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Help wiring my split coil Powertron

craichead
August 7th, 2012, 08:33 AM
I'm replacing the split coil humbucker that came on my Tex Mex tele with a TV Jones split coil Powertron. I've basically cut the old wires and replaced these with the TVJ wires red to red green to green, but ground and hot wires were reverse in color with TVJ.

I wired it up and tried it out and one mode seems balanced with the bridge pickup, but the other is about half as loud. The 5 way switch setting should be double coil for the lesser signal and single coil for the louder one.

Hums not too bad so I think the grounding is OK -- though hard to tell clearly with a 1959 amp with the original 2 prong plug.

Apologize for being an ignorant novice, but any help is appreciated.

waparker4
August 7th, 2012, 08:43 AM
First things first, play through a safe amp

craichead
August 7th, 2012, 09:36 AM
Safe?

waparker4
August 7th, 2012, 10:54 AM
2 prong plug = bad news bears.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/108329-just-how-unsafe-two-prong-plug.html
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/315485-death-cap-what.html

I imagine if you had this amp serviced within the last 10 years the tech would have replaced the power cord, too. Since that hasn't happened, I'll assume the caps are at least 10 years or maybe 53 years old, so they may explode at any moment, too.

Get your amp serviced and the power cord updated

craichead
August 7th, 2012, 11:27 AM
Thanks!

I've had this amp since high school -- around 30 years. Caps were replaced about 15 years ago.

I remember as a kid playing in the kitchen and I'd reach over and touch the edge of the metal sink. Not a bad shock per se but could feel the electricity from the strings.