strat 'humbucker mod'

[nz5f]

hi guys, first post

i was modifying my strat according to this mod,
www.1728.com/guitar3.htm
,
however, its not goin as it is described, it should work in either the 1,3 or 5 positions on the 5 way selector, although i still hav to select the final pickup(1 or 5) to make the 'humbucker go.

does anyone have any ideas what ive done wrong?

[newey]

nz5f-

Hello and Welcome!

The mod you're doing is from our member wolf's site, and was designed by RandomHero, who founded this board. So, you've come to the right place.

Help will be along, but we'll probably need some photos of your wiring to be able to tell much.

[ChrisK]

...it should work in either the 1,3 or 5 positions on the 5 way selector.

I presume that this means that it's not working in these positions.

What does "not working" mean?

Does the sound not change from the single coil sounds, or is there no sound in these positions?

...although I still have to select the final pickup (1 or 5) to make the 'humbucker go.

A "humbucker" will be created in either position.

Can you post some well-focused digital pics of your wiring? The designs schematic representation of the lever switch does not necessarily translate to what one sees on the actual lever switch, and there are pinout variations among lever switches as well. Furthermore, the existing tone control switching can complicate things.


Better yet, do you have a digital multimeter and can you take some resistance readings if we ask you to? It's much easier to troubleshoot electronics with test equipment.

For instance, taking resistance readings at the output jack (by touching the leads to the other unplugged end of a cable plugged into the guitar) can really help us.

Depending on what is seen in a few positions, it may become necessary to take readings in every combination of the switches to help create perspective in what's going on internally.

In this case, there would be 20 readings, but first things first.

[nz5f]

hi guys, thanks for the help, i have taken the guitar to a repair shop, they seem have got the mod working, if something does play up ill take some pics of the new wiring. cheers

[wolf]

Hello nz5f,

Too bad you had to take the guitar to the shop. Here at GuitarNuts, we always do our best to avoid spending money.

I was curious if you brought the diagram to the shop or if they were already familiar with the mod or they just found the problem on thier own.

By the way, I'm the one that redrew the Randomhero diagram, so if you'd like to see the original, here you go:


And welcome to GuitarNuts.

[nz5f]

'Too bad you had to take the guitar to the shop. Here at GuitarNuts, we always do our best to avoid spending money. '

lucky one of my friends knew the guy at the repair shop, so i got it done for a reasonable price!

'I was curious if you brought the diagram to the shop or if they were already familiar with the mod or they just found the problem on thier own.'

i took your re-drawn diagram into the shop, the guy worked through it and then rewired the guitar, i think my soldering job didn't cut it! he also thought that an older mod which i had was making this mod not run properly, it was a no load pot blend. ill stick some pics up when i pick the guitar up again

[wolf]

nz5f
That's great that you are getting that fixed so quickly ... and cheaply. ;D
Welcome again to GuitarNuts!!

[nz5f]

by the way guys, do the switches(the casing is metal) themselves need to be grounded?

[ashcatlt]

Need and want are two different things. Best practice says connect all frames to ground. We usually ground pot cases one way or another as well.

If you're following the QTB type thing, this will want to be part of the touchable/shielding only node.

[angelodp]

What about 5ways and dip switches. They are grounded through most circuits, if not do they also need to be grounded.

ange but

[ChrisK]

5-ways, sure connect the switch frame ground to the appropriate place (common vs blocking).

?DIP switches? Perchance toggle switches?