Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

donalddemon

donalddemon

New member
I'm just about done rewiring my new pickguard for my Strat from scratch. I have a Jazz in the neck and 59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge with push/pull splits on each volume pot and a master tone. I followed the SD wiring diagram below.

https://www.seymourduncan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2H_3B_2VppSPL_1T.pdf'

2H_3B_2VppSPL_1T.jpg

My question is do the grounds from the pots need to be attached to the ground from the trem claw and output jack sleeve? The diagram shows the sleeve of the jack to ground but doesn't show if it attaches to the pot or directly to the trem claw ground wire. Then there is the shield wire that grounds to the screw in the pickup cavity, which was tied into the trem claw ground. I was doing good until I got to this part.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Discharged said:
In a nutshell, yes.

/Peter
Click to expand...

I kind of figured so but was hoping not! Most diagrams show the ground from output jack and bridge/claw going to the bridge volume pot. It really deosn't matter which pot it's grounded to right, as long as they are all grounded and tied together?
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

donalddemon said:
I kind of figured so but was hoping not! Most diagrams show the ground from output jack and bridge/claw going to the bridge volume pot. It really deosn't matter which pot it's grounded to right, as long as they are all grounded and tied together?
Click to expand...

Yup. Some people believe in a thing called "star grounding" but so long as all metal is connected to a ground wire in some way or another, you should be fine.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

donalddemon said:
I kind of figured so but was hoping not! Most diagrams show the ground from output jack and bridge/claw going to the bridge volume pot. It really deosn't matter which pot it's grounded to right, as long as they are all grounded and tied together?
Click to expand...

Correct, just run a wire from the sleeve to the back of a pot
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Chistopher said:
Yup. Some people believe in a thing called "star grounding" but so long as all metal is connected to a ground wire in some way or another, you should be fine.
Click to expand...

blueman335 said:
Only if you don't want a lot of noise.
Click to expand...

Ayrton said:
Correct, just run a wire from the sleeve to the back of a pot
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know what the hell happened! Finished wiring it and plugged in the guitar...all I get is hiss and crackle, no sound! I wired the trem claw ground to the cavity shield wire, then took that and the sleeve wire from jack and soldered to the side (there is no back on these) of the bridge pot. Sigh....sometimes I hate doing this stuff, I might have to pay somebody to figure out what's wrong, I've wasted way too much time already.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

I don't know if this helps for those willing:

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Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Never think of this as wasting time, you are learning and we have all been there.

Can't say I have ever seen those type of pots, is there a reason for them?
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Ayrton said:
Can't say I have ever seen those type of pots, is there a reason for them?
Click to expand...

Gibson uses those now, there is no difference internally, to the best of my knowledge.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

donalddemon said:
Well, I don't know what the hell happened! Finished wiring it and plugged in the guitar...all I get is hiss and crackle, no sound! I wired the trem claw ground to the cavity shield wire, then took that and the sleeve wire from jack and soldered to the side (there is no back on these) of the bridge pot. Sigh....sometimes I hate doing this stuff, I might have to pay somebody to figure out what's wrong, I've wasted way too much time already.
Click to expand...

Are your hot and ground backwards on the jack?
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Ok, wow, I reeeaaaly ****ed this one up.

So the each pickup works....when turned down! Yes the pots are backwards somehow.

The pickup selector works in reverse too (neck=bridge & vice versa).

Da fuq did I do? :lol:
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Ayrton said:
Never think of this as wasting time, you are learning and we have all been there.

Can't say I have ever seen those type of pots, is there a reason for them?
Click to expand...

They are CTS pots, supposedly better for small cavities like a Strat when you want to have push/pull. I have never used them before either and don't think I would use them again. They were a major PITA to wire up.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

So you are squared away?

You can call me if you need help.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Ayrton said:
So you are squared away?

You can call me if you need help.
Click to expand...

If I have it right then I need to swap lugs on the switch for neck & bridge pickups and swap ground & hot lugs on the pots (middle stays as hot to the switch??

Thanks for the help!
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

You can just flip the switch around if you want. I put the spring outside normally.

Just swap the two outside lugs on the pot to get the correct taper.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Just looked up those pots, push/pulls with solder holes. I can see where that would be easier. Those little barbs can be a ***** sometimes.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

Ayrton said:
You can just flip the switch around if you want. I put the spring outside normally.

Just swap the two outside lugs on the pot to get the correct taper.
Click to expand...

Ayrton said:
Just looked up those pots, push/pulls with solder holes. I can see where that would be easier. Those little barbs can be a ***** sometimes.
Click to expand...

You would think they would be easier but they aren't IMO, those holes are tiny.

So I fixed the switch by changing lugs for the pickups and that worked. I swapped the outside lugs on one of the pots and it works the right way now but my pot now lets volume through when fully "off"?? Is it because I didn't connect the lug to ground on the other lug that was attached to hot previously? I don't know, but I've had enough for today, throwing in the towel for now so I can actually go play a guitar that works.
 
Re: Do the grounds need to be all tied together? (Strat w/ 2 HB's)

If doing two volumes, no tone then both pots get grounded to themselves. Bend the lug back against the pot or add a jumper.
 
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