Another wiring question - series mod strangle problem

[JagWire]

So I just wired up the standard series mod into my 62 AVRI Jag and everything works as it should, with the exception of the strangle switch - when activated it kills the signal.

I don't know if anyone will be able to tell from the photo but maybe I did something stupid with the wiring or perhaps rested the hot iron to the capacitor on the strangle toggle and fried it?



Any advice appreciated

[alexpigment]

Well, let's first either confirm or rule out your theory. Remove the capacitor and place a small wire in its place. Does the same problem occur?

[timtam]

Wiring looks OK. Is the problem the same or not when the plate is open as when it is all screwed together ? ie is something shorted when assembled ?

Is that the stock strangle switch or a new one ?

[alexpigment]

Wiring looks OK. Is the problem the same or not when the plate is open as when it is all screwed together ? ie is something shorted when assembled ?

A valid concern, but I would assume the short would happen regardless of the strangle switch toggle position, right? In his case, it's only shorting when engaged.

EDIT: Actually, I have zero experience with switches that only have two lugs, so my ignorance may be at play here. I know exactly how to wire this with a 6 lug switch though.

[JagWire]

Well, let's first either confirm or rule out your theory. Remove the capacitor and place a small wire in its place. Does the same problem occur?

Thanks for the reply. As soon as I get some coffee in me I'm going to try this.

Wiring looks OK. Is the problem the same or not when the plate is open as when it is all screwed together ? ie is something shorted when assembled ?

Is that the stock strangle switch or a new one ?

Stock switch, I only changed that pickup switches as per the instructions below.



And yes the problem is the same wether that plate is screwed all the way in or dangling out of the cavity.

[JagWire]

Ok so I replaced the cap with a wire and it the circuit was no longer killed by the activation of the strangle switch...

However...when I put the capacitor back in the strangle switch works like it should BUT not when I activate series (both pickup selectors down) it only activates my bridge pickup. I think maybe my wiring is just sloppy and something popped out of place.

I'm gonna try to clean it up and see what happens...more suggestions welcome.

[JagWire]

FIXED!

After putting the cap back in I noticed with the pickup selectors down if I unscrewed the control plate and wiggled the whole assembly it would switch between bridge only and functioning properly. I sort of pushed the wires around in way where they wouldn't push against each other as much when placed into the cavity and now everything functions as should reassembled.

Wiring always makes me nervous because I don't understand the first thing about how it works. Thanks for the replies guys!

[timtam]

Glad you worked it out.

The jag switch cavity has a lot of connections in close quarters. Which makes shorts more likely. That isn't helped by cloth-covered wire, which provides insecure insulation at the wire ends. Ideally you want PVC insulation covering the wire right up to the solder joint, and any bare wires protruding through the solder terminals cut to their minimum length. You can even put heatshrink over the connections to be totally safe against shorts.

[alexpigment]

You can even put heatshrink over the connections to be totally safe against shorts.

I don't know why I never thought to do this, but that sounds like a great idea for DPDT switches. Thanks for the suggestion even if it was meant for the OP

[timtam]

You can even put heatshrink over the connections to be totally safe against shorts.

I don't know why I never thought to do this, but that sounds like a great idea for DPDT switches. Thanks for the suggestion even if it was meant for the OP

Yep, zero chance of shorts. Standard practice in many areas of electronics, but not guitar electronics ... because most of the historical approaches - that people cling to for some reason - were just the cheapest and quickest at the time.

[alexpigment]

Yep, the minute I read it, I remembered all the other electronics that do this. It’s a very clean look, although I guess you really gotta be settled into a particular wiring before doing this