I got a new Epi Les Paul Standard g*itar..

__HM__ · #1 12-30-2009, 01:02 PM

Anyways.. lol. I noticed one of the pots (bridge volume) was a tad lose. So I lifted the knob and tightened the bolt. Now, I noticed the knob was crooked on the pot after I replaced it (it wobbled as I turned it, you know, its those knobs that sit like 1/8th inch off of the top of the guitar.) So I pushed it around a little to straighten it, and noticed that I could push the knob down farther, so that it was mesh with the body. Well, I did this, on all 4 knobs, because I like the look better. It took a bit of force, about as much as you'd expect, I didnt hear anything break or snap or click or anything, and the knobs physically turn fine. However, after all of this, (plus a restringing and action adjustment) the guitar barely outputs any sound, from either pickup. I have to have mass distortion on, and then It only makes a muddled clean sound. I checked the wiring, the grounds, the 3-way switch's cavity's wiring, everything appears to be fine. So what could the problem possibly be?? If it's just a wiring issue, I can rewire it no sweat, but I really dont want to break out the soldering iron on my new $500 guitar if I dont have to.. <_< Help??

FunkMetalBass · #2 12-30-2009, 01:13 PM

Do you have all of the knobs turned up?

If memory serves, Les Pauls are wired so that one volume knob can control both volume knobs. Sounds weird, but I vaguely remember each volume knob controlling the entire volume of the guitar.

__HM__ · #3 12-30-2009, 01:16 PM

All knobs are turned up, and the amp isn't the problem, all my other guitars and basses output fine.

__HM__ · #4 12-30-2009, 01:22 PM

And I don't think it's wired that way, I may be wrong. I'm thinking its bridge volume, bridge tone, neck volume, neck tone. Or vice versa, you know.

Darkstrike · #5 12-30-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by __HM__

And I don't think it's wired that way, I may be wrong. I'm thinking its bridge volume, bridge tone, neck volume, neck tone. Or vice versa, you know.

If you turn one volume all the way off, with both pickups on, the entire signal will be cut off. Nature of the beast.

Sounds like you may have damaged the pots, open it up and have a look? Just the back plate, to see if anything looks out of place?

__HM__ · #6 12-30-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

If you turn one volume all the way off, with both pickups on, the entire signal will be cut off. Nature of the beast.

Sounds like you may have damaged the pots, open it up and have a look? Just the back plate, to see if anything looks out of place?

Huh. Guess this is true, now that I think of it. It's like this for my Epi explorer as well.

And yeah, I looked, no loose, damaged, or broken wires. Not the input jack, not the 3-way, not the grounds, not on any of the pots. nothing. (In fact, its some of the cleanest, most professional wiring I've ever seen. I was shocked, considering the thing was made in China.)

Darkstrike · #7 12-30-2009, 01:34 PM

Odd, maybe since you pushed down the pots, you crushed some internal circutry, or something.......

__HM__ · #8 12-30-2009, 01:38 PM

Well I just got the thing yesterday, brand new. Should I take it back to Guitar Center and play dumb, or void any warranty I have with them, drop $30 for new pots and rewire it myself?

Darkstrike · #9 12-30-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by __HM__

Well I just got the thing yesterday, brand new. Should I take it back to Guitar Center and play dumb, or void any warranty I have with them, drop $30 for new pots and rewire it myself?

Did you try it in the store plugged in, before you bought it?

__HM__ · #10 12-30-2009, 01:46 PM

No, I didn't. (I see where this is going.

)

Darkstrike · #11 12-30-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by __HM__

No, I didn't. (I see where this is going.

)

Well, there you have it, you'd get away with it.

Choice is yours.

I'd just re-wire it myself, because I could put in a bunch or crazy push/pull controls, like solo switches, coil cuts, series/parallals, phase switches, and the like, but I'm a junkie for that kind of stuff.

__HM__ · #12 12-30-2009, 01:51 PM

lol. Well the only other one they had there was dinged to hell (It also was a floor model.) Also, I dont have the recipt. So would I get my money back, have to wait to get it repaired, or what?

Darkstrike · #13 12-30-2009, 01:57 PM

I don't know, to be honest, I'd assume you'd have to wait on a repair, or replacement.

__HM__ · #14 12-30-2009, 01:59 PM

may just do it myself then.. I'll keep you updated.

Darkstrike · #15 12-30-2009, 02:02 PM

Please do.

__HM__ · #16 12-30-2009, 02:47 PM

Hate to do this.. lol. Anyone wanna donate 4 500k pots to the "17 year old kid without a job who's guitar needs new pots" fund?

FunkMetalBass · #17 12-30-2009, 02:57 PM

Take it back to the store - if you just bought it yesterday, it should be on file. Call them up anyways.

Tell them you want a replacement. If it's Guitar Center, they can easily have another one shipped to your store in a week.

__HM__ · #18 12-30-2009, 03:06 PM

wait a week, or do the pots myself immediately for a fee... hmm.. I'm torn. Plus, the one I got was floor model, that I got $50 off of due to a scratch. So if I swap it for a new one, it will cost me. I just thought of this.

__HM__ · #19 12-30-2009, 04:29 PM

Any more moral guidance?

Disappear · #20 12-30-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by __HM__

Any more moral guidance?

Stick to bass?