Wiring Problem - what could be wrong here?

[dragonfly66]

I have two humbuckers with 2 vol and 1 tone. I've wired using the Seymour Duncan diagram, (link removed). The humbuckers are 2 conductor wire (braided shielding with hot wire in the middle). The tone knob, if all the way down causes the volume to be very very low (not completely off). As I turn the tone up the tone doesn't change it seems it just opens wide after 2 and only makes things louder to a point.

I've wired the guitar according to the diagram and the tone knob is acting like a volume knob and not tone. So I researched it and many said the problem was the cap so I change it to a new one, but I got the same issue. I checked and everything was grounded properly. I re-wired with new pots and still have the same problem.

What am I missing? I checked the diagram against my wiring and my guitar is wired according to the diagram. So I don't know what else could be wrong. If you have a suggestion please let me know.

 

[sjtalon]

What value cap do did you install ?

I would suggest a .022µF, but if you have the one in the diagram that shouldn't give the problem you describe.

You have the terminal on the vol. pots grounded right ?

Do you have the issue with EITHER pickup ?

 

[Flat357]

Rewire the cap.

Check how you've wired the tone cap between the tone pots.

Make sure one lead of the cap runs between the center lug of the middle p'up tone pot and the right lug of the neck p'up pot. The other cap lead goes to ground on the back of the neck pot; the cap therefore is between the right lug of the neck pot and the ground on the back of the neck pot.

If the cap is BETWEEN the center lug of the middle pot and the right lug of the neck pot, the neck pot will act as a volume control when turned all the way down.

Are you sure you don't have the 2 pots in the wrong holes?

 

[copperheadroad]

i had the same trouble a couple years ago ....to bad I cant remember how i solved it
If wired like the diagram , i would look at the output jack & make sure it's are wired correct

 

[dragonfly66]

I am using a .47uf cap as stated in the diagram.

The pots are in the right holes.

Yes both terminals on the volume pots are grounded. Actually bent and soldered to the pot as seen in the diagram.

Volume pots control the correct pick-ups and work with no issues. The 3-way switch works with no issues. I can hear each pick-up separately and together just fine.

I not only rewired the cap, but used two different caps just in case the cap was bad. I even completey rewired with all new pots too just in case the soldering was bad or the tone pot was bad.

Everything I researched says it is the cap, but rewiring and using a different cap doesn't seem to make a difference. I also re-checked the grounding.

Is there a way to test these connections with a multi-meter or something so I can see what connection may be bad?

 

[donh]

I am using a .47uf cap as stated in the diagram.

Look again. The tone cap is typically a 0.047 or a 0.022 micro-farad. If you truly have a .47 in there, it will act quite close to what you described as your problem.

 

[sjtalon]

If you truly have a .47 in there, it will act quite close to what you described as your problem.

Oh ya ! that would be WAY too much.


If you do in fact have a .047....welcome to the twilight zone, I don't know what the heck is going on where you are at !



Dumb thing to ask but the cap lead that goes to the terminal on the tone pot, that isn't touching the pot case is it (grounded) ??

 

[Flat357]

Do you have it plugged in?

 

[dragonfly66]

The cap lead is not touching the the case. I did check for that. The cap is a 473J which is .047 I wrote it wrong above.

Is there a way to test these connections with a multi-meter or something so I can see what connection may be bad?

 

[copperheadroad]

DOH!!!..... Me bad,I misunderstood the post
I would definitely check the cap with a tester

 

[sjtalon]

I not only rewired the cap, but used two different caps just in case the cap was bad.

been there done that, besides everybody knows what a bad cap looks like !

 

[dragonfly66]

Both caps I used were brand new, but I guess it is possible that both were bad. How do you test capacitors?

 

[sjtalon]

With a mulit meter that reads capacitance actually.

I doubt all those caps are bad ??

You checked your wiring a zillion times and replaced the pots, so I don't know what to tell you............not that I know everything.

You could try a .022 cap

got a Shack around ??

(link removed)

 

[dsutton24]

No, the caps are probably fine. If you have a meter that measures capacitance, you're good. If not, you can do a quick-and-dirty check by checking the resistance of the capacitor. you will probably see the resistance measure a few thousand ohms, then climb toward infinity. That's a good cap.

(Note to capacitor experts: Yes, I know it's not the 'right way', but it works, and will indicate whether the cap is shorted.)

If your cap is really a .047 uf, you're fine. Changing it to a .022 uf will change the tone of the finished product, but will not cure the problem you describe. If the cap is a .47, then you will roll a bunch of highs to ground and all you'll be left with is a bassy mess. Again, not what you're describing, so I think you're okay there.

If the tone pot is acting like a volume control, you've almost certainly got a stray ground somewhere.

Is there a possibility that one of the pickups is shorted? Either the insulation of the signal conductor burned through, a stray strand of shielding wire contacting a lug or signal wire, a glob of solder, or something like that?.

Secondly, what kind of switch are you using? The drawing you referenced is showing a Gibson-type switch. Typically on a Telecaster the ground does not do to the switch at all, and I'm wondering if something got mixed up in the translation between the two different switch types. If you're using a Telecaster type switch, use the following drawing:

(link removed)

Note that the drawing I posted the link to calls the signal wires 'white', and grounds are 'black'. The signal wires on your pickups will be that conductor inside the shielding, and the ground is that woven shielding. Attach your center conductors to the points where the drawing wants 'white' wires, and attach your shields to ground (the back of the tone pot, typically).

 

[dragonfly66]

Thanks for the good info. I'll check for the stray grounding.

This is for an ESP LTD EC-256 which does have the Gibson style switch with 2 volumes and 1 tone.

 

[sjtalon]

Best of luck and keep is posted. It probably is just one little thing there and you are bound to nail it.

Remember, it's ONLY a guitar !

 

[jefrs]

I'm thinking it is a wiring fault rather than component failure.

Do re-check your wiring. The layout diagram shows the underside of the pots, they must be connected the right way round.

Having the tone pot after the vol pot(s) like this circuit does have a peculiar effect if the vol pots are rolled off.

 

[dragonfly66]

I forgot to come back here and tell you what was wrong. Little stray strands from the braided wire were touching the hot wire. I pushed them back and all is well. The problem was when I stripped the wire I also stripped the black cloth on the hot wire which exposed it too much.

Thanks for everyone's help :!: