Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
- Thread starter Jermo3178
- Start date
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
Ok, there is absolutely no chance of us being able to diagnose anything from this. Can you add a link to the diagram, or attach it to your next post. Also an in-focus photo of your wiring. If its a rats nest, then maybe its better just to start again.
Other options include wiring just pickups to the jack. Then wire each independently to a volume and tone and see if this works. Then add the switch into the mix.
Ok, there is absolutely no chance of us being able to diagnose anything from this. Can you add a link to the diagram, or attach it to your next post. Also an in-focus photo of your wiring. If its a rats nest, then maybe its better just to start again.
Other options include wiring just pickups to the jack. Then wire each independently to a volume and tone and see if this works. Then add the switch into the mix.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
Apparently you didn't follow everything to the letter. All it takes is missing one connection, or making a wrong connection, and we've all done that at some point. Review it again to verify it to the diagram, it's easy to miss something, especially if you're new at this. Look at the hot wires for the bridge and all their connections, then the neck. Make sure every electrical part is grounded and linked together in one big loop. Verify every soldering is firm by plugging in and wiggling the wires. Also make sure there's no wire strands that could touch anything else; the soldering points should all be clean.
Did you try it with the cover plate on? Sometimes everything works, but when you put the plate on, a wire or connection gets pushed and grounds out. If you have push-back wire, accidently grounding-out is a common problem, and I'll use a small piece of bubble wrap to keep it from touching anything else.
Apparently you didn't follow everything to the letter. All it takes is missing one connection, or making a wrong connection, and we've all done that at some point. Review it again to verify it to the diagram, it's easy to miss something, especially if you're new at this. Look at the hot wires for the bridge and all their connections, then the neck. Make sure every electrical part is grounded and linked together in one big loop. Verify every soldering is firm by plugging in and wiggling the wires. Also make sure there's no wire strands that could touch anything else; the soldering points should all be clean.
Did you try it with the cover plate on? Sometimes everything works, but when you put the plate on, a wire or connection gets pushed and grounds out. If you have push-back wire, accidently grounding-out is a common problem, and I'll use a small piece of bubble wrap to keep it from touching anything else.
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Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
A common mistake is that there are several exposed "hot" terminals in a normal guitar cavity. Volume lugs, for example. If you have braided humbuckers, it's easy to have one of those shields touch something "hot" while shoving all the wire back into the cavity. Check that too.
A common mistake is that there are several exposed "hot" terminals in a normal guitar cavity. Volume lugs, for example. If you have braided humbuckers, it's easy to have one of those shields touch something "hot" while shoving all the wire back into the cavity. Check that too.
Jocelyn
New member
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
Upload a photo of the guitar control cavity. Also this may sound silly but did you check cables? I have had issues that Blueman335 stated, Wired everything correct pickup works well Put back the control cavity cover and no sound, because the control plate pushed a wire and it grounded out.
Upload a photo of the guitar control cavity. Also this may sound silly but did you check cables? I have had issues that Blueman335 stated, Wired everything correct pickup works well Put back the control cavity cover and no sound, because the control plate pushed a wire and it grounded out.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
One of the mistakes people new to wiring make is to take out everything at once. Sometimes they get lost with everything going on. It's best to remove the wires from one part at a time, and attach them to the new part. Do it in steps until you get some experience under your belt.
One of the mistakes people new to wiring make is to take out everything at once. Sometimes they get lost with everything going on. It's best to remove the wires from one part at a time, and attach them to the new part. Do it in steps until you get some experience under your belt.
Rodney Gene
O.G.
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
Lots of excellent advice to follow here.
My .02 contribution to add to these processes for now or later. If you have... a multi-meter, set it to continuity and just start checking for a short in your hot leads somewhere (if you can recognize form the diagram what should be 'hot'). The 'beep' does all of the work for us. It is my 'go to' troubleshooting tool. Start with one probe on the hot lug of the output jack and start probing grounds with the other. If there is a short, it will be self-evident instantly and /or if there is a ground wire not intact it will be self-evident.
As mentioned, this happens to all of us. Even after 100 rewires. Some control cavities are insanely small for a full sized leads (and I don't like to cut mine short). Sometimes we shove the wires in, close the lid and hope for the best, LOL! Keep at it, you'll find it. We always do. Cheers! RG
Lots of excellent advice to follow here.
My .02 contribution to add to these processes for now or later. If you have... a multi-meter, set it to continuity and just start checking for a short in your hot leads somewhere (if you can recognize form the diagram what should be 'hot'). The 'beep' does all of the work for us. It is my 'go to' troubleshooting tool. Start with one probe on the hot lug of the output jack and start probing grounds with the other. If there is a short, it will be self-evident instantly and /or if there is a ground wire not intact it will be self-evident.
