Silvertone/Danelectro 1449 Re-wire Help!

[lil scotty]

Need some help, y’all. I bought a 60s Silvertone 1449. The toggle needed to be replaced, so I had to cut into the whole “electronics packet,” see pic. I decided that I wanted to simplify the whole rig, with just 1 volume, 1 tone, and a toggle. The pickups each have two white wires, encased by braided covers. Braided covers were grounded, but now I don’t know which white wires are ground and which are hot? How do I determine this? Also, do I need to re-ground the braided wire covers, if I am going to use one white wire for each PU as a ground? Thank you!

 

[String Tree]

Did you cut the Leads coming from the Pick-ups?

 

[lil scotty]

I’ve got plenty of lead. I did get everything wired up and it is working. I went with my gut and used one white from each PU as a ground. The braided casing might need to be insulated. It is noisy but working, currently.

 

[lil scotty]

I essentially recreated the copper foil box (Faraday Cage), with cardboard and copper tape. Quiet as a mouse.