Push/Pull wiring not working

[xStonr]

I'm trying to install a push/pull in my Strat to give me the neck/bridge or all 3 coils tone mod. The pickup selector works just fine for the standard 5 position switch, but when I pull the pot, I get no output at all. Any suggestions? This is the diagram I used.

[cynical1]

XS -

What brand of pickups you have in the guitar? The wiring color codes vary from Fender to SD...to just about everybody else...

Someone else with more experience at this then I will be along shortly...

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[xStonr]

I'm using a set of Lace Sensor pickups. They have 3 wires from each pickup. A green, orange, and a white. The green and white are ground and get tied together while the orange is hot.

[newey]

Assuming you.ve got the wiring colors correct for the Lace Sensors, there are only 2 possibilities- a bad connection or a bad switch.

Did you test the push/pull before wiring it?

If you did not do so, you should hit the connections between the switch and the master volume pot (both ends) with your soldering iron and try again. This may solve the problem if it's a bad solder joint.

If not, you need to check the switch with a multimeter. This is easiest to do with the switch unwired, and since there are only 3 connections involved, probably easier to do it that way. If the pole you are using is bad, check the other pole. Since only one pole is used in this scheme, you could always switch the wiring over to the other pole if just one side is bad.

[ChrisK]

....but when I pull the pot, I get no output at all.

What does "no output" mean? Does it sound completely dead (circuit shorted) or do you still hear some hum (circuit open)?

Since the switch just switches in the bridge pickup regardless of the setting of the 5-way switch, it should in no way cause a loss of output signal. Something GeFooey is afoot.

Use your multi-meter* to measure the resistance at the guitar output jack. If you don't have the pick guard off, use a guitar cable and touch the leads to the unplugged other end.

Turn all pots to "10"/full on.

Record the resistance for each position of the 5-way with the push pull switch down (bridge is NOT switched in always).

Pull up the push pull pot knob (bridge IS switched in always) and record the resistance again for each position on the 5-way.

Post all 10 results. They should be around 3 to 15 K Ohms (depending on the Lace pickups used). Use the 20 K Ohm scale on your multi-meter*.


Can you post some well-focused pics of your wiring?


*If you don't have a multi-meter, go buy one. A $10 - $20 3 1/2 digit one is ok.

Working on wiring without one is akin to driving with your eyes closed; while things may go ok for a while........

[xStonr]

I decided to rewire it with some 22guage wire. I was using speaker wire previously and because of the thickness, something was shorting it out. After a cleaner wiring job, it works the way it is supposed to. Thanks to everyone for their input.