Neck pickup only audible... again

A

Almost Never

New member
I had this issue previously.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...ed-up-Les-Paul-wiring-what-might-the-issue-be

I followed the Les Paul 2 pickup, 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch diagram here. The neck pickup seems to be controlled by both volume pots, either one, and the bridge doesn't do anything. What did I do wrong? I double checked it and don't see an issue. With the switch in the middle, I only hear the neck, and with the switch on the bridge, I don't get anything from the bridge and a tiny amount from the neck.

I got a new wiring setup, same pickups, followed the Duncan diagram. The same issue.

What the hell is causing it?
 
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Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

I would be willing to bet the volume that is not working does not have a properly connected ground. Test for continuity to ground on the volume that is not working, and if that's the problem, touch the lugs with a hot solder iron long enough to reflow the solder. Then test continuity again after it cools.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

The odd thing is that I have done this twice, two completely different sets of pots, switches, and jacks, and have the same issue.

The pickguard is currently ungrounded, because I removed it to wire it and test prior to install.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Almost Never said:
I got a new wiring setup, same pickups, followed the Duncan diagram. The same issue.

What the hell is causing it?
Click to expand...
Well, judging from the pictures and your response to the people trying their best to help you, shown in the other thread, the problems are, as follows:
1. unability to properly follow a diagram.
2. doubtful soldering skills
3. denial of points 1 and 2.

The only solution I see to that 3rd-world-war-aftermath mess of a wiring of yours is the following:
1. a complete makeover
2. by somebody more skilled than yourself
3. that can actually listen to the good people trying to help
4. follow the proper wiring scheme - http://www.solodallas.com/the-infamous-50s-wiring-d-i-y-tutorial/

PS: you asked!

HTH,
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

+1

I have to agree with Pepe's blunt but honest comments.

I examined the photographs in the earlier thread. It was impossible to see which of the three signal bearing conductor wires at the selector switch connected to which of the three terminal points. Thus, it is impossible to identify the possible errors that might explain the problem(s) within the wiring.

Schematic wiring diagrams for electric guitars are partially misnamed. Yes, they do represent the connections between components but they do so in a manner that includes the physical positioning of those components.

Some of the conventions of circuit illustration attempt to convey a certain clarity of thinking. There is a flow to everything. The order and position in which the individual soldering actions occurs is significant. More importantly, making a tidy job of wiring harness assembly helps in the event of ever needing to modify or disassemble it in future.

In any kind of guitar-related problem solving exercise, it is essential to view the instrument in EXACTLY the condition that it was when it "failed". This counts double when trying to assist remotely via t'Interweb.
 
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Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Here, in the finest Blue Peter tradition, is one I made earlier.

This will plop directly into any regular Fender Stratocaster and not a few irregular ones.
 

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Re: Neck pickup only audible... again



That's the last one I've made, a couple of weeks ago.

Stew Mac's Golden Age Pickups Strat set w/Hot bridge, CTS 250K TVT pots, CLR switch, .047 Sprague 225P Orange Drop cap.

Note the use of shielded wire going to the output jack.

HTH,
 
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Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

^
Exemplary stuff.

Anybody could cross-reference Pepe's work in post #7 against the official schematic diagram and read it like a map.




P. S. - That Leo Fender was a clever B.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

I have to agree with Pepe and Funk.

After looking at your photo there is only one word that comes to mind to describe your solder connections..."horrible".
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

LtKojak said:
Well, judging from the pictures and your response to the people trying their best to help you, shown in the other thread, the problems are, as follows:
1. unability to properly follow a diagram.
2. doubtful soldering skills
3. denial of points 1 and 2.

The only solution I see to that 3rd-world-war-aftermath mess of a wiring of yours is the following:
1. a complete makeover
2. by somebody more skilled than yourself
3. that can actually listen to the good people trying to help
4. follow the proper wiring scheme - http://www.solodallas.com/the-infamous-50s-wiring-d-i-y-tutorial/

PS: you asked!

HTH,
Click to expand...

I hope you're more mature outside of the forums.

As I said, I completely changed everything, with a new wiring harness taken from a different guitar.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

and if the soldering isn't the issue, the likely culprit is the switch. I've had more than one switch give up on me. One position would work, the other? not so much.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Edgecrusher said:
Then you need to post new clear and detailed pictures
Click to expand...

I don't think that the issue is going to be found staring at a picture of a difficult-to-view picture. I didn't think it the first time, either. I think that there must be something very simple in the Duncan diagram that makes this issue possible. I have done this same wiring twice, with two completely different harnesses, one of which I changed very little from the setup it had I when I purchased it, and they both have the same issue. I am not asking about the quality of my soldering or my ability to follow a diagram; I know I likely made mistakes, however, I also know that poor soldering won't explain IDENTICAL ISSUES with two different harnesses. I had hoped for better behavior from forumites.

