Need help wiring some pickups

[havocdragon]

Hey all...having some diffuculties wiring some pickups...

Here is what I have

cool rails = neck
vintage rails = middle
hot rails = bridge

The real problem, is SD's online schematics are different from the schematics that came with the pickups...

So here is how I have them wired now (which doesnt work), note that this is all from the 'underside' view, pots facing me

So on the volume I have 1 wire going to the first post on the switch from the left post of the pot. The middle post goes to the right post on the jack (top view on that) and the right post goes to the underside of my guitar to the bridge for ground...

The first tone pot has one wire from the middle post to the 4th on the switch. the right post goes to the second tones middle post. The right post also has the capacitor that I have going to the second tone pot as ground. The last tone pot has a right post that goes to the 3rd post on the switch.

So for the pikcups now...the hot and cool rails have white and green soldered together to ground on the volume pot. The vintage rails has the white and drain soldered together to ground on the volume pot. The red and white wires on the hot and cool rails are soldered together and insulated (with duct tape ) The black wire from the neck pickup goes to the 3rd post on the switch (other side), the vintage rails has a red wire goin to the 2nd post, and hot rails goes to the 1st post, with the black wire.

Finally the left post on the jack goes to ground on the underside of the bridge as well...


Can anyone help me out...right now all that happens is a buzzing sound and nothing more =(

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Need help wiring some pickups

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/3lil_hb_vol_2tones_5way.html

Follow the wiring in this diagram for the Hot Rails in the bridge and the Cool Rail in the neck.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/duck_vrails_vol_2tone_5way.html

Follow this schematic for the Vintage Rail in the middle.

You will notice that the switch wiring, tone pot and volume pot wirings are the same in both schematics. If you follow the color codes and connections in those schematics your guitar should work.

The paragraph that describes the pickup wiring is confusing......

"So for the pikcups now...the hot and cool rails have white and green soldered together to ground"

"The red and white wires on the hot and cool rails are soldered together and insulated"

These two statements are conflicting. I'm pretty sure this is where your problem is.

 

[havocdragon]

Re: Need help wiring some pickups

Thanks Robert

Yea I was fairly tired when typing, and I don't think I got even my description right, however I was useing the wrong schematic, after looking at the one you linked me to .

I mixed up the green, red and bare wires a bit is my problem.

Btw, any tips for soldering to the back of the volume pot? I can solder to a post no problem at all...but it is EXTREMELY difficult to get it to stick to the back of the volume pot...

 

[havocdragon]

Re: Need help wiring some pickups

Another quick question...

can all the things that get soldered to the back of the volume pot be soldered to the same large blob? Or do they have to be seperate?

 

[havocdragon]

Re: Need help wiring some pickups

Nm got it...I also missed the wire on the switch itself

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Need help wiring some pickups

For the backs of pots, scuff them with a little fine sandpaper or wipe them with a little paint thinner to remove any oil placed there before shipping. I like to use a little soldering flux (paste) for all my trickier solder joints. It helps spread out the heat and allows the solder to stick better.

You can solder all your grounds to one location but sometimes it's harder to solder one giant solder joint and it makes things tricky if you decide to remove only one pickup. I usually solder the green/plain wires together for each individual pickup to it's own location on the pot chassis