really basic question

[jerry8jb]

Hi guys, I just completed quieting the beast but have no output a all. From the step when it is tated to insulate the ring, does all the wire remains togehther but not soldered anywhere? from step in the picture I tought that the star ring was soldered to the shield?

Thanks
Jerry

[D2o]

Hi guys, I just completed quieting the beast but have no output a all. From the step when it is tated to insulate the ring, does all the wire remains togehther but not soldered anywhere? from step in the picture I tought that the star ring was soldered to the shield?

Hi Jerry,

I remember one of the members here saying he just soldered all of those wires together, wrapped them all up in electrical tape and just left it hanging there. I supposed you run the risk of the tape losing it's adhesiveness some day when your grandkids are rocking out on your guitar , but other than that it sounded like a nice simple solution to me.

I doubt that's the cause of your no output problem though.

Are you getting anything? ... hum ... static ... do you get hum when you plug one end of the cord into amp and hold the tip of of the other end in your hand (make a fist around it)? If there is no hum doing that, you've got a bad cord.

You did turn the volume up, right (serious question based on personal experience ... "L"ong story).

There's likely something else wrong ... a missed wire or bad solder or something - go over every step and "everything" with a fine tooth comb.

[ashcatlt]

According to the instructions, the star ring ground is supposed to be insulated and not itself actually soldered anywhere. The only thing soldering it to the shield will do, though, is defeat the purpose of the safety cap. Shouldn't kill the output, but might kill you.

Got a meter?

[jerry8jb]

Hi, yep volume was up. I wanted t check by hitting polepiece with a small screwdriver...but I don't hear anything .(I means the usual clicking sound when I test this way) I checked the Powerpoint from ryan. I added the jumper wire at the switch between mid terminal on the tone wiring side. I recheck all soldering and routing. Everything is as per ryan schematic. I tried reversing my wires at the jack...same results.
When moving the volume I get some hub but very weak...

If I get it right the shield becomes the ground path. This is a project guitar I didn't do the shield myself. I begin to suspect he might not have used a conductive copper tape. I will dig out my tester...

Thank you.

[D2o]

I checked the Powerpoint from ryan.

Ryan? You didn't give a last name so he must be famous ... Ryan Cabrera (musician/actor)? Ryan Phillippe (actor)? Ryan Newman (NASCAR driver)? Ryan Gosling (actor)? Nolan Ryan (Baseball Hall of Famer)? Ryan Seacrest (television host)?

Geez, no wonder you've got wiring troubles!

I added the jumper wire at the switch between mid terminal on the tone wiring side.

Have a look at what hammeroff and Ashcatlt have described here: guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wiring&thread=1502&page=1

I didn't do the shield myself. I begin to suspect he might not have used a conductive copper tape.

I doubt very much that bad shielding is the problem here.

I will dig out my tester...

Good, good, good ... by the way, here is what you are going for:
guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=reference&action=display&thread=3186

let us know.

[jerry8jb]

Update, I have done some reading thanks for the links...

Finally the volume pot (althoug new) was the problem. Replacing it resolve part of my issue...it had a loud clunking/popping noise at the end of the tavel. I also had some switch terminals touching the shield when in the cavity... reversing the switch (and some wires to replace bridge/neck) completed my problem. I also added a wire from the jack cavity shield to the controls cavity shield. It is still not obvious for me the difference between signal ground and shield ground, electronics is not my cup of tea, I will carry on with my readings...

Ryan Byrd put together a PowerPoint... from the more photo section...

Thanks again.

Jerry

[ashcatlt]

By the time the signal leaves the guitar there is no difference between the signal and shield ground.

The only reason we need to make the distinction in this case is that we want to isolate all the metal parts of the guitar (which contact the shield one way or another) from the amplifier chasis by way of a capacitor. We'd rather not run the pickup signals through that capacitor if we can help it.

So we want to run the "-" end of each pickup straight to the ground lug of the output jack. The shield connects (and more importantly, conducts) to all them other metal parts, and we run it through the capacitor before it goes to the very same jack lug.

Does that help at all?

[jerry8jb]

Thanks Ashcatlt, explained like you just did made me click...

I'm starting to understand the concept. I will carry on reading to become more "acquinted" with the electronic world...

Thanks again for taking the time to shed some light for me.

Jerry ;D