No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

J

Jeff5

New member
I've been having problems with my Hamer for awhile. It started with the jiggling the jack to get sound back and it has gotten worse and worse. I re-wired it and replaced all components (below) and it worked for awhile and then cut out again. Now, I have no sound at all coming out of the guitar. I've:


  • Replaced the jack
  • Replaced the switch
  • Resoldered all wires and checked all connections
  • Put in new pots
  • Made sure all grounds are connected

I've checked and rechecked the wiring schematics (one volume one tone) and I'm sure I have it right. I've also used both the bridge and neck pick ups in other guitars so I know they work.

Is there something else odd ball or off the wall (or maybe even obvious!) that I'm missing and not checking? Maybe something simple, or something unusual. I don't know! I am loathe to take this to a tech (pride....), although I might. I've done this a long time, rewired and wired many circuits and have never had an issue like this. I'm stumped. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jeff
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

A signal wire or connection could be grounding out against something in the guitar.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Hi Alex. Yes, my other guitars work with the cable and amp.

Clint, what do you think some likely culprits to check would be?

Thanks guys,
Jeff
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

The hot connection in the jack could be contacting the body if it's shielded. Some connections on the switch could be touching the shielded body. A rogue ground wire like a braided cover could be touching stuff.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Try wiring the pickups to the jack to make sure they are working correctly.
 
No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

I usually set the guitar on the bench, plug into an amp and turn the volume knob up, strike the strings and then methodically and gently start moving wires around in the cavity. If something is grounding out you should be able to make it happen. Check the connections to the jack. Just a couple of weeks ago I replaced a jack in a guitar. Turns out the brand new jack was defective too...so I’ll be replacing that one as well.

If that doesn’t work, then break out the soldering iron and wire to the jack.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

The problem you describe can generally be one of two possibilities.
Either, as was already suggested, a hot wire is grounding out somewhere, or...
a cold/bad solder joint.

A few pics of your wiring could help.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Mincer said:
Try wiring the pickups to the jack to make sure they are working correctly.
Click to expand...

Before that I'd try measuring DC resistance of each pickup at the output jack. An open circuit will indicate a bad connection somewhere or possibly a broken hookup cable from one or both of the pickups. A weird, low or zero reading most likely indicates a ground loop somewhere.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

I've isolated it to the jack (where it started) and something odd with the tip/hot output. When I plug into the amp and pull up a bit on the wire connected to the tip, I get sound. Almost like I'm bending the terminal up. When I let the wire go, it partially, or completely, fades out. Nothing is touching and I'm pretty sure the connections are good, why would this happen? Any ideas?

Really appreciate all the input so far. Thanks!
Jeff
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

I'm pretty sure Hamer shielded the entire control cavity. I'm not sure about the hole for the jack though.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Just get another jack and don't bother messing with that one.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Sometimes the part of the jack that contacts the plug of your cord gets bent so that it doesn't make good consistent contact with the plug. If that's the case just try bending it so it hits your plug harder.

But more than likely it is as I stated earlier...a cold solder joint. Resolder the wires on the jack making sure you get the connectors on the jack hot enough to flow solder onto them. Don't melt the solder so it "drips" onto the jack and/or wire. If after doing this, you still get the same problem, replace the jack.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Hey guys. I checked my solder joints, replaced the jack (actually replaced it twice, I have like 4 good working barrel jacks now...lol), replaced the wire and I still have the issue. I also checked that the terminals of the pot are not touching the sides of the control cavity. (It is VERY narrow) When I pull up on the wire, so up and away from the body of the guitar, I get sound. When I let the wire go, I get nothing or very little. This is so darn weird.
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

Well, something is touching that shouldn't. Can you see what moves when you pull up on the wire?
 
Re: No Sound - Is There Something I'm Missing?

The only thing that moves is the wire itself. I'll inspect the pot and jack a bit more. I'm thinking more and more it is the pot. Maybe something is touching below the terminal or a piece of solder is connecting it with the body or something. I've made sure all other wires are tied off and clear of the jack wire though.
 
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