Wiring Problems

[H8Red442]

I have a USA BC Rich Bich Suprem with an SH-2 in the neck and an SH-5 in the bridge. I have bypassed all the active electronics in the Bich and have just a standard wiring as per your wiring diagram for 2 Hum, 2 Vol, 1 tone and a 3-way. The problem I am having is that while initially everything works fine after about 10-15 mins of playin the volume on the bridge pickup cuts out almost completely as if I had just turned the volume knob almost completely down. If I then unsolder the switch and resolder it, it's fine for another 10 mins or so. I have tried using the other side of the switch, different pots bypassing the tone and resoldering all the connections. No matter what I do the problem constantly returns. At the same time this is happening there is no effect what so ever to the volume level of the neck pickup. As an aside I have the same exact problem with the same exact set up in a USA BC Rich Mockingbird. I have no idea what to do now. Its almost like the capacitor is storing a charge and then sucking the power away from the humbucker but if that were the case it would seem to me that the bridge pickup would be affected too, but it is not. As far as I can see i have everything wried properly according to your diagram. The only difference is that instead of the 500K tone pots and .47 capacitor I have the factory 250K pots with .23 capacitor. Any ideas?

 

[Artie]

Re: Wiring Problems

This is a real bizaar problem, so we'll need to look for bizaar solutions - maybe. First off, the cap can't "store a charge". Its not that type of cap.

If this is happeneing with two guitars, can you check it with a third. A guitar can't really do a "timed" problem like that. I'd suspect the amp. Try a different guitar, or try this guitar in a different amp. (If you can.)

If you're absolutely certain that its in the guitar, then I'd just double-check all connections, and wiring. Study the schematic very carefully, and make sure you have everything connected properly, then make sure all the solder connections are bright and shiny.

But I still doubt that this problem is in the guitar.

Let us know. We'll get this worked out.
Artie

 

[H8Red442]

Re: Wiring Problems

I know its not the amp as the neck pickup is unaffected. This problem only occurs in the bridge. However, my father is an electronics guy and brought home a signal generator and a scope last night. After about 3 hours we discovered it was (crossing fingers) the red and white wires had a bad connection. When the volume would drop the SH5 would have a resistance of 30K and the SH2 had 20K. After several failed attempts to correct the problem we took the SH5 out of the picture connected the signal generator to the pot through the tone and out the jack and ran that with no problems for about 20 minutes. After which we connected the pickup again and within a minute or two it would go out. Thats when we measured the resistance of the pickups separately and saw the 10K difference. We clipped all the wires retinned them and measured. the 10K was gone. Both neck and bridge were at 20K. Connected everything back up and i played for a good half hour. Packed up went home played through my amp for another 15-20 minutes (in times prior I wouldn't have had any sound plugging in after having already played for 20 mins or so) the problem did not reappear. It is possible i did a bad job on both guitars for red and white. I am an amatuer with electronics and quite a shame to my father's 40+ years in the biz. But he hooked me up and i think we may have solved it.

 

[Artie]

Re: Wiring Problems

Outstanding!

Its always nice to have an electronics wiz in the house.

So, now that you have it working, how do you like the sound?

 

[H8Red442]

Re: Wiring Problems

Turns out that wasn't it. I can only assume at this point that the pickup is bad. My other guitar is working fine now oddly enough. And I love the sound. I had 3 USA Jackson's prior to my Riches and they all had TB4s and SH2s in them. The TB4s were a bit bassy for me. When I got my USA Mockingbird it had a TB5 in the bridge and i was in love. Great tone nice and punchy and not drowned out in bass. Perfect. Now if I could just get my Bich working.