5-way HH wiring troubleshooting

[turbothighs]

Hello!



I am working on a custom build for myself and I’m trying to use this Strandberg wiring diagram:


I got everything wired up, and positions 1-3 sound okay with my screwdriver tap test, but positions 4 and 5 have no output. I identified that there is a ground loop happening in those two positions, and by removing one wire at a time, I traced it to the ground wire that runs off of lug 8. Removing that wire removes the ground loop (but also changes the switch behavior, so it’s not really a fix). Here’s my current wiring situation (lug 8 is gator clipped for testing purposes):




My three main questions are:

1. What is the purpose of the ground wire running from lug 8 in the diagram? My understanding of 5 way switches would mean that it’s just introducing a ground loop in positions 4 and 5 - what am I missing there?
2. If it’s not expected that that wire introduces a ground loop (which I’m assuming), what should I check around that wire to try to troubleshoot? I’ve already completely replaced that wire with a fresh one and that didn’t fix anything, so I don’t think it’s an issue with the wire/joints, but I could be wrong of course.
3. The switch I’m using (Kaish 5-way) came with a bridge between lugs 4 and 5 from the factory. I saw that those lugs were colored differently in the diagram, so I assumed that represented the factory bridge and left it in. I did try clipping it at one point, but all that did was kill my 3rd position, so I soldered it back. However, I did cross poss this to Reddit and someone there suggested that may be what’s breaking my circuit. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Artie]

That wiring and switch doesn't come close to what's listed on the chart on the right. Is that the original switch? I can't help but wonder if it originally had one of those odd Schaller Megaswitches.

Here's a translation of what you have now. And no, the jumper shouldn't be there between lugs #4 and #5. That would put the neck pickup on all the time.

Something is clearly wrong, with either that diagram, or that switch.

 

[turbothighs]

That wiring and switch doesn't come close to what's listed on the chart on the right. Is that the original switch? I can't help but wonder if it originally had one of those odd Schaller Megaswitches.

Here's a translation of what you have now. And no, the jumper shouldn't be there between lugs #4 and #5. That would put the neck pickup on all the time.

Something is clearly wrong, with either that diagram, or that switch.

Thanks for the chart! I’m building this guitar from a kit, and using the supplied pickups, so they’re no-names. I believe they follow the SD color coding for the wires, where black is the main hot wire.

My understanding of that diagram was that it used a typical import 5 way switch. The kit came with a 3-way, so I got this 5 way on Amazon - it’s the Kaish heavy duty 5 way switch.

I notice your chart has the bridge and neck leads flipped from the original diagram. Was that intentional?

 

[Artie]

I notice your chart has the bridge and neck leads flipped from the original diagram. Was that intentional?

No. That was by accident. I thought the one on the left was the bridge. I see the little logos now. That means you can just swap my bridge and neck labels on my diagram.

I think that if you want the functionality of that chart, you'll need a Superswitch. But let me chew on it awhile to be sure.

 

[turbothighs]

No. That was by accident. I thought the one on the left was the bridge. I see the little logos now. That means you can just swap my bridge and neck labels on my diagram.

I think that if you want the functionality of that chart, you'll need a Superswitch. But let me chew on it awhile to be sure.

I tried clipping that bridge between lugs 4 and 5 again, and I got the same result I initially did- position 3 now has no sound, leaving only positions 1 and 2 working. Interestingly though, the ground loop is gone based on my multimeter testing - so the issue must be elsewhere at this point.

I’m getting to the point where I may just order a new switch with more wiring options, but if you have any revelations, I’m all ears. Thanks again for all the help so far!

 

[Artie]

Just gimme a little time. I move sloooow these days.