NGD Explorer! Help please

[bpeel]

Hi all. I picked up a used Explorer recently that needed just a little TLC. I cleaned it with the Virtuoso cleaner/polish, polished the frets, cleaned fretboard, and installed chrome covers on the pickups. I also installed a Tusq nut and completely redid all the electronics. This was my first time doing nut and electronic work. I think it turned out ok. One problem I have is no sound from bridge pickup. I tested the pickup at the pot and got a 15k reading which makes sense. Anyone see anything I should check? I thought it might be the the 3-way switch connection at the pot (red wire). That seemed to be my worst actual solder joint. The iron was acting a little strange when I did that one. Enjoy the pics and let me know of anything I should check electronically.



Excuse my dog









Also, why are my pictures sideways? They were correctly oriented before uploading.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

Nice guitar! Looks almost exactly like an Explorer I used to have (except for the pickups). I would redo the solder joint that you're concerned about and see what happens. Good luck

 

[jimijames]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

the hot wire from your bridge pickup looks like it's pretty close to the black ground wire going from the neck volume to the bridge volume.

I would keep all the ground wires near the top of that photograph, so unsolder the black wire from that side of the pot and tuck it underneath the gray wire going to/from the 3-way.

I've had it to where a pickup works fine with the cover off and doesn't with the cover on - that usually happens when the lead from that pickup is close to a ground wire and accidentally touches when the cover is on. Also, there's a lot of lead that's bare - maybe you should get some heat shrink tubing or something so that the hot wire is only bare right where it touches the terminal on the potentiometer.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

somethings VERY Wrong... you'd better mail that to me....:naughty:

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

Sweet guitar!

Yup, redo any suspect joints. Good luck!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

Nothing to add to help your issue, but Gorgeous guitar! I love my explorer!

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

First off that is one hot axe! There is nothing sexier than a Gibson Explorer! SO HOT!

I would redo the solder joint that you're concerned about and see what happens. Good luck

Secondly, I'm gonna agree here. I've twice had a problem with a pickup not working. I redid the solder joints that had anything to do with the pickup that was dead. Both times, the pickup came back to life. So I had a loose connection or a cold solder joint. Plus, it's cheap and easy, so it's worth trying that first.

Are those the stock 500T/496R? I like the no-hole covers; very sleek!

 

[Kac]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

Those covers do look nice in that guitar. I hope you get it fixed up so you can properly enjoy it!

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

I would check out where the braided pickup lead crosses over the terminal on the leftmost pot on its way to the center pot. If the braid is touching that terminal, it could be shorting the pickup.

Beautiful guitar!

 

[agentzero12]

Re: NGD Explorer! Help please

Looks just like my explorer. Congrats. I like it. I don't have the covers on it, but I do have the same covers on an lp. I love the no holes look.