Strat wiring problem...

[telemanjam]

This is driving me crazy. I'm not a wiring noobie, but I can't just figure this out. I've wired it up according to the wiring diagram at SD's website (linked below), but I'm getting some problems.

1. There is intermittent crackling, especially when I touch the switch (particuarly the lugs on the underside). I also get crackling when touching the top of the pickguard and pickups sometimes when I'm NOT touching the strings. If I'm touching the strings, I won't get crackle when I touch the pickguard. It seems like a grounding problem, but I can't find it.

2. The tone pot for the neck has a very strange taper. For one, in the all the way off position (0, I suppose), the pickup is turned off (like a volume control). Otherwise, it functions somewhat as a tone pot, but with a crappy taper.


The pickups are GFS Premium Alnico II's; the pots are 250K CTS pots; the switch is a CRL 5-way. All parts are essentially new. The volume pot is wired to the trem claw, but not the body.



Wiring diagram:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/3s_1v_2t_5w.html

 

[Artie]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Look at that diagram a little closer. You missed the placement of the cap by just a smidgen.

The cap should be connected at the red and blue arrows. (Red being ground.) Then put a jumper between the blue and green arrows. (Where you have the cap now.)

Fix that, then we can work on the "crackle".

Edit: Don't forget to remove the jumper thats between the red and blue arrows now.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[telemanjam]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Look at that diagram a little closer. You missed the placement of the cap by just a smidgen.

The cap should be connected at the red and blue arrows. (Red being ground.) Then put a jumper between the blue and green arrows. (Where you have the cap now.)

Fix that, then we can work on the "crackle".

Edit: Don't forget to remove the jumper thats between the red and blue arrows now.

And welcome to the forum.

Hmmm...maybe the pic isn't good, but unless I'm misunderstanding something, I think the cap is wired correctly. It is soldered at the middle lug on the bridge tone pot (the second one), the far left lug on the neck tone pot (in the orientation of the pic you linked), and the the back of the neck tone pot. That's how it's supposed to be, right?

See this pic:

About the the crackle: does it have something to do with the shielding on the pickguard or body? Clearly, something is not grounded correctly. I just find it strange that it crackles when I touch the pickguard (and I'm NOT touching the strings...when I touch both, there is no crackle).

 

[Artie]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Hmmm...maybe the pic isn't good, but unless I'm misunderstanding something, I think the cap is wired correctly.

Sorry, but it isn't. Look at this segment from the wiring diagram you posted:

Note that there is a jumper between the two pots and the cap goes from one lug to ground. Look closely at your middle tone pot. You have one lug going to the 5-way switch and one lug grounded. Select your middle or neck pickup, then turn the middle tone pot all the way down. You kill the output, right?

 

[telemanjam]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Sorry, but it isn't. Look at this segment from the wiring diagram you posted:

Note that there is a jumper between the two pots and the cap goes from one lug to ground. Look closely at your middle tone pot. You have one lug going to the 5-way switch and one lug grounded. Select your middle or neck pickup, then turn the middle tone pot all the way down. You kill the output, right?

I think I see what you mean. I can't use the cap as the jumper between the two lugs of each pot? So there is a difference between connecting the lug of the neck pot and the back of the neck pot with the cap and using a jumping between the two pots, and what I'm doing? I guess I don't understand what the difference would be.

So what do I need to rewire? The cap to just the neck tone pot and a jumper wire?

PS: There are no jumper wires or anything around the caps. The cap is soldered at all three points (the two lugs and the back of the neck tone pot). I don't know if this was unclear.

 

[Artie]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

I think I see what you mean. I can't use the cap as the jumper between the two lugs of each pot?

Right, you can't.

So there is a difference between connecting the lug of the neck pot and the back of the neck pot with the cap and using a jumping between the two pots, and what I'm doing? I guess I don't understand what the difference would be.

One works, one doesn't.

You have what I show in the top of the diagram. Change it to the bottom. I'm just getting ready to head out for awhile with my wife, but when I get back, I'll explain in more detail the difference between the two.

