Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

Kais

New member
Someone will have a good laugh at me for this. But I sent my strat to a tech to get it wired up as I'm not too familiar. And long story short, he messed it up badly. The strat is suppose to be wired with a master volume, master tone, and a fralin blend pot instead of a second tone pot. It has 3 single coil lace sensors. There's a few problems, and I'll list them all:

1. The master tone does not work on the bridge pup, only on the neck and middle.
2. There is a LOUD hum when plugged in, definitely a ground issue somewhere. I expect a slight 60 cycle hum, but this hum is ridiculous especially with gain.
3. I'm pretty sure the blend pot is not working right, no matter which way I turn it I can't get the neck or bridge to be active at the same time. And if for example the bridge pup is active and I turn the pot to 1 its active, but if I turn to 10, it kills it.

I'm taking it back to him as unfortunately I already paid for the service, but he assured me he would figure out the issues. But I'm hoping to hand him a diagram to save us both the trouble. Could anyone please supply a diagram and save my strat's life? I can answer any additional questions if needed. Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

That looks good to me. The only thing I question is using a 250k pot for the blend pot. More than likely, when you come off the detent, the bridge pup will be "on" with very little level change as you dial it up. Although, I could be wrong. I don't use a blend pot myself. Try it. Changing that pot later would fairly easy.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

That looks good to me. The only thing I question is using a 250k pot for the blend pot. More than likely, when you come off the detent, the bridge pup will be "on" with very little level change as you dial it up. Although, I could be wrong. I don't use a blend pot myself. Try it. Changing that pot later would fairly easy.

thanks for the tip. this is the blend pot: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lindy-Frali...671?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item35c22ac19f

its not listed at 250k or 500k
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

If its a Lindey Fralin, its probably a 500k. That should be good.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

If its a Lindey Fralin, its probably a 500k. That should be good.

but I'm using single coils, should it be 250k? That's the only blend pot i could find anywhere. "No load" pot
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

That looks good to me. The only thing I question is using a 250k pot for the blend pot. More than likely, when you come off the detent, the bridge pup will be "on" with very little level change as you dial it up. Although, I could be wrong. I don't use a blend pot myself. Try it. Changing that pot later would fairly easy.

That doesn't look like a pan/blend pot wiring. It looks like a standard no-load 250k used to add or remove the bridge pickup from the neck pickup while the neck pickup is selected. Notice the bridge is wired to the center or wiper of the pot. Though it might work the same way in the bridge position also, the way it's all connected before the master volume (I have not tried this specific wiring layout before).
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

but I'm using single coils, should it be 250k? That's the only blend pot i could find anywhere. "No load" pot

The 250/500 thing doesn't apply when talking about a blend pot. Personally, I'd prefer a 1Meg. (But then again, I haven't tried it in a long time.)

That doesn't look like a pan/blend pot wiring. It looks like a standard no-load 250k used to add or remove the bridge pickup from the neck pickup while the neck pickup is selected..

Yeah, its not a "pan" pot. Just a "blend" pot. As in adding the bridge when the neck is selected. It looks correct to me.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

That doesn't look like a pan/blend pot wiring. It looks like a standard no-load 250k used to add or remove the bridge pickup from the neck pickup while the neck pickup is selected. Notice the bridge is wired to the center or wiper of the pot. Though it might work the same way in the bridge position also, the way it's all connected before the master volume (I have not tried this specific wiring layout before).

The 250/500 thing doesn't apply when talking about a blend pot. Personally, I'd prefer a 1Meg. (But then again, I haven't tried it in a long time.)

Yeah, its not a "pan" pot. Just a "blend" pot. As in adding the bridge when the neck is selected. It looks correct to me.

Thanks to you both, will try to get wired up asap
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

so is there any differences between these blend pots and a no-load pot? Or are they one and the same?
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

There shouldn't be. The pot is a no-load pot being used in a blend circuit. It's not a blend pot specifically. It could be used as a tone control or a volume control also. But in a blend circuit, you want a no-load pot, otherwise you would always have a little bit of both pickups in the mix.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

That's not a true blend pot and you won't get a blending/panning of one pup fully on at the beginning of the rotation, through both pups fully on together in the center of the rotation, to the other pup fully on at the end of the rotation. You will only get blending/adding one pup to another from one pup fully on at the beginning of the rotation to both being fully on at the end or the rotation.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

There shouldn't be. The pot is a no-load pot being used in a blend circuit. It's not a blend pot specifically. It could be used as a tone control or a volume control also. But in a blend circuit, you want a no-load pot, otherwise you would always have a little bit of both pickups in the mix.

That's not a true blend pot and you won't get a blending/panning of one pup fully on at the beginning of the rotation, through both pups fully on together in the center of the rotation, to the other pup fully on at the end of the rotation. You will only get blending/adding one pup to another from one pup fully on at the beginning of the rotation to both being fully on at the end or the rotation.

hmmm......I told the tech to order the cts fralin one (ebay link above), not sure if he ordered that or another one. guess I will find out soon enough, thanks all. I will post my results
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

hmmm......I told the tech to order the cts fralin one (ebay link above), not sure if he ordered that or another one. guess I will find out soon enough, thanks all. I will post my results

Your tech ordered the right pot. My Strat is wired almost identically to that diagram, the only difference being that I wired my tone 50s style.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

Your tech ordered the right pot. My Strat is wired almost identically to that diagram, the only difference being that I wired my tone 50s style.

I should've asked you, since you gave me the idea about the blend pot initially. I told him to order the ebay one, but I think he ordered a no load pot instead. I will inspect the pot once I receive, maybe next weekend.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

There shouldn't be. The pot is a no-load pot being used in a blend circuit. It's not a blend pot specifically. It could be used as a tone control or a volume control also. But in a blend circuit, you want a no-load pot, otherwise you would always have a little bit of both pickups in the mix.

I should've asked you, since you gave me the idea about the blend pot initially. I told him to order the ebay one, but I think he ordered a no load pot instead. I will inspect the pot once I receive, maybe next weekend.

beaubrummels is correct. I bought a Fralin pot off ebay like you found, but once it arrived I discovered that it was just a no-load pot.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

beaubrummels is correct. I bought a Fralin pot off ebay like you found, but once it arrived I discovered that it was just a no-load pot.

okay great, that is very nice to hear. Then I should be in good position. Once we figure out the grounding/humming issue I will be in great shape. Will keep you all posted if interested
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

http://www.wdmusic.com/media/bourns_app_notes/bourns_PDB182_note_guitar.pdf

This web site illustrates the correct Blend pot and how to wire it up.

IF you want to have tone control on all pickups, then change the wire that goes from the tone pot to the switch to go instead to the middle lug on the volume pot. (50’s style wiring)

Qaiso was looking for a Fralin 'blend' pot like I have in my Strat. This one is essentially a pickup pan pot that would gradually fade between two pickups. I love it on a bass, but never really saw a use for one on a guitar.
 
Re: Wiring Diagram/Advice Needed for Strat

Your tech ordered the right pot. My Strat is wired almost identically to that diagram, the only difference being that I wired my tone 50s style.

what would I have to change on the diagram to have the master tone wired 50s style?
 
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