As mentioned, this happens to all of us. Even after 100 rewires. Some control cavities are insanely small for a full sized leads (and I don't like to cut mine short). Sometimes we shove the wires in, close the lid and hope for the best, LOL! Keep at it, you'll find it. We always do. Cheers! RG
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
As Rodney said, if you're swapping PU's and/or rewiring, a multimeter is one of the handiest things you can own. I can't imagine not having one.
Rodney: don't disappear on us, I'm liking having you around. You have a ton of experience.
As Rodney said, if you're swapping PU's and/or rewiring, a multimeter is one of the handiest things you can own. I can't imagine not having one.
Rodney: don't disappear on us, I'm liking having you around. You have a ton of experience.
Jermo3178
Member
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
I apologize for the sporadic beginning of this tread... The frustration, need to be in bed about 3 hours before I figured out something was wrong, and let's not forget to take into account my NOOB (forum and guitar modding) status kicked in.... and it speaks volumes.
Here is a pic of the diagram
Here's what I have, minus the 3way switch
I apologize for the sporadic beginning of this tread... The frustration, need to be in bed about 3 hours before I figured out something was wrong, and let's not forget to take into account my NOOB (forum and guitar modding) status kicked in.... and it speaks volumes.
Here is a pic of the diagram
Here's what I have, minus the 3way switch
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
I've had some wirings that have stumped me, and I've found it's always best to walk away when you're frustrated, and come back later when you're fresh and rested. That may be hours, or even days. It's usually something simple, staring you in the face, and when you're tired and aggrevated, you'll see it but it won't register. When you finally find it, you say: 'Aw geez. I should have caught this in the beginning.' We've all been thru it.
I've had some wirings that have stumped me, and I've found it's always best to walk away when you're frustrated, and come back later when you're fresh and rested. That may be hours, or even days. It's usually something simple, staring you in the face, and when you're tired and aggrevated, you'll see it but it won't register. When you finally find it, you say: 'Aw geez. I should have caught this in the beginning.' We've all been thru it.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
First off, you have terminal 2 of the volume pots bent back and soldered to ground via the pot chassis. (This is where your signal has gone!!!) Secondly, you have terminal 3 bent back and soldered to the chassis on your Tone pots.
First off, you have terminal 2 of the volume pots bent back and soldered to ground via the pot chassis. (This is where your signal has gone!!!) Secondly, you have terminal 3 bent back and soldered to the chassis on your Tone pots.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
The schematic diagram and the wiring in the photograph are different from one another.
Observe, as an example, the drawing of the Neck PU Volume control. The circle represents the chassis of the pot. The three black "fingers" represent the terminals. The semi-circular loop between the circle and the uppermost "finger" represents a physical connection. There is no corresponding connection in the photograph.
In similar fashion, observe the total absence in the diagram of another semi-circular loop drawn between the middle terminal of each volume pot and the pot chassis.
The schematic diagram and the wiring in the photograph are different from one another.
Observe, as an example, the drawing of the Neck PU Volume control. The circle represents the chassis of the pot. The three black "fingers" represent the terminals. The semi-circular loop between the circle and the uppermost "finger" represents a physical connection. There is no corresponding connection in the photograph.
In similar fashion, observe the total absence in the diagram of another semi-circular loop drawn between the middle terminal of each volume pot and the pot chassis.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
Not exactly. You have connected some of the terminals in the wrong order.
As things stand, you have diverted your signal to ground in several places. Remedying this will involve desoldering several terminals, bending them away from each pot chassis and trying to clean off the excess solder before starting again.
Not exactly. You have connected some of the terminals in the wrong order.
As things stand, you have diverted your signal to ground in several places. Remedying this will involve desoldering several terminals, bending them away from each pot chassis and trying to clean off the excess solder before starting again.
Jermo3178
Member
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
After staring at the pic and the pic of the golden age harness on the stewmac website, mine was on the template the exact opposite of the picture. Wondering if I desolder, turn it all around, and hook it all back up, if that will fix any of my problems... at least a starting spot...
Would I have fried anything by hooking it all up wrong?
After staring at the pic and the pic of the golden age harness on the stewmac website, mine was on the template the exact opposite of the picture. Wondering if I desolder, turn it all around, and hook it all back up, if that will fix any of my problems... at least a starting spot...
Would I have fried anything by hooking it all up wrong?
tubecrunch
New member
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
No. And you didn't fry anything except brain cells.
No. And you didn't fry anything except brain cells.
Re: Followed Stewmac diagram... no sound...
You can bend back a terminal and ground it that way, or you can connect the cap to the back of the pot to achieve ground. They do the same thing, just different ways of going about it.
To tell you the truth, that stewmac diagram is about the most confusing version I've seen.
You can bend back a terminal and ground it that way, or you can connect the cap to the back of the pot to achieve ground. They do the same thing, just different ways of going about it.
To tell you the truth, that stewmac diagram is about the most confusing version I've seen.