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Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Off topic - Guitar wiring question. I figure you guys will know.  (Read 4798 times)

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Offline hatchhh

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Off topic - Guitar wiring question. I figure you guys will know.
« on: December 23, 2011, 08:19:07 pm »
I just installed new 3-way switch, pots and jack using braided wire.  Its a PRS so it wires pretty much the same as a Les Paul. I followed instructions and got everything wired.  I'm happy to report that it is quiet so everything is grounded out, but...the treble volume pot is on at 0 and is pretty loud and stays the same until 8 then gets louder 8-10.   The treble tone pot is functioning somewhat like a volume control as well.   You guys have always answered my questions about amps like champs, so I figure you probably can solve guitar wiring in a snap.

Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas!

Offline LooseChange

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Re: Off topic - Guitar wiring question. I figure you guys will know.
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2011, 05:48:32 am »
It's probably wired wrong or something is touching something else. Can you upload a clear picture?
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Offline shortfuse

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Re: Off topic - Guitar wiring question. I figure you guys will know.
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2011, 08:41:39 am »
LC you need to change your profile Pic never saw your answer.

Offline G._Hoffman

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Re: Off topic - Guitar wiring question. I figure you guys will know.
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2011, 12:11:59 am »
I just installed new 3-way switch, pots and jack using braided wire.  Its a PRS so it wires pretty much the same as a Les Paul. I followed instructions and got everything wired.  I'm happy to report that it is quiet so everything is grounded out, but...the treble volume pot is on at 0 and is pretty loud and stays the same until 8 then gets louder 8-10.   The treble tone pot is functioning somewhat like a volume control as well.   You guys have always answered my questions about amps like champs, so I figure you probably can solve guitar wiring in a snap.

Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas!


Obviously, I can't see it so this is just a guess, but my guess is you grounded the third lug of the tone pot (or something like that - only the wiper and the CCW lugs should be soldered to anything), and you didn't ground the CCW lug of the volume pot. 


Gabriel

Offline HotBluePlates

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Re: Off topic - Guitar wiring question. I figure you guys will know.
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2011, 07:31:56 pm »
Another possibility:

NOTE: I AM NOT familiar with the innards of PRS guitars. However, I do know Gibson guitars inside-out, and you mention a 3-way switch, so I'm assuming there is some similarity.

Gibson 3-way switches have 2 sets of contacts.

Assume the toggle switch is in the middle (both pickups) position. At this point, the switch is not engaging either set of contacts. Since both sets are normally-closed, the hot wires from both pickups get connected through their respective set of contacts.

Now flip the toggle down. The rhythm (neck) pickup is connected to the upper set of contacts. When you flip the toggle down, it engages the upper contacts, and opens the connection. That causes the neck pickup to be disconnected, while the treble pickups is still connected through its set of closed contacts.

Gabe probably has called out the right error. However, if your toggle isn't moving fully to one side (or the other), it might not fully disengage the closed contacts. That would allow some amount of bleedthrough (or a fully on pickup that should be off). Other causes could be solder bridges that short or partially-short the contacts, which then prevents the pickup from ever being shut off properly.

I've even seen too-fat toggle switch caps prevent the toggle from moving all the way to either top/bottom, and keep the guitar in "both-pickups" mode. The cure was generally to use a different switch tip. Rarely (but especially of the switch is replaced with a different type), the cavity the switch sits in is too narrow for the closed contacts to be opened fully. That requires a little bit of routing/sanding to enlarge the hole enough for the switch to move freely.

 


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