Wiring Help Please

[PoorMan]

I'm pretty new to guitar electronics and I'm re-wiring a guitar that I took apart last year. The guitar was originally wired with a kill switch which I am removing from the circuit. So now it will be: Single hum, 1 volume, 1 tone. I have the schematic from the website which seems straightforward but I'm confused by a few things with the current circuit...

1. The tech that originally installed the pickup cut the bare wire back and never grounded it. What the heck is up with that and how do I fix it?

2. It appears the lug on the output jack was never grounded as there are no signs of having been soldered. I should mention this guitar is a Fender Mustang copy, so the output jack is mounted to a metal face-plate (does that serve as the ground?)

Somehow the guitar worked and sounded great.

General Question: Does it matter which lug on the output jack is used for the ground?

Thanks.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Wiring Help Please

I'm pretty new to guitar electronics and I'm re-wiring a guitar that I took apart last year. The guitar was originally wired with a kill switch which I am removing from the circuit. So now it will be: Single hum, 1 volume, 1 tone. I have the schematic from the website which seems straightforward but I'm confused by a few things with the current circuit...

1. The tech that originally installed the pickup cut the bare wire back and never grounded it. What the heck is up with that and how do I fix it?

2. It appears the lug on the output jack was never grounded as there are no signs of having been soldered. I should mention this guitar is a Fender Mustang copy, so the output jack is mounted to a metal face-plate (does that serve as the ground?)

Somehow the guitar worked and sounded great.

General Question: Does it matter which lug on the output jack is used for the ground?

Thanks.

1. Is it a 4 conductor Duncan? If so red and white are usually attached and then taped off. That leaves green and black. You can use either for your ground and you can attach that bare wire to the one that is being used for ground. Green is usually ground...but it doesn't have to be...especially in a single HB guitar.

2. The output jack is being attached to ground by the metal plate you referred to.

3. Yes! The lug that is connected to the tip of the plug when it is inserted in the jack should NEVER be the ground. It'll make the guitar buzz like crazy when you put your hands on the strings, assuming your bridge is grounded.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Wiring Help Please

1. Is it a 4 conductor Duncan? If so red and white are usually attached and then taped off. That leaves green and black. You can use either for your ground and you can attach that bare wire to the one that is being used for ground. Green is usually ground...but it doesn't have to be...especially in a single HB guitar.

2. The output jack is being attached to ground by the metal plate you referred to.

3. Yes! The lug that is connected to the tip of the plug when it is inserted in the jack should NEVER be the ground. It'll make the guitar buzz like crazy when you put your hands on the strings, assuming your bridge is grounded.

Bridge is not currently grounded--should it be?

It is a 4 conducter Duncan. Red and white are indeed attached and taped off.

Just to make sure I understand...I should ground bare and green, then connect the black to the appropriate lug on the volume pot, right? That makes sense to me.

Thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Wiring Help Please

Bridge is not currently grounded--should it be?

It is a 4 conducter Duncan. Red and white are indeed attached and taped off.

Just to make sure I understand...I should ground bare and green, then connect the black to the appropriate lug on the volume pot, right? That makes sense to me.

Thanks!

That's how I'd do it...

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Wiring Help Please

Thanks again!