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Post by gfxbss on Nov 7, 2006 17:37:49 GMT -5
hey guys, ive ripped apart my epi again and decided to do coil taps and a phase switch. all of my wiring is correct as far as i can tell from any diagrams/schematics ive seen. when i turn my distortion(the stock on my fender 2x12), eveything works perfectly. however, if i have it on clean if i set my bridge pickup to the south coil and in phase w/ the other, everything works fine. if my bridge pickup is on any other setting, my volume is 25-50%.
any clue on what is going on?
any help would be appreciated.
Tyler
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Post by flateric on Nov 8, 2006 2:21:52 GMT -5
It does sound like you have some pokles reversed somewhere and is cancelling out with your neck pup. I guess you will already have retraced all your wiring carefully.
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Post by UnklMickey on Nov 9, 2006 12:59:26 GMT -5
hi Tyler,
can you post a drawing of the wiring you are using, and be more specific about the combinations that are causing a loss of volume?
unk
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 11, 2006 11:42:25 GMT -5
Hey guys, here is a rough paint version of my wiring. I hope it helps. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. all grounds are put to the volume pot.... Thanks again, Tyler
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Post by JohnH on Nov 11, 2006 16:33:19 GMT -5
Hi gfxbss. Your diagram is clear, but is somewhat unusual looking in that there is no three-way switch to select B. BN, N. So both pickups are always on, with whichever coils you select with the other switches. Is that what you wanted? ie theres no bridge only or neck only? The on/off/on's select north coil, both coils, south coil.
The three-way could be incorporated into your design.
As to the volume loss, likely candidates are coil colour codes mixed up (what pups do you have and what colour wires are which?), or else some partial short or open circuit somewhere.
A really useful test to help track down connection problems (rather than phasing ones) is to measure the overall resistance of the guitar in each setting, using a digital multimeter. If you don't have one, they are well recomended and are dirt cheap ($10 in the US?), even the simplest will do the job. Measure with volume control at full and use the 20k setting or similar - go through systematically with each switch combo. If you do that, we can help interpret results if required.
cheers
John
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Post by borsanova on Nov 11, 2006 20:35:22 GMT -5
In your drawing the south coil of both your pickups is always connected to the ground. This is ok for the bridge pickup, but not for the neck pickup, since you want to use it in phase reverse. When you put your neck pickup in phase reverse it will shortage and shut the guitar down.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 13, 2006 9:41:43 GMT -5
Hey guys, thanks again.
john: The reason I didnt put in a three way swich is because I dont want to drill another hole in my guitar. the cavity is already rather cluttered so Im trying to help that out a bit. I initially had the phase switch on a push pull w/ my volume so i could do a three way, but i somehow fried the push pull, and dont have the cash on hand for another one....
give me a couple of days to run the test. i have a multimeter, but things are super hectic right now(my aunt just had a baby, another cousin is in the hospital etc.)
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Post by UnklMickey on Nov 14, 2006 15:06:59 GMT -5
hey Tyler, make these 2 minor changes, and it'll do what you expected.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 24, 2006 18:33:51 GMT -5
alright, so i finally had time to go back and make the changes.....
i still only have half volume on the clean channel of my amp. only now, it doesnt sound like my tap switches are working....
if i put my amp on the distortion channel, my volume is at full. but still no tap. at this point, i was wondering if it was a blown channel on my amp. so i plugged in my steinberger, and the clean channel works perfectly....
any clues guys?
Tyler
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Post by JohnH on Nov 24, 2006 18:58:15 GMT -5
Multimeter tests are the next step - see my earlier post J
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 25, 2006 3:03:18 GMT -5
alright, not a problem. what poles should i put the conductors on? ive never acctually used my multimeter before, ive just always had it.
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Post by JohnH on Nov 25, 2006 4:55:47 GMT -5
For a simple start, just put a guitar cord in the jack and measure ressitance between tip and sleeve of the far end of the cord. Set volume to full, and the meter to a 20k setting. write down and post what you see, working methodically through every combination of the switch settings. It should help to isolate the problem
Also, what are the type and make of the pickups?
