Help with Rio Grande Wiring

[Wally1]

Hey Guys, I just got a Rio Grande BBQ bucker and tried to install it in my McCarty. This is a bridge pickup with 4 conductor wiring: There is a braided wire for ground, a green wire, a black wire, and 2 wires that are twisted together (red and white). The guy at the shop I bought it at told me that black was hot, the green and braided were both grounds, and the red white combo was for the coil tap. I just installed it and something must be wrong because it sounds terrible. Even with the coil tap unhooked it sounds very muddy like the tone is rolled all the way off. It actually sounds like it's in the neck position. I have heard these pickups sound great so I must be doing something wrong.....right? Any advice to the wiring of this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Wally
PS- I put the black where the hot on the McCarty pickup came from on the 3 way switch, I put the red/white combo on the coil tap on the tone pot. And I grounded the braid and green to the braided cable that the McCarty pickup was grounded to. I'm pulling my hair out guys/.....What have I done wrong?

[Jim Collins]

Did you say you soldered the green lead to the braid to which the former pickup's braid was soldered? If so, connect the green lead directly to the volume pot casing. Actually, connect the braid from the new pickup to the volume pot casing, as well. Do not twist the braid and green together, just in case you have to reverse the black and green leads, later.

I'd have to hear and see it, but I suspect that the added capacitance of all that braided shield the green was attached to is acting like a big tone cap.

[Wally1]

Thanks For the reply Jim.....It always seems like your on stanby tech support! I did twist the braid and the green together. They were also grounded to the braided wire that goes to the output jack.....the out put jack wire is grounded to the volume pot. The braided wires on the stock pickups were all soldered together to the output jack braided wire (does this make sense). So, I soldered the braided and green wires to where the stock pickups were all connected together on that output jack wire. I will now solder the braids seperately and greens to the volume pot......Stand by.......

[Wally1]

Thanks for all your help Jim! I took your advice and got the pickups working just fine. I took the guitar to rehearsal today and played it for about 4 hours, but I've come to the conclusion these pickups are not for my tastes. Over the last 4 years I've used a SC with 7's in it as my primary guitar and really have grown to love those pickups. The Rio Grandes are a little more vintage sounding to my ears, but they are really good pickups. Nothing against the Rio Grandes...but they are just not my cup o' tea....Thanks again Jim

[richedie]

Thanks for all your help Jim! I took your advice and got the pickups working just fine. I took the guitar to rehearsal today and played it for about 4 hours, but I've come to the conclusion these pickups are not for my tastes. Over the last 4 years I've used a SC with 7's in it as my primary guitar and really have grown to love those pickups. The Rio Grandes are a little more vintage sounding to my ears, but they are really good pickups. Nothing against the Rio Grandes...but they are just not my cup o' tea....Thanks again Jim
Did you find the BBQ thick and rich?? I had the BBQ in two guitars and found it much thicker than most stock pickups and even my Duncans. I think PRS makes great stock pickups and agree with keeping then stock! My buddy uses a CU22 and gets some of the best tones I've heard.

I don't know if I find the BBQ vintage....more like vintage meets modern. They can be very hot if adjusted close to the strings.

Are the McCarty pickups that much more modern and hot?

[richedie]

Wally, I've heard the #7 pickups are very hot but I am surprised you found the BBQ too vintage. I actually find it good for vintage to modern. I think the EQ and output make a pickup vintage and the BBQ has medium output with a lot of mids which to me sound like a medium output modern sounding pickup. Are the #7s that hot!!??

What p'ups sis you settle on? I am finding in most guitars that any good quality pickups will get the job done. After that, it's up to the amp. I can get most pickups sounding the same with a good amp and good EQ, assuming the p'ups are great quality.

[Wally1]

Richedie,

The 7's are pretty hot, but they have more emphasis on the mid range to my ears. I have no doubts that the Rio's sound good in some guitars, but in this particular guitar their sound was not to my liking. They sounded a little muddy compared to the 7's....once again this is just my opinion. Ther Rio's did not seem as hot as a 7 to my ears. I just came to the conclusion that the Rio's are not for me. The stock McCarty pickups arent as hot as a 7 and have a more PAF tone to them....Some people rave about em' and some people dont like them at all. I'm kind of on the fence with them, I think the McCarty's are OK, but I prefer the 7's for what I do (modern rock).

[richedie]

Thanks Wally,

I am starting to really like the McCarty pickups and I also play modern rock, mostly heavy. I like that they are clear and rich and not super hot which allows me to get the most out of my amp. I would only consider PRS pickups for my McCarty at this point because I think they make good pickups and am impressed with the McCarty p'ups. I am thinking about the Dragon II for a little more heat and maybe that would help with the split tones. I am also thinking the D II may be a touch more clear in the neck compared to the McCarty neck. Over all I am happy with the McCarty pickups. My other main guitar is a stock 2003 LP Standard, but I won't rule out getting a Singlecut someday if they aren't all gone.

When I saw that i am going for modern rock tones, I am referring to bands like A Perfect Circle, Tool, Alice in Chains, AFI, Hoobastank, Fuel.....that style modern rock. But, I like to be able to pull classic rock and blues tones out of the pickups which I can with the McCarty.