Microphonic screeching from C22B!!

rmcfee · Gold Member Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 75

I have a great CT6T that I really love but a crazy feedback problem has appeared.
I had the guitar 6 months or so before I took her out to a gig. The bridge pup screeched so bad I couldn't use the guitar but the neck pup was fine.
My backup guitar with Duncan 59s did not squeal either.
My gain and volume would not be anywhere near a metal scenario. I was playing 70s rock stuff and disco. Not very loud compared to a heavy rock band.
The fellow I spoke with at Carvin said that the pup was obviously microphonic and sent me a replacement no questions asked. Great service!
I installed the pup and the new one does the same squeal.
As I said the neck pup is fine. It is a C22B at the bridge and the C22J in the neck.
Why are these bridge pups doing this? If I wax pot it myself will it cure it? It is unusable like this. Thanks.

PS I love the tone so I don't want to put in a Duncan or Dimarzio, etc.
[B][U]

PostalDude

I don't think that the pups are responsible for this. I never had that problem with my C22B though there are several pups of the same type of different manufacturers that are scattered in quality. Got a JB some time ago that was also microphonic. The same pickup in another guitar didn't have this problem.

I'd check the electronics round the pups for wear-off, dust, bad solder-marks etc. The pots may scratch, there could be bad grounding or something.

FastRedPonyCar

It's the shoddy pickup quality. My brothers' CT3 C22B screached like no tomorrow and the C22B that was in my CS6M did the exact same thing.

Mine got sent back and I dropped a set of WCR's in my brother's guitar and it was night and day better (and totally silent)

jch · Gold Member Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 162

shoddy pickup quality? no i think i would go with postal and check wiring etc.. i have the 22n's, j's, b's in a lot of guitars not just Carvin some in my mine own and i have never heard a screeech . try it in another guit if you that option but as i said i doubt its the p/up. good luck.

jerryv · Carvinite Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 578

I've followed the various threads on this particular topic .. it's a shame you tried potting them yourself with bad results.

Carvin's pickups are not microphonic by nature, and aren't poorly made. I've got about 8 Carvins and have never had a pickup failure. Carvin also stands behind their products, as you know. Getting a second bad pickup was a strange coincidence, and may point to some kind of manufacturing error .. but in my opinion you should have politely sent back the second pickup for a replacement, and done that repeatedly, if need be, until you get a good one. I stress the idea of sending it back because obviously Carvin can't keep sending out new pickups without being able to confirm (and identify the cause of) the problem.

I don't recall you identifying the pickups ... I'm wondering if these were covered (s22s) and whether that may contribute in some way to a problem ...

PostalDude

metal devil

I have had this problem with all 10 of my Carvins. Which is why they all have a Tone Zone in the bridge now. Problem solved. I know everyone on here raves about the Carvin pickups being so good. They are definitely not bad, and deliver excellent tones for a guitar company made pickup, but they squeal. Pro players can't use them.

Koshchei

Which pro players?

I've never had a problem with the C22s in my Ultra V, and I swear by the C26s in my 747.

If you've having the problem with all 10 of your Carvins, then I suspect that the issue might be with your rig - how high have you got the presence and treble dialed up (are you sure it's microphonic)? The EQ curve on my Carvins looks quite different than on my other guitars (now dearly departed for lack of playing) - I find it easier to set by ear than by what other people say it should look like, unless I want to sound like crap.

rockman37 · Newbie Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 29

I used to have a Carvin guitar that was real nice but I sold it unfortunately but I never had a problem with my pickups.They sounded great.

metal devil

Fizzy

metal devil

Koshchei

Yngwie doesn't play Dimarzios anymore... I think he's gone 100% Fender.

TBH, I switched from Dimarzio to Carvin. I was a pretty die-hard HS-3/YJM and Air Norton/Classic fan until I got my Ultra V. The Carvin pickups get a much better flute-like tone than the Dimarzios did.

The voicing (to me) seems to be the perfect blend of humbucker and single coil.

But yeah - it could be the pots. Not really sure though, as it doesn't happen at all on my rig. I can't duplicate the screech unless I turn my Legacy 2's presence and treble all the way up (an issue that amp manual documents due to the way it's wired).

metal devil

advdir

Joe Walsh's CT6's and CS6's are all C22 pickups. He proffered uncovered but does have a CS6 with S22 pickups.

Both guitarists from Steel Pulse use stock Carvin pickups. Look them up, they play much higher gain than your average Reggae guitarists.

Shane Gibson (Korn) uses stock Carvin pickups on his 7 strings.
John Comprix uses stock pups in his Carvins with Beyond Fear, Ringworm and Tim Ripper Owens solo band.
Nicki Kin (Vains of Jenna) uses stock Carvin pickups in his CS6 guitars.
Wayne Findlay (MSG) uses Carvin pickups
there are more.. pros out there just too many to type right now.

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