First time wiring - something very wrong

[PhilHill]

Kevin (Cagey on the forum) suggested trying these grounding lugs instead of soldering to the case of the pot. They work great and there's no chance of frying a pot. If you shop around, you can probably find them at a better price than this listing.

I've seen those before but forgot about them. THAT is a good idea! Thanks for the reminder. :icon_thumright:

 

[rgand]

I've seen those before but forgot about them. THAT is a good idea! Thanks for the reminder. :icon_thumright:

They're all I use these days.

 

[jackson929]

Those ground lugs are nice.  Will use next time.

Well I took off all the ground, twisted them together ran a single wire to the common ground.  It worked the best yet for a little bit then completely died to no sound.  Opened it back up and everything is still attached the same.  I directly attached the the hot output wire to the switch lug which was running to the volume and had no sound there either. 

 

[stratamania]

Those ground lugs are nice.  Will use next time.

Well I took off all the ground, twisted them together ran a single wire to the common ground.  It worked the best yet for a little bit then completely died to no sound.  Opened it back up and everything is still attached the same.  I directly attached the the hot output wire to the switch lug which was running to the volume and had no sound there either.

So there was a better result for a short while after changing the grounding and then moved the hot wire. It looks like the problem really is in the main the grounding.

What was the common ground used. How does the soldering look now?

I am getting the feeling it might be worth just starting from scratch at this point.

 

[jackson929]

Yes, I put all the grounds together, ran a single wire to the common ground.  Got my best solder so far on that wire to the common, it went fast and smooth and left a nice shiny little blob the held the wire.  I plugged things in and the sound was pretty solid so I put it all back together.  The volume sort of faded a bit then died.  I went back in and checked and everything was still connected.  I then removed the output hot wire and put it on the switch wire which went to the volume pot but no sound.  So I switched everything back and still no sound.

Bit of a mess.  I feel like this got a bit beyond me.  I want to learn how to work on guitars 100% and I feel I learned a lot from this so far.  I might take it to my local guy have him fix it and set it all up and see how I do on my next build (currently underway)  with the electronics knowing what I know now. 

Unless someone has any other ideas?  Thanks for all the help as I truly appreciate it. 

 

[Fat Pete]

Just to state the obvious, I'd also recommend just looking at it - very carefully - in good light and with magnification if possible. Check every single connection, referring to your schematic/diagram. Guitar wiring is not complicated, but it sometimes only takes one little whisker of multi-strand wire, or an errant blob of solder, or - even more likely - a simple mistake, to cause the circuit to fail.

I've been messing with guitar wiring for about 35 years and, while I'm no guru, I have a fair understanding of what's what - I even had some professional soldering training many moons ago - yet I still routinely solder jack sockets the wrong way round.  :doh:

 

[stratamania]

If it was working prior to putting the guitar back together it might  be possible when the pickguard is screwed into the body something is shorting out onto some shielding or similar.

 

[jackson929]

Turns out the pre-wired kit was wired incorrectly.  Had a wire running to the wrong pot or something.  My guy wired it all all correctly for 10 bucks.  I am in love with this guitar, extremely stoked!

Thanks for all the help! 

 

[stratamania]

Good to hear it is now working.