wiring issue

[mPetetele]

So i bought a new selector switch plate for my telecaster and wired it up but i get no sound and the amp only buzzes.Any clues?

[notdave]

It's a bit tricky to diagnose from that description. Could be dry solder joints, could be somethings else. Photos would be good.

[KokoTele]

My WAG (wild-assed guess): You swapped the ground and hot leads at the jack.

Otherwise, it's time to learn how to trace your wiring with a meter and make sure you connected the right things. Many multimeters will have a short setting that beeps when you have continuity. If you don't have one of those, set your meter to ohms (the lowest scale), and when you have continuity it will read 0 ohms.

[mPetetele]

Ok sorry no pics- i checked the wiring on the jack coming in-good-the guitar works in the neck pickup only-the bridge pickup is dead.I swapped the wires around several times but nothing-guitar makes aloud buzzing noise when i turn on the amp.When i touch the volume or tone pot noise goes away slightly.When i flip the selector lever the neck pickup works but there is no change in anything.I checked my solder leads-dont know where to go next.

[KokoTele]

It still sounds like a grounding issue along with other things. I know you checked your leads, but there's only one thing that would cause these problems: open solder joints or wires connected to the wrong place.

A good way to attack this is to tear it all down, then add one component at a time and test to make sure things are working. When you do this, the problems will become readily apparent.

Get yourself a set of alligator clip leads. They're a few bucks from radio shack and are invaluable.

Start with just the neck pickup, the selector switch, and the jack. Solder the hot lead from the neck pickup to the switch where it's supposed to go. Use a clip lead to go from the output of your switch to the hot side of the jack. Use another lead to connect the pickup ground to the ground lug on the jack.

Test it. There should be normal single-coil buzz. The pickup should be active in 2 switch positions and dead in the third.

Now, solder the bridge pickup hot lead to the switch. Use a clip lead to connect the ground lead to the jack.

Test it. The pickups should be working in all 3 positions normally.

Now, ground your pickups to the back of the volume pot, and solder the ground lead to the jack.

Test it. There should be no change from the previous test.

Remove the clip lead from the switch to the jack, and connect the volume pot.

Test it.

Now, add your tone control.

Test it.

If you do all this, you will easily find any mistakes.

[mPetetele]

Thanks so much for the reply-will try it!

[tfsails]

Look at the bright side: Once you do Koko's remedy, you'll have some soldering experience and some experience converting a wiring diagram into a real live guitar. This is a good thing!

[mPetetele]

OK well i started the process but after i soldered the neck pickup in place and went to clean up some connections the soldering iron i had died.I changed the tip out but it wont turn on so now have to get a new one.

[mPetetele]

OK i looked at another thread on this forum and it showed many different ways to wire up the tele.I got my new soldering iron,looked at a whole bunch of tips online and will try tomorrow.I got the neck pickup wired up and per the above instructions i can confirm it does work.

[mPetetele]

OK so the neck pickup works and i did everything stated but the bridge pickup does not-can teh bridge pickup go bad?Is that possible?As soon as i connect the hot wire to the switch-nothing.I tap on the bridge pickup with apick and no sound.

[drvoodoo]

Yes the PU can go bad. Check the wires from the bridge PU where they connect to the PU they might have come loose. If possible connect the output to the bridge where the wires attach with some clips and listen if it works.

[KokoTele]

You can also measure the resistance of the pickup while it's not loaded down by a volume or tone pot. Measure at the ends of the leads and at the lugs where the leads solder to the bobbin.

Depending on what pickups you have, common values are between 5k-ohm and 7k-ohm. You will probably get a reading of something insanely high, which will indicate a broken coil. Time to replace it or have it rewound.

[mPetetele]

The bridge pickup when i put the hot wire on the switch does nothing.It will make a buzzing noise but no sound-the switch in the bridge position does nothing.The neck pickup has been replaced but I'm thinking i need a new bridge pickup.I ordered a new bridge pick up-that should eliminate the questionable other one.