Simple Grounding & Wiring Questions

[Terrance]

Hi

I've got a few questions that I believe if answered, can save me time and money instead of going to a luthier/shop.

I'm trying to put together a 1 humbucker 1 volume guitar. It's my first attempt at wiring, and I thought that I should start on something simple like this as opposed to complex multiple pickup configurations. Anyway, I've provided a diagram with numbers and arrows below and here are my questions...

1. Does the ground symbol marked with the number '4', get soldered to the bridge/tremolo claw? If not, which numbered symbol does?

2. Why is ground symbol number '4' lighter and contains white lines in it compared to the other numbered symbols? Does this mean something?

3. Do I solder ground symbols '1', '2' and '3' ? to the bottom of the volume pot? If not, where?

4. I got the pickup with the green, red, white, bare and black wires only. Can someone tell me the name of the wire with the red arrow and the one with the blue arrow, unless the one with the blue arrow is just the black wire that came with the pickup.



If someone can answer any or all of these question, I'll be very grateful.

Thanks

[UnklMickey]

hi Terrance,

welcome to Guitarnuts2.


definitely a good plan to start simple for the first project.


2 -- there is nothing implied by ground #4 looking different. it means the same thing as the others.

1 & 3 -- the grounds indicate a common connection. they must all be connected together.

the back of the volume pot is as good a place as any.

that drawing doesn't show a string ground, but the text give you a clue about what to do.

just connect a wire from the string ground (bridge, tailstop, or tremolo claw) to the place where all the other grounds connect.

4 -- the wire indicated by the red arrow, is a separate wire you will add to connect the middle lug of the volume pot to the tip connection of the output jack. it is NOT a wire from the pickup.

the wire indicated by the blue arrow, is a separate wire you will add to connect the sleeve of the output jack to the common ground point. it is NOT a wire from the pickup.


5 -- (you didn't ask, but it needs mentioning)

if your pickup is a Seymour Duncan, this drawing will work.

if it is a Dimarzio or other brand, the colors will be wrong. in that case tell us what brand it is, and we might be able to tell you which colors go where.



good luck,

unk

[Terrance]

Thanks for the quick reply unklmickey

I just need to ask and clear a few things..

First of all, yes, I am working with a Seymour Duncan pickup for this guitar.

So basically I ground 1, 3 and 4 together to the bottom of the volume pot? If so, where does 2 go?

You mention string ground, this being the ground connection to the bridge/tremolo claw, right? If so, what type of wire do I use to do this? Can you give me some names of wire?

Also, you mention that the wire with the red arrow is separate, I also need to know what kind/type of wire to use for this connection.

Same question applies for the blue arrow.

When you say 'common ground point', are you reffering to the bottom of the volume pot where the other wires are soldered?

Incase it helps, I ordered a wiring kit from eBay which may be of use, that contains:

- 2 PRONG INSULATED PICKUP WIRE

- INSULATED GROUND WIRE - (Is this the one I use to wire the sleeve of the output jack and middle lug of the volume pot?)

- WIRE SHRINK TUBING

Thanks once again

[UnklMickey]

2 goes to the same place as 1,3,4,& and the wire from the string ground.

it CAN be the back of the volume pot, but it doesn't HAVE TO be there.

just any place that's convenient to connect them all together.


i use the term string ground interchangeably with terms like connection to tremolo claw, or wire from bridge, etc.

depending on the guitar, there will be a different way that the strings get an electrical connection, but the result is the same. you connect a wire to something metal that touches the strings.

the type of wire that you use is not critical.

speaker wire for instance could be used, but it's a little too big, so it's clumsy to work with.

18 gauge hookup wire is a convenient size to work with.

some people prefer stranded others like solid.

it won't make any difference electrically,

solid is stiffer, so it stays put better when you bend it to the shape you want.

some people like "doorbell wire".

the point is, there's no rocket science involved here.

whatever is cheap, available, and easy to work with.


did i say connect the sleeve of the output jack to the middle lug of the volume pot?

i'm sorry, my mistake.

the sleeve of the output jack connects to the common ground point.

the tip of the output jack connects to the middle lug of the volume pot.


unk

[Terrance]

Sorry to bother you again unklmickey, you've been a lifesaver.

I've updated the diagram from above, and need you to confirm if it's correct just to make sure before I proceed.



Lastly, I asked which wire to use incase there was specific types for each joint etc. So basically, I can use either the insulated pickup wire or ground wire that comes with the kit for the middle lug and string ground, it doesn't matter?

Thanks a lot ! Much appreciated.

[UnklMickey]

no worries, it's not a bother.

you've got the drawing right.



in this case wire is wire.

the "2 prong pickup wire" will probably be convenient to use for the connection between the volume control and the output jack, since you have 2 separate insulated wires in one jacket.

but you could use 2 separate pieces of the "insulated ground wire".



the most common newbie mistake is confusing the tip and sleeve connections of the output jack.

if you get them reversed it will cause a loud hum, that will be even louder if you touch the strings or anything metal on the guitar.

so don't just go by the left and right the way things are shown in the drawing.

that might be right.

to be certain, look at the jack.

you will be able to see which tab actually connect to the sleeve.

and which one connects to the tip (that long thing pointed downward in the drawing)



good luck, and keep us posted on the results.




unk