The Electra Forums

Hi,

I believe I've got an X220 with wiring issues. The neck pickup is very weak sounding but measures about the same as the bridge pickup (6.4K ohms). I am looking for stock diagrams that are specific to this model. If anyone has one I would be most grateful. After poking around the forum a little it looks like the 2 switches are low pass filters and not coil tapping. I think this is correct after inspecting the guitar closely. I'm pretty sure these are stock pickups and they are only two wire and not capable of coil tapping. I am new to the forum and have been an Electra player since I discovered them in 99'. Will be glad to share my knowledge (what little I have) of the various models I have owned over the years.

Thanks!

I have the same problem. If anyone can help please do.

Welcome!

Both are X220s? And it happens no matter where the 5-way switch is set?

One thing that comes to mind- I had a similar issue on a Skylark because the neck pickup was set too far from the strings. Any chance of this? (long shot- just thought I'd try)

The first thing to do is to examine all the wiring closely, especially where the pickup leads are attached. If I recall right, the pickups should be connected to the 5-way, right? and then that sends a signal lead to the pots. If a twisted strand wire from the neck pickup were to become broken, it might have just enough intermittent connection left to send a weak signal.


Beyond that I'd desolder the pickups from the pots and see if they behave the same way- i.e. is the problem in the pickups or the wiring? It helps to use a test lead with some alligator clips so you can plug it into an amp and see what kind of response you get.

We'd love to see pics of your guitar, and if you took some closeups of the wiring compartment that would possibly help, in case something is awry there.

You know I commented on the other X 220 thread I also have one. And normally I am not very picky about how my guitars sound. I'm not a huge tone freak. I just figure they all have there speacial sound and you make due with what you have. But I just can't get used to this omega every position on the 5 way sounds muddy to me. No high end crispyness you know. And I really don't like altering my guitars unless they were previous altered, but I think I'm going to take mine to a friends lutherie this weekend and give it the treatment. Refret, set up, new pick ups allthat jazz. I think the guitar would be a wonderful Les Paus setup. Nice solid set neck, thinking about hand guiding up soume double creams and be done with it. I'll keep all the stuff if I ever decide to sell it, but I'm thinking after all the work I put into it this guitar it's gonna sound so darn good I won't have to worry about that. I have a super rock that already had some aftermarkets and I made some pickups for it let me tell it sounds so good. Any friend that has a real les paul is so impressed. I a b'd it with a few LP from all time frames reissues and oldies and it's hard to tell the difference. It took me a little to make this desicion like I said I'd like it to be original, but I'll never play it the way it sounds now.

I bought this on ebay before christmas for $300. It said it had Dimarzio's and from the pictures it looked like it. Well when I get it the neck pick up didn't work and the pickups looked like they came out of a Brbie kids guitar. They were plastic. I am going to install some Seymore Duncans or Dimarzio's. I will try to keep the 5 tone switch but I may take it out and put in a 3 way and just go with a standard LP set up with the 2 toogles acting as coil spliters. Any suggestions?

Well, I'm with you there. I do like to keep a vintage guitar original, but on the other hand... I think those Magnaflux pickups have a dull cloudiness to them- I find the same on my X910 too.

My advice would be to go with a replacement pickup that's got superb range, crisply defined highs and unbalanced coils so it has both treble and bass response for coil tapping- and for collector appeal. use a pickup that's correct in later Electras- all of which would be a pair of MMK 45's, some of the best pickups ever made by anyone.

You're not alone with the 5-way. It was never popular, most people find it not all that intuitive, even though the range runs from treble to bass tones. In all honesty I think it's fair to say the 5-way is a good idea for the intellectual player who wants to experiment with what different wiring options do. If I were in the studio looking for the perfect tone for a recording, that might be ideal, but in performance most guitarists barely use more than two or three tones anyway.

The only other thing I might add about whether to change a guitar, is what about keeping it all original and trading it for a later one, like an Endorser or an Ultima?

The Omega was the first model Tom Presley designed, and it seems like one of the things he improved right away was the pickups... the Omega still has the old Magnafluxes with the square poles at the bridge.

I agree. If it had the original pickups in it I would keep it that way. But due to the fact that it doesn't I think I will go the gibson way and search on line for the original pickups as they come available.
to have if I ever decide to part with her. But I doubt that will ever happen. I still have my first Electra that was my first guitar that I got in 1978. A lovely 2264n that has turned a gorgeous yellow.

If you need a pair of MMK45's, let me know :)

Do you have a zebra pair?

zebras are pretty rare, I think I've only seen one. Most are black.