Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

[Bluescam]

Hey everybody. I hope someone can help me with this wiring issue. I have a Devlin guitar with a humbucker in the bridge and a lipstick pu in the neck position. When I got the guitar, the pots were failing so, I decided to replace them. When I got the pickguard removed, I saw that the wiring was crappy, so I decided to replace that, too. I used audio taper 250K pots. When I got it put back together, it sounded OK, but there was a large volume drop. Probably almost 1/2. I did some ohmmeter measurements, using my stock Fender Strat as a baseline. This is what I got:

Strat neck pickup volume full on: 6400 ohms DC resistance. With volume turned fully down: 22 ohms (not 22K)

Devlin neck pickup (lipstick) volume full on: 6100 ohms DC resistance. With volume turned fully down: 250K ohms
Devline bridge pickup (humbucker) volume full on: 7700 ohms DC resistance. With volume turned fully down: 250K ohms

That is a big difference, between the Fender Strat and the Devlin.

Does anyone know what is wrong with the wiring?

Thanks.

Bob

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Pics of the wiring would help to diagnose.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

usually the first thing I look for in a four conducter wiring, the hot is connected, the ground is connected, and the two other wires got loose from each other. You get a signal but not the volume. Once you connect and cover up those two, it works fine.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

The fact that both measure 250k when turned down makes me suspect the pots are wired wrong, either wired backwards or not grounded or some other error.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Yeah, you definitely wired it incorrectly. There's no way you're going to get those readings if it was wired right. Sounds like you got the wires backwards. Like was said, send us a few very clear photos showing all of the connections and we should be able to sort it out for you.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

usually the first thing I look for in a four conducter wiring, the hot is connected, the ground is connected, and the two other wires got loose from each other. You get a signal but not the volume. Once you connect and cover up those two, it works fine.

No, if those two wires are not connected you get no sound. It's either all-or-nothing or intermittent sound.

 

[Bluescam]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Thanks everybody! I'm sure I wired something wrong. I will go ahead and take the strings and pick guard off to get to the wiring. The pickups only have two wires. Thanks again.

 

[Bluescam]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Thanks. I'll disassemble it to get to the wiring and take some pics. Thx.

 

[Bluescam]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

The fact that both measure 250k when turned down makes me suspect the pots are wired wrong, either wired backwards or not grounded or some other error.

Thanks! I will check that. Sounds right.

 

[Bluescam]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Hey everybody. I thought I would follow-up with what I did. I decided to re-wire the whole thing. When I got it done, I still had a problem with one of the pickups. It turned out to be a bad pot. I had purchased a bunch of new pots and it turned out that two were bad. That goes to show you that new doesn't always mean working. I thought I had tested them before installing, but I don't know for sure. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

 

[Artie]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

. . . or not grounded or some other error.

Not grounded is exactly what would cause this symptom.

Hey everybody. I thought I would follow-up with what I did. I decided to re-wire the whole thing. When I got it done, I still had a problem with one of the pickups. It turned out to be a bad pot. I had purchased a bunch of new pots and it turned out that two were bad. That goes to show you that new doesn't always mean working. I thought I had tested them before installing, but I don't know for sure. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

Hey Blues . . . please don't take this the wrong way. I don't mean to question your soldering skills, but having a bad ground, and having two new bad pots, is indicative of "frying" them by overheating the back cover while trying to ground them. This is especially possible with a "cheapish" soldering iron. Just a thought.

Artie

 

[Bluescam]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Not grounded is exactly what would cause this symptom.



Hey Blues . . . please don't take this the wrong way. I don't mean to question your soldering skills, but having a bad ground, and having two new bad pots, is indicative of "frying" them by overheating the back cover while trying to ground them. This is especially possible with a "cheapish" soldering iron. Just a thought.

Artie

You could be right, Artie. No offense taken. I cannot solder very well because my hands shake due to a neuro illness. My soldering system is actually pretty good. It is a variable temperature hot air rework station with soldering iron. Thanks.

 

[Artie]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Oh man. I understand. My wife has the same condition. It's almost impossible for her to punch a temp into our new "digital" range. :15:

 

[Bluescam]

Re: Rewiring problem with pickup output levels

Yes, it is challenging. Oh, a group question. To what temp do you set your soldering iron? I saw on another board that most folks were using 700-750 degrees F. Thanks!