John
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 26, 2006 16:55:21 GMT -5
alright so ive been attempting to run the test....
picture a guitar pups facing you right side up. if im testing the neck pickup on the slug coil, i can only get a reading if i put the multimeter to the second slug from the left. on the screw coil, only the third pole from the right will give me a reading. i cant get any poles on the bridge pup to give me a reading. this goes for any switch in any position....
im beginning to consider nixing this whole project..... it starting to really get to me that nothing works....
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Post by flateric on Nov 26, 2006 17:24:59 GMT -5
hold on a sec, are you touching the meter probes to the top of the poles? The plain ones and the adjustable ones? That's not where the circuit runs, it runs round tiny copper wires that are wrapped round those poles, and those wires should be insulated from the poles. Read JohnH's post carefully and do what he says. He is God.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 26, 2006 23:38:37 GMT -5
alright, so im apparently a bit confused....
i put one probe on the tip of the guitar cable. where do i put the other?
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Post by JohnH on Nov 27, 2006 0:31:51 GMT -5
next to it, on the outer metal barrel of the jack plug on the end of the guitar cable. This is the ground connection, and the tip of the plug is the hot connection.
John
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 27, 2006 10:14:06 GMT -5
alright, thanks for the help and patience. here is what i came up w/ although i cant help but feel like im missing one...
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Post by JohnH on Nov 27, 2006 14:51:38 GMT -5
OK, good table. If that was on a 20k setting (being 20,000 Ohms max), with volume set to max, then they are all very low, readings, 0.02k = 20 Ohms etc. Credible correct values would be in the range say, 3.0 to 15. So it looks like you have a short circuit somewhere, maybe something connectying hot to ground?
EDIT - I just looked back at your first post, which notes that it works OK in some settings. So there is something odd with the readings, since some of them should be OK. With what you listed there, you would not be getting correct sound in any settingl. John
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 27, 2006 15:39:49 GMT -5
well, it was that way before, but ive rewired it since looking for any problems..... now the only way it works is if i have the distorted channel on my amp going......
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Post by flateric on Nov 28, 2006 15:38:00 GMT -5
If I were you, I'd relax and take this in to a proper guitar place where someone who's knowledgable about wiring can help get the problem sorted.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 28, 2006 17:13:33 GMT -5
yeah, i wouldnt mind that. the only problem is i have about $5 to my name right now. also, they are the ones that started this mess. i took this guitar to them a while back and had them drop some dimarzio pups in it. i got it back w/ no tone knob and my 3 way switch wasnt working....
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Post by flateric on Nov 28, 2006 17:22:48 GMT -5
Well I did say take it to someone who was knowledgable about wiring.
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Post by UnklMickey on Nov 28, 2006 17:38:31 GMT -5
yep, and i say JohnH guiding the hands of someone with a meter and a little time, is just as good.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 28, 2006 22:36:25 GMT -5
haha, yeah, unfortunately there arent many people in fort wayne that will touch the factory wiring on a guitar, let alone custom stuff. not without asking for a lot of money. not to mention the fact still remains that the 5 bucks isnt an exaggeration......
john has been super helpful so far, just like everyone. as long as you guys are willing to help me, im willing to try.
thanks again.
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Post by flateric on Nov 29, 2006 13:42:08 GMT -5
Good on you, go for it, John and Unk are so knowledgeable about guitar electronics and so willing to take time to share their knowledge, this is the best place to be on the internet for this kind of specialist info.
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Post by JohnH on Nov 29, 2006 14:51:57 GMT -5
Great, but what to do next? from those readings, there seems to be something shorted somewhere. What do you get reading at half volume and zero volume? At half volume, it should be a high value, so test with your 20k 200k and 2000k settings to get a reading. Then its time to open up, an go hunting for gremlins
John
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 30, 2006 16:08:13 GMT -5
hey, i just noticed somthing....
i decided to just test a piece of wire. i noticed that it is regisering at 0.00. is this normal?
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Post by UnklMickey on Nov 30, 2006 17:09:23 GMT -5
only if the wire is good.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 30, 2006 17:32:37 GMT -5
alright, just wanted to make sure since john was saying that the values for the guitar should be between 3-15, but the wire was reading 0.
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Post by gfxbss on Nov 30, 2006 17:36:40 GMT -5
one more thing. could any of this have to do w/ gauge of wire? im using a 24gauge.
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