 

[telemanjam]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Right, you can't.




One works, one doesn't.

You have what I show in the top of the diagram. Change it to the bottom. I'm just getting ready to head out for awhile with my wife, but when I get back, I'll explain in more detail the difference between the two.

Just what I thought. I'll switch that out. Then it's onto the crackling.

 

[telemanjam]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

I got the tone pot thing figured out. Thanks.

I also ripped out the body shielding as whoever did it did a crappy job anyway. I'm still getting static/crackling (not a 60 hz hum...I do get that though like normal). Mind you, this isn't hum. It's an intermittent crackling sound when I touch the pickguard OR when I touch the switch (sometimes a bit) OR when I touch the pickup poles (although, there's a bit of a hum when I do this too). If I'm touching the strings, I don't get the crackling if I touch the other things.

Any clues?

 

[Artie]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

I'm not ignoring you, but "crackly" is a little harder to diagnose long distance. Let me think on this one a bit. There's lots of possible causes.

 

[telemanjam]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

I'm not ignoring you, but "crackly" is a little harder to diagnose long distance. Let me think on this one a bit. There's lots of possible causes.

I forgot to note: there is a strong buzz (not the normal hum) when I touch the pole pieces of the pickup that is switched on. I also get a slightly fainter buzz when I touch other metal parts, such as the bridge and the output jack. Additionally, there appears to be a very, very faint crackle mixed in with the 60 hz hum.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

On the crackling issue, it sounds to me like something wasn't grounded right, and that there may be a couple bad solders. I'd make sure the trem-claw is properly grounded and that every solder joint is done well. If there's still the proclem, well then I'm ****ed if I know.

Artie is THE resident wiring expert on Strats on this forum. If he doesn't figure it out, you're doomed!!!

I myself will ponder this a bit more though. Good luck.

 

[My Guitar Weeps]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Lots of people have issues with the crackling (I myself included) caused by static electricity. Try taking a dryer sheet (fabric sheet) and rubbing it on the bottom of your pickguard and put it back on and see if that helps. It's not a permanent fix and probably will have to be done from time to time. Some places have more static problems than others. My house for one. I had the same problem and found this over on TFF. It seems to happen frequently with single coil guitars.

It may be a grounding problem.......but it's worth trying a $0.10 dryer sheet to see if it's a static problem.

I'm just passing on some advise that was useful to me. I came across your thread and it sounded all too familiar. Best of luck to you.

 

[Artie]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Lots of people have issues with the crackling (I myself included) caused by static electricity.

I had forgotten about that. For some reason, I have one guitar, (my Peavey Tele), that was awful on that account. You couldn't even move your fingers near the pickguard because of the static. I eventually fixed the problem by custom making a wooden pickguard.

Its easy to test for this though. If sliding you fingers along the pickguard causes the crackle, its more than likely static. If, on the other hand, moving the controls does it, its probably something else.

If your amp is leaking a slight amount of DC voltage back into the guitar, that can be a cause also. The only real way to check for this is with a meter.

 

[telemanjam]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

I had forgotten about that. For some reason, I have one guitar, (my Peavey Tele), that was awful on that account. You couldn't even move your fingers near the pickguard because of the static. I eventually fixed the problem by custom making a wooden pickguard.

Its easy to test for this though. If sliding you fingers along the pickguard causes the crackle, its more than likely static. If, on the other hand, moving the controls does it, its probably something else.

If your amp is leaking a slight amount of DC voltage back into the guitar, that can be a cause also. The only real way to check for this is with a meter.

The dryer sheet eliminated the crackling when touching the pickguard. Now the only remaining problem is the loud buzzing when I touch the pickup poles and lighter buzzing when I touch other metal parts (e.g. the bridge). I've gone over every joint, but I could do it again, I suppose.

 

[My Guitar Weeps]

Re: Strat wiring problem...

Awesome! I'm glad it worked for you. Finally it get to pass on something I learned from the forums. They are the best tool you could have as far as I'm concerned. Please let us know how the other issue turns out.