Pickup Guru Needed lol

[bradsteel]

Ok so I’ve had some reissue 705s put into my guitar, but I’m getting quite a bit of hum with them. They hum at rest, hum even more when a string is played (softly, if I play hard then it tends to drown it out in fairness), and hum more still if I press a finger against the pickup cover. Indeed, the more physical contact I have with the pickup, the more it’ll hum (hums more with two fingers than one, and so on).

I should say that the pickups were put in by somebody who knows what they are doing. And he’s adamant that they’re put in right and he thinks my ears are just oversensitive to a super hot pickup. Basically, he’s saying I’m fussy but, it’s far noisier than a single coil I have.

I on the other hand am adamant that there’s gotta be something wrong here! Naturally, I suspect a ground issue, but I’ve had my multimeter out, and there is continuity between the pickup blades and the output jack ground, and the pickups are reading 20.1 and 20.6ohms respectively, which sounds about right.

So, basically, I’m completely lost. Please help

P.S. I’ve eliminated all other equipment.

[Ken Byng]

Hi Brad
Did your mate follow the wiring adage for the 705's? Solder white and green together and tape off. Red to tip (hot), black and bare both go to ground. I installed 2 x 705s from the same batch as yours into my push pull and they are absolutely silent. Tommy White loves the reissue 705s and has them in his Mullen. I hate to say it but the wiring has to be checked thoroughly buddy.

[hickenjr]

My 705s only hum in single coil mode and it's not that audible. Just wish you hadn't have sold that Sho-Bud too soon.

[bradsteel]

Thanks Ken! Indeed, the pickups themselves are at the bottom of my suspect list not least because it’d mean BOTH pickups would be faulty - which is a 1/1000 shot I think. I’ll get to the bottom of it. I’m fully armed with a soldering iron and a multimeter

Steven - I am indeed guilty of thinking the grass is always greener mate I am a gear junkie lol!

[Ken Byng]

Thanks Ken! Indeed, the pickups themselves are at the bottom of my suspect list not least because it’d mean BOTH pickups would be faulty - which is a 1/1000 shot I think. I’ll get to the bottom of it. I’m fully armed with a soldering iron and a multimeter

Steven - I am indeed guilty of thinking the grass is always greener mate I am a gear junkie lol!

You guys are only beginners in the GAS department. I gave up chasing tone and sound ages ago, because I've been happy with that for many years. But I don't think the grass is any greener because I'm in both sides of the fields with my steel guitars and 6-string guitars. (Oh, and amps)

[bradsteel]

Indeed, it’s alright for some!!

[Ken Byng]

Well Brad, the tragedy in life is that when you are old like me, your disposable income is much greater than it is when you need it most - i.e. in your 20’s and 30’s. I had to take out a bank loan to buy my first 2 decent pedal steels as did my mates of my generation at the time!

[hickenjr]

Well Brad, the tragedy in life is that when you are old like me, your disposable income is much greater than it is when you need it most - i.e. in your 20’s and 30’s. I had to take out a bank loan to buy my first 2 decent pedal steels as did my mates of my generation at the time!

I'll have no disposable income ever. Not because I'm skint, because I'm from Yorkshire.

[Ken Byng]

Well Brad, the tragedy in life is that when you are old like me, your disposable income is much greater than it is when you need it most - i.e. in your 20’s and 30’s. I had to take out a bank loan to buy my first 2 decent pedal steels as did my mates of my generation at the time!

I'll have no disposable income ever. Not because I'm skint, because I'm from Yorkshire.

You can't take it with you Steven. The way the system works, if you have no mortgage and your car(s) is paid for, there is little point in hoarding money unless it's for the kids. I've just bought the guitars and gear that I couldn't afford 55 years ago.

[bradsteel]

It gives us youngsters something to look forward to Ken!