Wiring problems with a Les Paul

jonathane40

jonathane40

New member
Hi,
I am doing a rewire of a Les Paul Classic and am having problems. I first took a picture of the original wiring and followed it. However, it did not work.

Then i dismounted everything and put it all back and am still having problems. The output wire was connected and grounded to the center tabs of the metal plate. I got no signal. Then i removed the ground and got good amount of hum. I tapped both humbuckers, and got a noise regardless of where the 3-way switch was.


Here are pics of it. Hopefully somebody can find where the problem is.
thanks,
Jon
View attachment 20938
View attachment 20939
View attachment 20940
 
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Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

There are only 4 ways to wire a Les Paul without mods.

Modern with dependent volumes or stock wiring.
wiringModern.jpg


Modern with independent volumes.
wiringModernInd.jpg


50's with dependent volumes.
wiring50s.jpg


My personal favorite, 50's with independent volumes.
wiring50sInd.jpg


You need more pictures with more views.

MM
 
Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

You have the black and green wires from the selector switch the wrong way about.

Green = ground = lug on its own, nearer the neck
Black = output = soldered together lugs, nearer the bridge
 
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Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

Mojomonster,

thanks for the reply. After looking at these diagrams, i am doing a modern style wiring with the addition of the metal plate. I am following a diagram on Lace's site which show the metal plate.
http://www.lacemusic.com/wiring/pdf/5.pdf

I thought that my problem was that i was not using a plastic cover on the wires that go to the jack. However, i did that and still don't hear anything when i tap the bobbins with the screwdrive.

Thanks,
Jon
 
Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

I think my main confusion is with the tab that is located on the center of the metal plate. It has two little hooks on top and then there is one wire going through one side out to the other on the bottom part.

Could anyone help me figure out this central tab?

thanks,
Jon
 
Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

At the selector switch end, you have made green the switch output BUT, at the metal plate end, you have connected green to the ground lug. (As Gibson would.)

Similarly, at the selector switch, you have made black the ground connector BUT, on the metal plate, you have connected black to the output lug.

Switch the black and green cables. It is easier to do this on the two lugs on the metal plate.
 
Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

Judging by your latest pics, the braided screen of the output cable could be touching the solder joint for the output signal lug.

IMO, the braided screen for the output cable should be soldered to the unused solder blob on the tone pot chassis and the inner conductor goes to the signal/output lug.
 
Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

It also looks like the leg for the bridge orange drop is touching the unused tone pot leg, I usually snip that leg completely off to keep it out of the way. If you are really wanting a 59 esq wiring solder a ground loop around the pots start at neck volume then go to the Ntone then to B tone then to Bvolume.
 
Re: Wiring problems with a Les Paul

Thank you all! I finally got it to work. I think the problem was that the white cable from the switch was not making contact or was creating a short somewhere. I removed it and put it back and it started working.

Hopefully tomorrow i will start my other project. A new re-wire for a VM Les Paul. First will try a set of pg's and then will put a 59 in the bridge.

thanks again for your help,
Jon
 
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