wiring prob. Volume won't quite go all the way down

[jchumley]

Hmmm. I've got this problem. Simple set up. Two distortion humbuckers. Three way switch. Two volumes. One tone. Mono jack.

When I turn both volumes all the way down, no sound. So far so good. When I turn the neck volume all the way up and the bridge volume all the way down, then select the bridge pickup, the volume is low but not all the way down. Same if I reverse the situation.

Its my son's guitar and he likes to set it this way and use the switch to interrupt the sound. Doesn't work now.

Any Ideas what the problem is? I used the schematic on guitarelectronics.com for 2 humbuckers, 2 vol and one tone. I've been over it and over it and tested everything I know how to test.

Jeff

 

[Robert S.]

Re: wiring prob. Volume won't quite go all the way down

Jeff, my first guess is that you have some variation of the 50s wiring which I have noticed sometimes causes bleed through from the pickups.

Ground #1 terminals on volume pots (standard)
Connect the #2 terminal (middle) to the switch leads.
Connect the #3 terminals to the pickup hot leads and cap.

Doing this grounds the switch/jack instead of the pickups and will solve your problem.

 

[jchumley]

Re: wiring prob. Volume won't quite go all the way down

Thanks Robert. I have #2 and #3 reversed. I'll try doing it your way and hopefully the issue will go away. I see the diagram on the duncan site is different in this respect from the one on guitar electronics. To me electronics are somewhat akin to fire to a proto human. It is magic. It is good. I don't understand it. Though I must admit, I am getting better. I can follow a diagram now.

Jeff