Les Paul Wiring Issue

[Corbic]

So, recently the sound has been cutting out on the bridge pickup on my Les Paul. This pickup is the Brobucker that I installed myself, so I tried rewiring it to the potentiometer. This only made the cutting out even worse.

When the bridge pickup is on by itself, the sound will either be really quiet or at normal volume. If its not at normal volume, shaking the guitar or hitting the strings usually brings it back to normal. When switching to the other pickup selections, however, the pickup dies down again. In the middle position, I can only get the neck pickup to work. And when switching back, the same problem happens. And now after this rewiring, it won't even go back to full volume.

To make sure it wasn't the Brobucker, I reinstalled the Burstbucker that came with the Les Paul, and sure enough, I have the same issue there. Does anyone know what this might be? I want to order parts as soon as possible to get my Les Paul up and running again, and didn't know whether or not to order new pots, a new switch, or whatever else I might need. Thanks very much!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

did you check the output wire of that volume pot to the switch?

i'd say before buying pots or switches, plug it into the amp with the back open and just hit a string and then start jiggling wires around.

I fixed a blackheart amp that way. shocked the crap outta myself once ( felt it in my whole body, finger numb for a min or two) but when i wiggled the volume i could recreate the cutting out that I was experiencing. I just tightened the pot and I was done.

so just experiment and see. I've heated the crap outta pots before but I've never had a pot die, it was always my solder joints.

 

[lex666]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

...sounds like a broken or cold solder joint.

Also check to be sure there isn'y a bare wire somewhere bleeding your signal off to ground (or anywhere else)

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

Sounds like a bad connection, probably to the switch.

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

And just to cover all the bases, check the output jack connections.

MM

 

[tone4days]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

my money is on both / either ends of the connection wire going to the switch from the bridge pup needing resoldered

 

[Corbic]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

Thanks guys! I'm going to try and fix the solder joints this weekend, hopefully I'll have her up and running in no time!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Les Paul Wiring Issue

Thanks guys! I'm going to try and fix the solder joints this weekend, hopefully I'll have her up and running in no time!

If every wire is where it's supposed to be, then one of the connections isn't good. Not that many connections to check. Easy fix.