Need Help with LP wiring

[tiorunder]

I don't have much hair left and I am tempted to rip it out if I can't get my wiring together !

Got a Tele with 2 humbuckers and a 3-way BLADE switch (no toggle). I wired this thing 3 times now and it still wont work. All of the components are new and test out as good. Getting an incredible amount of hum. I follwed the diagram to a tee. Using GFS pups - green is +, black is - and the red and white are soldered and taped together. The braided shielding wire is grounded as well. All of the pots are grounded to each other. The caps are where they should be. The hot wire from the pickups go into the volume controls and out to the switch - which I am positive (no pun intended) is wired correctly. The hot from the switch goes directly to the jack. The jack is grounded to a tone pot. The bridge is also grounded. I even reversed the wires on the jack - but I am still getting mucho hum. Any Ideas ?? Thank you in advance.

John

 

[SwedishHumbucker]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Is the bridge grounded to the back of a pot?

 

[DMyers77]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

A couple things come to mind:

1 - are you sure that green +, black -, and red/white together is the correct wiring for GFS pickups? Duncan's use that color code, but usually other manufacturers are different

2 - are you accidentally using a speaker cable between your guitar and amp instead of an instrument cable?

3 - are you using a dimmer switch in your house?

I don't have much hair left and I am tempted to rip it out if I can't get my wiring together !

Got a Tele with 2 humbuckers and a 3-way BLADE switch (no toggle). I wired this thing 3 times now and it still wont work. All of the components are new and test out as good. Getting an incredible amount of hum. I follwed the diagram to a tee. Using GFS pups - green is +, black is - and the red and white are soldered and taped together. The braided shielding wire is grounded as well. All of the pots are grounded to each other. The caps are where they should be. The hot wire from the pickups go into the volume controls and out to the switch - which I am positive (no pun intended) is wired correctly. The hot from the switch goes directly to the jack. The jack is grounded to a tone pot. The bridge is also grounded. I even reversed the wires on the jack - but I am still getting mucho hum. Any Ideas ?? Thank you in advance.

John

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Bridge is grounded to volume pot. Color codes are similar to Duncan, - except for the green and black. GFS black is ground ,- green goes into the volume pot. The cable I use is instrument grade and works fine with my other guitars. No dimmer switch. It's gotta be something simple, but I am stumped. I have NEVER taken anything in to anyone for repair be it a car, guitar or washing machine - but I am starting to consider it. Thanks for your replies.

 

[DMyers77]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Here is a good diagram for reference:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=tele_2hum

Just double check your connections. If the humbuckers aren't covered, make sure that both coils are working by tapping an the pole pieces with a screwdriver.

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

DMyers77, -

That is a beautiful diagram except - I have 2 volume and 2 tone controls, so I am actually wiring a Les Paul. I have the diagram for wiring a Les Paul from the Seymour Duncan site. 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3 way switch. The only difference is that I am using a 3-way blade switch from a Tele. I am CERTAIN that I have wired the switch correctly.

I may have found a solution. Every other wiring diagram I have found for LP is the same - and they all differ from the diagram on the Duncan site. I don't want to believe the diagram on the Duncan site is incorrect - but after wiring this guitar 4 times now - I could do it in my sleep ! I am going to try to wire this thing yet again using the other diagrams, which, as I have already mentioned, are the same. The difference from the diagram on the Duncan site is in the placement of the capacitor. Wish me luck. And if this works out for me - I will let you know.

Thanks to all who have helped me.

John Carroll

 

[DMyers77]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

That is a beautiful diagram except - I have 2 volume and 2 tone controls, so I am actually wiring a Les Paul.

Sorry, I was just going by your original post.

Got a Tele with 2 humbuckers and a 3-way BLADE switch (no toggle).

For your wiring, each pickup goes to it's own volume pot first, and the output of that pot goes to the switch. The tone pot hangs off the volume pot. If you combine this diagram with the last one I linked to, you'll get the idea.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_2t_3w

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

DMyers - That is the diagram I was going by - other diagrams show a different placement of the capacitor - I tried the other diagrams and still no luck, BUT - I just found one of my volume pots to be defective - that was probably my problem all along. Anyway, I am in the process of replacing that bugger right now and I'm gonna try again. I WILL get it in the end for I have no choice.

This electricity thing is very abstract to me and I am having much difficulty, but I am learning. Learning can be difficult. Learning can be hard. It's like exercising - no pain, no gain. I am going to forget about becoming frustrated - that gets you nowhere.

My Dad was a TV and radio genius. He would have had this thing wired flawlessly in short time. I can't help but think he is watching me and laughing his a$$ off at me, and knowing that I will find the answer and learn something in the meantime.

DMeyers - I'll keep you updated. This has been quite an experience for me. Thanks for your continuing support.

John Carroll

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Got it finally. Bad pot was the problem all along. I think I'll make a habit of testing everything before soldering.

One more question - could I have damaged that pot by overheating it ?

Thanks for your help.

 

[DMyers77]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Got it finally. Bad pot was the problem all along. I think I'll make a habit of testing everything before soldering.

One more question - could I have damaged that pot by overheating it ?

Thanks for your help.

I've only ever damaged one pot due to excess heat, and the result was a very scratchy sweep and low volume overall. I had gotten aggravated that I couldn't solder the grounds with my 15W pencil, and pulled out a 60W gun . That worked, but torched the inside of the pot.

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Just wondering - whats the difference in sound or functionality between the Duncan diagram you posted and this one - The capacitor is in a different location between these 2 diagrams.

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Sorry - it didn't come thru.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Hmmm, I've been having the same exact problem with a strat I'm building, I also rewired it like 4 or 5 time and every time it just hummed alot and no sounds would come out. Maybe I have a bad pot also...

 

[tiorunder]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

I found out that you can't test a pot when it is connected to other components. You will have to de-solder the pot and then test it. Saw a real good youtube video on testing pots. The internet is awesome. How did we survive without it?

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Need Help with LP wiring

Ok thanks, I'll give that a try!