MIJ Jazzmaster - installing new AVRI pickups - wiring question

[parry]

I'm looking for some suggestions (based on experience) with regard to wiring. I've got a '90s MIJ Jazzmaster and I finally purchased myself a set of AVRIs for it. Not stopping there, I decided to go all out and order a gold guard  and new switchcraft 3-position toggle switch (mine was damaged and the pole hacked off some time ago). I was quickly looking at wiring schematics from the AVRI JMs and comparing it to that of the MIJs... they seem a bit different. Example: my wiring is/was grounded to the bridge. Am I crazy? Are they different? Or are they different in a way that doesn't matter? I'm not much for wiring/soldering, so I can't say I've really gotten my head around this completely...
I plan on taking the guitar in to have it rewired using cloth-wound wire, setup and whatnot. I didn't plan on buying all new pots because other than the problem with the toggle switch, I haven't had any with my tone/volume/input - and I basically use my rhythm switch/rollers as a mute/kill switch. I hope that makes sense...
Anyway, what I wasn't sure of is do I stick with the MIJ wiring style, or do I consider buying an AVRI wiring kit (such as: http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Jazzmast ... 49C155.cfm) with pots, start fresh and follow an AVRI wiring style? Thoughts?
Thanks ever so much!

[ohm-men]

CIJ Jazzmaster is grounded at the tremolo plate.

Best is to wire it like a CIJ, but with the AVRI pu's, since you don't have the schielding plates to ground the pu's on.
As for the toggle, this goes ecactly the same. Neck hot goes left, bridge goes right. ground is in the middle.
I would suggest getting a new pair of CTS pots as you are at it. It won't make a difference in sound, but in the long run you'll be happy toi have replaced them while the guitar was apart.
You can rewire the rythem section as well, but it's not that easy, since all solder points are very small. I did it and had to do it two times over, but since you wanna do the "kill switch mod" that won't be a problem.
I also replaced all the caps with "orange drops" simply cause I had them. The CTS pots for the lead circuit are also easier to solder as they have bigger lugs.

[parry]

Okay, before I blather on about the JM, I have to say that the fact you have the psycho stick graphic as your avatar is totally cool!
I loved that board...
You're probably right about doing the CTS pots. I've been sitting here thinking "why not?", but it's $100+ for the kit (by the time it gets here), and I guess that's probably why it's been "not"...
bah! I'm sure I'll probably go ahead and get them - if it's one thing I hate, it's not doing stuff right. I'll keep you posted with pics once everything arrives. Thanks for chiming in. Do you know... is the "kill-switch" mod fairly common? Mine is still all wired up stock, I just have everything turned down so that when I switch the rhythm section on, it appears to be off. I hadn't considered bypassing it all together. I guess I could do that... hmmmmmm... I guess I'll have to do some research to find out if I can locate a schematic on that... thanks!

[Marc]

I agree - because there are brass plates in the Japanese guitar you cannot replicate the wiring - you could however buy the wiring kit and use the USA parts to replace the Japanese stuff but retain the original circuit. I did this myself a number of years ago and it works fine. You will get a real improvement and change in sound when you get USA pups. Your guitar will sound much less strat-like and actually like a Jazzmaster!

If youj get a USA trem and possibly a bridge you will notice an improvement too!

Good luck!

[parry]

because there are brass plates in the Japanese guitar you cannot replicate the wiring... You will get a real improvement and change in sound when you get USA pups. Your guitar will sound much less strat-like and actually like a Jazzmaster! If youj get a USA trem and possibly a bridge you will notice an improvement too!...

Okay, so CIJ wiring style with new cloth wire and CTS Volume/Tone pots! That's the way I'm going. Thanks guys. And thanks for the testimony Marc - I'm looking forward to hearing the new pickups! I've always lived with the stock pickups, but never really liked them. Not much of a Trem guy, but I swapped the bridge for a Mustang bridge back in the '90s. Best thing I ever did. I'm looking forward to saying that about the pickups too!

Anyone know of any shielding issues or options that might arise because of the new gold guard? Would that change any of the issues with not having the brass tubs? Sorry for all of the questions, but I just want to be as prepared as possible when I take it in to have it wired up. Thanks in advance for all of your help!

[parry]

I also replaced all the caps with "orange drops" simply cause I had them....

What was the significance of changing out the caps? Does that affect tone in some way?
If you have a second, could you link me to the orange drops you used?

[parry]

Okay! I've done it!! I've gone stark-raving mad!!! I bought the lot! LOL! Well, no more contemplation here...
I just bought all new US, CTS switches, pots jacks, a whack of cloth wire and a few other nice things...
When this thing is all over, it'll be MIJ with all US guts! 
Now I sit. I wait for everything to come in and cross my fingers when I drop it off to have it all done up.
Wish me luck!!

[ohm-men]

Ok. Good Luck!

No really, it is not that difficult. Just take your time. I replaced wire per wire, so replaced the Japanese wire and the directly soldered the Cloth one in it place. So doing wire per wire.
It's easy if you use the correct color, if you got acces to the different colours. I didn't and only had Black and white. I just use black for ground and white for hot, keeps it easy imo.

You can replicat the shielding if you can get self adhesive brass tape. Again I couldn't find any, but a frien of mine gave me a spraycan of "high grade shielding paint" (which actually contans brass particals and works just as good)

Anyway, I guess we have simelar guitars. I got a CIJ JM with Antiquity II pu's and a Mustang bridge. Although mine is a bit of a Frankenstein now since It's got an All Parts Maple Strat neck.

As for the "orange drop" caps, I hear no differance, but they are "vintage correct" so to speak. In the end a Capicitator is what it is imo. But the CIJ used a yellow plastic one, I guess it's just as good.

Oh, yeah...The Psycho Stick was some kind of skateboard....The curved shape....It was a bit like the Offwaist of skateboards to me
I'm currently working on "the Psycho Stick" Guitar. Tele meets Jag and LP. (Weird combination, I know....)

[Marc]

I totally agree on the replace "wire by wire" method.... that way you won't get lost.