Bizarre import switch issue

[andyg_prs]

I've been restoring a Squier Classic Vibe Strat that had a hard life.

Somebody had put a humbucker in the bridge and the electronics were horrible, so I started again with a new scratchplate, CTS pots etc.

I wired a volume and universal tone and got a no-load pot to blend the bridge and neck together.



Seeing as it had an import switch, I use a continuity tester to demonstrate that the 8 connectors were B M N C C B M N (bridge, middle, neck, common etc).

I tested the no-load blender pot and decided to make things neater I'd simply keep the pickup connections to the left of the switch and the blender pot connection to the right.

I really took my time to get everything done as cleanly as possible. I connected up to my practice amp and tapped the pole pieces with a screw driver.....5 way positions all good....blender pot...nothing. After countless amounts of cursing and headscratching I tried disconnecting the blender pot connections and connected up on the left hand side. All good.

So it's working and later I'll restring...but mighty confused.

I swear the lugs on the left and right (Bridge left and Bridge right) only tested positive for continuity when the pickup selector was in the right please.

Very strange.

It would be that the only electric component I didn't change caused the headache....

Anybody got any ideas what caused the issue?

Cheers,
Andy

 

[Hank-]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

You see the place where the blue wire is connecting to the switch. The two tabs are linked/bridged. You need to remove the tiny link between them. The wires from the blender pot are connecting to the hot wire leading to the switch, thats why it isn't working the way you want.

 

[andyg_prs]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

Hmm, my brain is hurting.

At the moment I have the red wires from the blender pot going to the Neck and Bridge lugs on the left hand side of the switch and everything works fine.

So, for example when the 5-way is selecting the neck only (and therefore the neck is going to hot - the blue wire attached to the interconnected common lugs).

When I engage the blender pot, I start to get signal from the bridge pickup as we all the neck pickup....which is how it should work.

How is this any different to connecting the two red wires to the Neck and Bridge lugs on the right hand side of the switch. They are doing exactly the same thing as the left hand side of the switch.

I must be misunderstanding something fundamental here!

Cheers,
Andy

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

Did you remember to solder the leads to the blend pot? It almost looks like you forgot to solder them.

 

[andyg_prs]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

Did you remember to solder the leads to the blend pot? It almost looks like you forgot to solder them.

Nope.....they were just done as cleanly as I could with 0.6mm solder.....they have a very solid, and lovely shiny silver solder connection all over....just not too much for the sake of it.

I've contacted Tonerider as my first issue is the output of the bridge pickup, with or without the blender pot applied.

I know from using my continuity tester that the no-load pot really is no load at "10".

It's a mystery why selected Neck, fully blended clearly incorporates the bridge but Bridge selected, fully blended Neck only sounds like the Bridge. Ultimately the hot from the bridge and the hot from the neck hit the same lugs on the blender pot, so there can't be any "directionality" impacting these?

In terms of coil direction and magnets to have the bridge and neck act as a spaced out humbucker...I hadn't been looking to do that....it's a very interesting idea....but so far it had just been a tonal thing...

Will report back once I hear from Tonerider....or have to chase them again.

It's slightly odd that to buy a single pickup (rather than a set) I had to order from Germany, but when I google their site, they say they are UK based...as am I...

Cheers,
Andy

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

Those two red wires also appear to be in backwards. Use the same two lugs on the pot, but switch them.

Also, on the switch, the two middle lugs must be soldered together to connect the two halves of the switch to one another.

 

[andyg_prs]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

The red wires are now directly connected on the left hand side of the switch. In terms of the pot, only those two lugs function....I've checked with a continuity tester...

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Bizarre import switch issue

Sounds like it's time to get rid of the cheap Chinese switch. I just noticed you were having issues with the non-blended bridge volume.

I would blame the Chinese switch to be the issue, and not the new German boutique pickup.

(P.S. It wouldn;t hurt to invest in a Fralin blender pot too. Just sayin...:burnout

P.P.S. And a Sprague Orange Drop instead of the ceramic capacitor.