any way you wish without losing sound.

I include 2 diagrams as examples. Take note that I drew these with Tonerider pickups in mind but the principle is the same. It's all about where the hot wires (and caps) are soldered to on the volume pots. Pickup wire color-coding will vary from brand to brand but you should be able to get the idea.

The first diagram shows a standard Les Paul (or any other twin-humbucker guitar) wiring style.

The second diagram shows a wiring style that will allow you to blend pickups in the center/blend position without losing sound.

D-Man

guitarboy2828 wrote: Hmm, as far as I know Fender Hotrod pickups are single coil.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I've never heard of "Hotrod" humbuckers either.

Wait, maybe I'm just being a noob here. Could they be the same size as a usual humbucker with the omission of the second coil? If that makes any sense. What I mean is that there are two rows of six poles (as you would find in a humbucker) but maybe there's only one coil around all of those. Could this be??? I was puzzled by the fact that there were only two wires comming from each pickup.

AndreM wrote: I suggest you do a simple wiring mod to the volume pots that will allow you to blend the pickup volumes any way you wish without losing sound.

Thanks a mil. I'll do that at a slightly later stage. I prefer to know as much as possible about anything before I alter it. So if someone could explain the wiring and circuitry of a guitar to me or refer me to this info I would be eternally greatful. I thought I had quite a decent understanding of circuitry until I saw the electronics in a guitar

AlanRatcliffe

D-Man wrote: Wait, maybe I'm just being a noob here. Could they be the same size as a usual humbucker with the omission of the second coil?

They could be (I've seen it before), but highly unlikely.

I was puzzled by the fact that there were only two wires comming from each pickup.

Not unusual. The extra wires are only needed if you coil cut, phase or other fancy wiring options.

So if someone could explain the wiring and circuitry of a guitar to me or refer me to this info I would be eternally greatful.

IMO, The best source for learning about guitar wiring is Donald Brosnac's book - Guitar Electronics for Musicians. More than just wiring diagrams, it helps you understand how everything works, so you can figure out how to wire almost anything yourself. A bit outdated now, but still the best resource.

Otherwise, check out this page: http://alexplorer.net/guitar/mods.html

It's really not difficult stuff...

tonerider

D-Man wrote: Wait, maybe I'm just being a noob here. Could they be the same size as a usual humbucker with the omission of the second coil? If that makes any sense. What I mean is that there are two rows of six poles (as you would find in a humbucker) but maybe there's only one coil around all of those. Could this be??? I was puzzled by the fact that there were only two wires comming from each pickup.

Some humbuckers does not feature coils splitting capabilities.

If your humbucker has a shielded wire with 2 separate wires in the centre generally those 2 wires will go to the starts of the two coils that are wired out of phase with one another. Pick any of the 2 centre wires, along with the shield, and connect them to ground. The other wire becomes hot. If you have two pickups from the same manufacturer in the guitar keep the color coding the same.
If your humbucker has a shielded wire with a single wire in the centre it generally means that the one side of the coil has already been soldered to the shielded wire where it starts at the bobbins. The centre wire will thus become hot and the shield will become ground.

D-Man wrote: Thanks a mil. I'll do that at a slightly later stage. I prefer to know as much as possible about anything before I alter it. So if someone could explain the wiring and circuitry of a guitar to me or refer me to this info I would be eternally grateful. I thought I had quite a decent understanding of circuitry until I saw the electronics in a guitar

It doesn't get much simpler than these diagrams! ?

D-Man

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
D-Man wrote: Wait, maybe I'm just being a noob here. Could they be the same size as a usual humbucker with the omission of the second coil?
They could be (I've seen it before), but highly unlikely.

Hmmmmm. I took them out yesterday to see if I could see any branding or anything at all. There was nothing so I now have no idea what pickups I have in my guitar...

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: IMO, The best source for learning about guitar wiring is Donald Brosnac's book - Guitar Electronics for Musicians. More than just wiring diagrams, it helps you understand how everything works, so you can figure out how to wire almost anything yourself.

Exactly what I wanted

AndreM wrote:
D-Man wrote: Thanks a mil. I'll do that at a slightly later stage. I prefer to know as much as possible about anything before I alter it. So if someone could explain the wiring and circuitry of a guitar to me or refer me to this info I would be eternally grateful. I thought I had quite a decent understanding of circuitry until I saw the electronics in a guitar
It doesn't get much simpler than these diagrams! ?

I understand the diagrams and I'll be able to work from them quite easily but I like to know why I do what I do instead of just doing it blindly. It's just how I am.

D-Man

Thanks to wikipedia and stewmac I now understand it all! Enlightenment is gooooooood!!!!!!!

Just as a amatter of interest, would it be suitable to buy caps, pots and jacks from communica. There can't be a huge difference, can there?

My pickups are still a mystery though :?

6x9base13

D-Man wrote: Thanks to wikipedia and stewmac I now understand it all! Enlightenment is gooooooood!!!!!!!

Ah,sad if you think enlightenment you have reached. Much to learn, young padawan, you have. Even Yoda , understand it all does NOT !

<Sorry couldn't resist, dug out the star wars for a marathon ?)

D-Man

6x9base13 wrote:
D-Man wrote: Thanks to wikipedia and stewmac I now understand it all! Enlightenment is gooooooood!!!!!!!
Ah,sad if you think enlightenment you have reached. Much to learn, young padawan, you have. Even Yoda , understand it all does NOT !

<Sorry couldn't resist, dug out the star wars for a marathon ?)

Hahahahahahahaha. The more there is to learn, the more I will know in the end....