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[SOLVED] No signal from pickups

Discussion in 'DIY Strat Forum' started by TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019.

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  1. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    So I switched out the guard on a strat. Took all the electronics off, put em in the new guard. Simple enough. So I go to plug it in and nothing. I know the jack's working and I know the ground wire is working cos I hear buzzing until I touch the strings, at which point it stops. The volume seems to be kind of working? It's weird. I get no noise at 10 but if I dial it back to 8 or so I get the buzz and aforementioned reaction to touching the strings/other metal, and from there it works fine. I just can't seem to get anything from any of the pickups, and I know they're fine cos they were working literally yesterday. If I can't figure it out I'll just have to take it to a tech, but I'd like to try to save my 20 bucks first lol. I was thinking it might possibly be the switch but I'm not sure. It's a standard strat setup with no tone control, 5-way, etc. Any ideas?
     
    TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019
    #1
  2. jack mccarthy

    jack mccarthy Strat-Talk Member

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    Measure the resistance of the coil to see if it's in the ohms, kiloohms or inifinite; the last showing you have an open circuit. 5-15 kohms should be normal

    You might also have a bad potentiometer electrical connection. Maybe spray it with electrical cleaner. Especially if it crackles when adjusted.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2019
    jack mccarthy, Sep 19, 2019
    #2
  3. vid1900

    vid1900 Most Honored Senior Member

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    Is the switch or jack shorting to the copper shielding?
     
    vid1900, Sep 19, 2019
    #3
  4. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    Nah, it worked fine so I never bothered to shield it. I probably should... after I get it working again.
     
    TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019
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  5. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    Hm, I'll try that and report back. Thanks!
     
    TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019
    #5
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  6. gjohnson441496

    gjohnson441496 Strat-O-Master

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    I hate when that happens. You could have possibly had a loose connection somewhere and the swap totally disconnected it. That happened to me yesterday while switching out capacitors... the solder joint wasn’t intact.
    It’s a finicky situation. Good luck.
     
    gjohnson441496, Sep 19, 2019
    #6
  7. axejock

    axejock Senior Stratmaster

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    At risk of stating the obvious, did you check to see if the ground wire to the tremolo claw happened to come loose? This happened to me on an LP and I just plain couldn't figure it out until I checked ground wire to the strings/metal parts. I fixed it and everything was fine.
     
    axejock, Sep 19, 2019
    #7
  8. SILENCER

    SILENCER Strat-Talker

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    Have you changed pants recently?
     
    SILENCER, Sep 19, 2019
    #8
  9. bluejazzoid

    bluejazzoid Strats Amore Strat-Talk Supporter

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    You should try re-flowing your solder connections, esp the hot lead coming from the switch to the volume pot, and then where it hits the output jack. Can you take a good photo of your new wiring and post it here so we can see?
     
    bluejazzoid, Sep 19, 2019
    #9
  10. 3bolt79

    3bolt79 Senior Stratmaster

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    I take it pants should have been parts? If not, that’s pretty creepy....
     
    3bolt79, Sep 19, 2019
    #10
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  11. jack mccarthy

    jack mccarthy Strat-Talk Member

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    Another idea is tapping on the pickup magnets with a nail to generate a sound while playing around with the switch, volume and wiring to find the weak point in the circuit.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
     
    jack mccarthy, Sep 19, 2019
    #11
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  12. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    Yeah, that was the first thing I checked. Even resoldered all my ground connections on the volume pot casing, just to be sure.
     
    TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019
    #12
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  13. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    I'll be sure to post some photos when I get home!
     
    TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019
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  14. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    Yeah, i tried that too, got nothing... ugh. Wiring is so frustrating man.
     
    TinyTree, Sep 19, 2019
    #14
  15. PCollen

    PCollen Senior Stratmaster

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    Break out the multi-meter and get to tracing wiring..
     
    PCollen, Sep 20, 2019
    #15
  16. fezz parka

    fezz parka ✔ Strat-Talk Supporter

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    It made me laugh out loud.

    And in a twisted way, made sense.

    Somethings grounding the output. Check switch pots and lead from volume pot to jack.
     
    fezz parka, Sep 20, 2019
    #16
  17. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    I checked and re-did all my ground connections. When I changed the guard, the trem claw ground came out and I had to re-solder that. You'd think since I re-did all the ground connections anyways it wouldn't make a difference but you never know. I'll re-do my grounds again I suppose, and re-do the jack as well.
     
    TinyTree, Sep 20, 2019
    #17
  18. fezz parka

    fezz parka ✔ Strat-Talk Supporter

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    Grounding out the output. So...the wire from the pickups to the switch...from the switch to the pots. From the volume pot to the jack. Not the grounds...the "hot" stuff. :)
     
    fezz parka, Sep 20, 2019
    #18
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  19. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    Ohhh, okay. I see. Suppose I'll re-do them as well then. There's nothing visually wrong with the bloody thing y'see, which is why I can't figure it out. probably just my lack of intelligence tho lol
     
    TinyTree, Sep 20, 2019
    #19
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  20. TinyTree

    TinyTree Strat-Talker

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    TinyTree, Sep 20, 2019
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