Blackouts on Strat

[MInd_Reader7]

So I've wired it up and neither the volume or tone knob seem to do anything, and the 3 way switch does the following:
Up: everything is off
Middle: plays clean
Down: plays clean

Have I mixed a wire up or something?

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

You've definitely mixed something up. What do you mean "plays clean"? Is this a HH Strat?

 

[MInd_Reader7]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Yep, it's a HH Strat. I mean clean/no distortion. I printed out a new wiring diagram from the site, it's a bit different.

 

[MInd_Reader7]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

One thing, in a 2 Blackout, 1 volume, 1 tone, 3 way, on the pic it shows one of the tabs on the volume knob is bent up and soldered on. I missed this. I will try again and report back tonight.

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Yeah that tab needs to be grounded for the volume knob to function. Start there and see if that fixes things.

 

[MInd_Reader7]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Ok, so both the volume and tone knobs seems to work. However the 3 way selector does the same thing. I'm assuming that's normal then?

 

[MInd_Reader7]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Bump

 

[Gingrel]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Your 3-way switch should give output in all 3 positions if you've wired it right.

Regarding them being "clean", were you expecting them to be distorted? Distortion comes from the amp, not the pickup...

A photo of your wiring would help enormously.

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Yeah I'm not sure why "clean" is relevant. The switch determines which pickup is active, not how clean the tone is...

 

[MInd_Reader7]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Should have been more specific sorry, I think in both switch positions, both pickups are active, and the third position is nothing at all. I will try and get you a pic (the guitar isn't here with me).

 

[Gingrel]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Is your switch a standard Gibson-style 3-way toggle? If so, I have an idea as to what might be wrong. The toggle switch has 4 lugs (for the sake of convenience we'll call them 1, 2, 3 and 4). The standard wiring is neck to 1, bridge to 4, and 2 and 3 are soldered together and connected to the volume pot. Is it possible that you mistakenly soldered neck to 1, bridge to 3, connected 2 to the volume pot and left 4 empty? This would produce sound in the "neck" and "middle" positions (the neck pickup) but nothing in the "bridge" position.

 

[MInd_Reader7]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

Is your switch a standard Gibson-style 3-way toggle? If so, I have an idea as to what might be wrong. The toggle switch has 4 lugs (for the sake of convenience we'll call them 1, 2, 3 and 4). The standard wiring is neck to 1, bridge to 4, and 2 and 3 are soldered together and connected to the volume pot. Is it possible that you mistakenly soldered neck to 1, bridge to 3, connected 2 to the volume pot and left 4 empty? This would produce sound in the "neck" and "middle" positions (the neck pickup) but nothing in the "bridge" position.

It's a fender 3 way sorry. I think I might just leave it as is. I mean, it still sounds alright.

 

[Gingrel]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

How have you wired your switch?? did you use this diagram?? http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=3ws_trans

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: Blackouts on Strat

I got the Blackouts METALs in my Jackson... hehehehehe!!!