Members thisISjoel Posted March 3, 2010 Members Share Posted March 3, 2010 Hey EG! My name is Joel and I mostly hang out in Effects I am currently trying to install Fender Vintage Noiseless Pickups in my Brothers Fender Highway 1 strat and the pickup selector switch is acting rather strangely. I wired it up according to the diagram that came with the pickups and when I tested the pickups before screwing the guard into place (just soldered it up to the jack and plugged the guitar in) the switch worked fine (first position was neck pup, second neck and middle, third middle, fourth middle and bridge and fifth middle) but once I actually put the guard onto the guitar and screwed it in now when I plug the guitar in the pickup selection is wrong, first position is neckl, second is neck and middle, third is all three (I think or it might be neck and middle again), fourth is middle and bridge and fifth is bridge and neck I don't know what is changing how the switch works between having the guard off the guitar to on the guitar? Any ideas? Please let me know. I have to go to a lecture in half an hour so I won't be able to try any solutions for the next couple of hours but I appriciate any light you guys might be able to shed on the situation. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted March 3, 2010 Members Share Posted March 3, 2010 Wiring doesn't change itself. Close pic of the wires going to the 5-way would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thisISjoel Posted March 3, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2010 OK it's all up and running now, it seems that when the pickgaurd was in the body cavity there was an unwanted contact that was causing the problem, a little electrical tape solved that problem. Alas, there is a new problem, now I have the guitar all strung up, position one; neck pup, lovely, position two; neck and middle, lovely again. Poisition 3; middle pup, nice. Position 4 neck and bridge and position 5 bridge, wtf volume cut, no bottom end, sounds like crap Anyone know what might cause this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bizze Posted March 3, 2010 Members Share Posted March 3, 2010 OK it's all up and running now, it seems that when the pickgaurd was in the body cavity there was an unwanted contact that was causing the problem, a little electrical tape solved that problem. Alas, there is a new problem, now I have the guitar all strung up, position one; neck pup, lovely, position two; neck and middle, lovely again. Poisition 3; middle pup, nice. Position 4 neck and bridge and position 5 bridge, wtf volume cut, no bottom end, sounds like crap Anyone know what might cause this? Well did you completely rewire it? You do know that the HW1 strats use a so called ''greasebucket'' circuit right?.. To completely rewire it you'd have to get a different capacitator too.. But maybe you did it already and in that case I said nothing.. Though I believe it could be a pot that has overheated.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thisISjoel Posted March 3, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2010 Well did you completely rewire it? You do know that the HW1 strats use a so called ''greasebucket'' circuit right?.. To completely rewire it you'd have to get a different capacitator too.. But maybe you did it already and in that case I said nothing.. Though I believe it could be a pot that has overheated.. Yes, new pickguard and pots (came with the pups) I have a feeling I may have mixed up the volume and one of the tone pots so that is the first thing I will try tomorrow (going back there to pull it apart again and check it), if they are right should I try swapping out the second tone pot next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 3, 2010 Members Share Posted March 3, 2010 It can be frustrating, but when it all works out, you feel like you accomplished something.The other thing to watch out for (in the future... seems like you are good to go for now) is dropping solder in the 5 way switch can certainly wreak havoc on that little guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thisISjoel Posted March 4, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 4, 2010 OK, it turns out I had the vol and tone pots mixed up so I swapped them over and it has made the bridge pup louder although it's still quieter than the neck and middle and also still very toppy and thin sounding (might just be the tone of the pup?) also the vol pot is acting strange when it's turned up all the way there is no sound at all. Anyway I've decided the best course of action is to buy all new pots and start from scratch. There's alot of mess in there from where I've soldered, un-soldered and re-soldered so I think it makes sense to start again. So the question now is what pots should I get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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