VqmTa4j.jpg


orpheo said:
and if the soldering isn't the issue, the likely culprit is the switch. I've had more than one switch give up on me. One position would work, the other? not so much.
Click to expand...

The switch is new, as is everything in the harness aside from the pickups.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Unfortunately, short of being in the same room as the offending guitar, comparing a .pdf schematic wiring diagram against photographs of the actual guitar wiring is the only way to spot errors.

The photograph in post #13 is sharper than the previous offerings (thank you) and the soldering is tidier but it is still difficult to see what is going where around the bridge position pickup volume pot. Also, the selector switch and surrounding area are not fully in shot. (Sometimes, the soldering can be perfect but some physical or mechanical problem prevents something from working as it should.)
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Funkfingers said:
Unfortunately, short of being in the same room as the offending guitar, comparing a .pdf schematic wiring diagram against photographs of the actual guitar wiring is the only way to spot errors.

The photograph in post #13 is sharper than the previous offerings (thank you) and the soldering is tidier but it is still difficult to see what is going where around the bridge position pickup volume pot. Also, the selector switch and surrounding area are not fully in shot. (Sometimes, the soldering can be perfect but some physical or mechanical problem prevents something from working as it should.)
Click to expand...

I find it difficult to believe that two completely different harnesses can have the same issue without it being a problem with either the pickup or the diagram. I thought maybe there was something simple with the diagram that, if done incorrectly, would create this issue.

I have a meter, but it only has DC V, AC V, and Ma, so I can't test the bridge pickup well.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Almost Never said:
I find it difficult to believe that two completely different harnesses can have the same issue …
Click to expand...

Why? I find this possibility extremely easy to believe.

Components can fail. Being brand new, fresh out of the box, is no guarantee of full functionality.

Some of the official SD schematic wiring diagrams are known to contain errors. (e.g. The Blackouts for Bass Active EQ accessory.) The generic "Gibson" 2V, 2T, Switchcraft selector switch diagram is NOT one of these.


Almost Never said:
… without it being a problem with either the pickup or the diagram.
Click to expand...

You appear to have dismissed the following possibilities;

1) Physical contact between the metal parts of a three-way toggle switch and nearby screening material causing a short to ground. Case in point, the Gibson Les Paul - especially the Norlin era examples with the metal cavity screening "cans".

2) Physical contact between the sprung leaf contacts of a three-way toggle selector switch and something solid, preventing the contacts from meeting correctly and, hence, passing no signal.

3) Human error.

I have been torturing the innards of electric guitars for almost forty years. Almost invariably, the cause of something going wrong is either an unwise decision that I made or failure to carry out the soldering correctly.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Funkfingers said:
Why? I find this possibility extremely easy to believe.

Components can fail. Being brand new, fresh out of the box, is no guarantee of full functionality.
Click to expand...

The components would either be the pickups, or identical components on two different harnesses sourced from identical places.

Funkfingers said:
Some of the official SD schematic wiring diagrams are known to contain errors. (e.g. The Blackouts for Bass Active EQ accessory.) The generic "Gibson" 2V, 2T, Switchcraft selector switch diagram is NOT one of these.
Click to expand...

I might try to use a different diagram.


Funkfingers said:
You appear to have dismissed the following possibilities;

1) Physical contact between the metal parts of a three-way toggle switch and nearby screening material causing a short to ground. Case in point, the Gibson Les Paul - especially the Norlin era examples with the metal cavity screening "cans".
Click to expand...

The pickguard is outside of the guitar. It is making contact with nothing but plastic.

Funkfingers said:
2) Physical contact between the sprung leaf contacts of a three-way toggle selector switch and something solid, preventing the contacts from meeting correctly and, hence, passing no signal.
Click to expand...

I find it unlikely it would be the case of two different switches, in the same position.

Funkfingers said:
3) Human error.
Click to expand...

At no point did I say it was anything BUT human error. I'm sure I screwed it up; however, I am thinking it is likely something in the diagram that makes this error likely, as it has happened twice. Despite the comments about my ability to solder (as if I am personally rubbing two sticks together to generate friction heat to control how hot my iron gets), this strikes me as much more of a technical issue than an ineptitude issue.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

Update

The pickup is dead. I wired it directly to a jack and tested it. It barely produces sound.
 
Re: Neck pickup only audible... again

that's odd. What kind of pickup is it? Contact the customer support tomorrow, first thing. They can help you out quite fast.
 
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