Bridge ground wire goes where?...

[wabisabied]

Hello, brand new here and have a question. I’m a total newbie when it comes to wiring guitars (or anything, really,) so any help is appreciated. I did a search of the forum but haven't found an answer specific to my issue.

I got brave and started taking apart a MIJ hollow-body LP copy (Atlas is the brand on headstock) to see what it might take to swap its humbucker pickups. It looked like more than I had bargained for, so I managed to put everything back in place, only to find that the ground wire coming from the bridge is now loose and I don’t know where it was connected. I suspect the volume pot I had flopping around during my explorations, but it’s hard to tell without taking it apart again; something I’d rather not do. Maybe I'm lazy...

Of course now I have a hum. It stops when I touch either pickup or the output jack. My limited understanding of electronics leads me to think I could solder the bridge ground to the output jack ground post (which is easier to access than the volume pot,) but not sure. In effect doesn’t this just run the ground through me when I touch the strings? Isn’t that dangerous?

Any insights appreciated.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

traditionally.. all grounds converge on the back of the volume pot casing.. there

 

[wabisabied]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

Thanks for the quick reply, Brandenburg.

Does it matter which volume pot? Is it just a matter of looking to see where all the other ground wires go?

I'm hesitant to pull everything apart again because access is severely limited to f-holes and a pain to put back together. That's I'm wondering if the easy way out - attaching to output jack - is a safe option.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

On the east coast of Australia, the bridge grounding wire goes underneath a band aid sticking plaster!

 

[Whammy]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

Thanks for the quick reply, Brandenburg.

Does it matter which volume pot? Is it just a matter of looking to see where all the other ground wires go?

I'm hesitant to pull everything apart again because access is severely limited to f-holes and a pain to put back together. That's I'm wondering if the easy way out - attaching to output jack - is a safe option.

Shouldn't matter as all the pots should be grounded. But it's best to just check where all the other ground wires go and follow suit. There is probably already solder in place on the back of the pot, making soldering the wire to it that bit easier.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

Shouldn't matter as all the pots should be grounded. But it's best to just check where all the other ground wires go and follow suit. There is probably already solder in place on the back of the pot, making soldering the wire to it that bit easier.

well i did say traditionally.. generally its the closest pot which is the volume .. longer the wire,greater the chance of noise IMO

 

[Whammy]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

well i did say traditionally.. generally its the closest pot which is the volume .. longer the wire,greater the chance of noise IMO

Of course. I wasn't implying you were wrong. The simpler the wiring the better.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

As long as all the components are grounded to each other, it doesn't matter where you solder the bridge ground wire. I can see where you are coming from that it would be easier to solder to the output jack (if the wire is long enough). That should be just fine. Do it. Just make sure that you solder it to the correct terminal on the jack...the one that make contact with the sleeve of the guitar cord plug, not the tip.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

As long as all the components are grounded to each other, it doesn't matter where you solder the bridge ground wire. I can see where you are coming from that it would be easier to solder to the output jack (if the wire is long enough). That should be just fine. Do it. Just make sure that you solder it to the correct terminal on the jack...the one that make contact with the sleeve of the guitar cord plug, not the tip.

ohh if he gets it wrong.. he will know.. lol

 

[wabisabied]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

ohh if he gets it wrong.. he will know.. lol

Yes, I knew right away. Wrong to assume white wire goes with white wire!


Originally Posted by GuitarDoc:
"...the one that make contact with the sleeve of the guitar cord plug, not the tip." This was very helpful.

Sounds great now. Meaning totally silent, no hum, better than before I took it apart. Thanks for all the help!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Bridge ground wire goes where?...

You're welcome.