Wiring problems with a USA RR1

[5150time]

Hi there,

I've done a few rewires before, with success, but this one is really throwing me for a loop. My RR1 has had a few pickup changes on it, from JB-Jazz to Distortion-JB to Distortion-59 to L500XL-59 and now back to Distortion-59, and i'm running into a problem. I'm pretty sure I've got it hooked up right (it's just a volume) but I'm not getting any output at all. I used all new parts (jack, switch, volume pot, wires) everything except the pickups. I know the jack is connected properly because the volume does turn things down. Also, I'm getting a hum that gets louder when I touch the switch or the volume control. I know that means something isn't grounded right, but, as far as I can tell, all my connections are secure - I haven't ever had problems with cold joints or bad connections or anything. It's driving me nuts - it's a 4 grand custom and i haven't been able to use it in a long time! I'm still pretty newb at soldering, so, whatever critique you might have, go for it - it's the only way I'll learn. Here's a picture, too. Anybody want to help me out with this?

Thanks.
Craig.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Wiring problems with a USA RR1

Looks like you have the ground and hot reversed at the switch. The black wire from the volume pot goes to the two middle lugs of the switch where the red wire is and red wire should go to the ground tab on the back. An easy fix to that is to leave them as-is on the switch and swap them at the volume pot. Black to ground, red to hot.

 

[Artie]

Re: Wiring problems with a USA RR1

One other thing to watch for. (This has bit me before.) You have a couple of exposed "hot" points: the middle lugs of the switch and the hot side of the volume control. When you fold that control plate back over, they could easily contact one of those three shielded cables. You may want to put a piece of black electrical tape over those hot connections.