Wiring help.

[nnickusa]

I've got a question for the electric guys. I've made a tele-style guitar, and am happy with it, but am having troubles wiring it up. I'm using a 4-way switch, and have added the ground to the cover on the neck, as described. Here's the schematic.....

The problem is, when wired up as shown, I have no neck pickup. The bridge sounds when in the 3rd and 4th position(both Pups at once, but no neck) The bridge does NOT sound when in the second position(bridge alone), nor does the neck sound in any position. Oddly, the bridge sounds when the switch is halfway between the 1st and 2nd positions.....

I do get resistance readings from both up to the switch, it seems to me.

Help? Anyone? Hello?

FWIW, the bridge sounds good.....

[simso]

Electrics are pretty simple, first thing throw away the schematic supplied, you need to learn how toi do it from scratch with whats supplied

Step 1 disconnect all wires from the 4 way switch

Step 2 write down what you want each switch position to do - seriously write it down

Step 3 Use a multimeter to identify what cicuits are connected on the switch in each position - again write it down

Step 4 connect the bridge pickup to the position thats just meant to be bridge

Step 5 connect the neck pickup to just the position thats meant to be neck

Step 6 connect the output line from the switch to you volume pot

Step 7 ensure that in the two nominated positions you are oututting to the amp, just touch the pickups with a scvrewdriver to check

Step 8 Using the diagrams you drew above jumper a wire from the neck to the next switch potions its required on, do the same for the bridge

No more steps - its working

[simso]

If all thats too complicated then just write what you want each switch position to do, and show me the multimeter settings of the switch, and Ill draw it up for you, again forget the diagrams use a multimeter to map it out

[nnickusa]

OK, Steve. I'll do that tomorrow. When my head gets done in, I leave it for another day. Just spent the arvo at the beach with my beautiful wife sharing a bottle of the bubbly....

[Tod Gilding]

+1 What Steve Said, Great advice already given. this is how I do it ...NOW

[jeffhigh]

it's a little more complicated with the 4 way, with the 4th position intended to produce series with both pickups.
In the neck only position and neck/bridge parallel position you need to have the neck ground pass through the switch and earth on the back of the pot. Follow that through with the multimeter and make sure it is happening
That will get you the three standard tele positions.
Then in the neck/ bridge parallel position you need the neck ground connected to the bridge hot but not to ground and at the same time the neck hot through the switch to the input lug on the pot

[simso]

I agree,

Doing it the way explained will teach nick how to do it on all future builds, as far as the 4th being a series link, it just means we cut the earth and link it through the switch, not a biggie,

[jeffhigh]

No Biggie but it needs to be mentioned because if that earth is not connected properly you won't have a functional neck pickup.
I always work though it in the method you suggested cause I never trust the switch to work in the same way as the diagram, but in this case you need to be allowing for the neck ground as well as just the hot lead.
Your step 6 only allows for connecting the output terminal from the switch to the input lug on the pot and not the switched ground to the back of the pot

[simso]

The steps are merely to get both pickups working in the standard positions, I teach guitar building and wiring.

Once it is established that both pickups work and that volume/ tone pots also work, I then get the guys to bring in the alternative wirings, the alternative wirings are simply loops and splits.

To the person that already knows wiring it appears to be the long way round, but to someone who's learning it suddenly makes se seas you do it

[jeffhigh]

Also worth checking the resistance of the neck pickup between hot and ground leads to make sure nothing has been dislodged when the earth to the pickup cover was cut.

[Dekka]

Hi, Nick.

I have found it a help to have a visual aid to help get my easily distracted brain around switches.
Most likely is a short where you disconnected and reconnected the neck cover ground. other than that I'd look for a blob between switch lugs.
Just print this and draw your wiring over the positions that aren't working and it will become apparent if the jumpers are incorrectly placed. Hope this helps.

[jeffhigh]

Great animation Dekka!!
The neck pickup is switched on the ground rather than the hot, that's the key.

[simso]

Thats a pretty good clip dekka, did you make that one yourself.

[Dekka]

I wish I was that clever. No. I drew the positions diagram but not the animation. I found that years ago on the net when I made my 4way Tele.

[nnickusa]

Haven't had a chance to work on the switching today, but is there a right and a wrong way for the switch to be oriented? I note that there is always a shadow of the base shown, but the switch looks to be the same on both sides?

Looks like I'll need to wait till tomorrow to have a go. The boss has made plans for us.

Thanks to you all, and Dekka, that starts to make sense...

[Dekka]

So this evening I taught myself how to animate the switch position diagram. It's not so hard after all.

[ozwood]

So this evening I taught myself how to animate the switch position diagram. It's not so hard after all.

I'm just concerned what manner of evil and mischeif your gonna get upto with your newly found skill.

[Dekka]

Give me a fortnight and I'll be up to "Avatar" standard. ...or at least "Stick figure running."

[Dekka]

This one shows how the MAGIC MUSIC SMOKE travels through the Series selection to produce uber-tone at the other end.