where did I go wrong?

[dinghy]

I was installing a new set of split P's in my SX PJ and a wire on the tone pot got loose. I re soldered it (very messily) back to where I thought it was, but now it won't work anymore, no sound at all, not even buzzing when I plug it in. What should I do?

This is what the joint looks like now:



This is what I believe it was and currently is:



Help?

[Bubba Ghanoosh]

(BTW, it's an OUTPUT jack).
I'm not an expert, but it looks like in your diagram, you're grounding one output jack wire and the tone pot middle terminal, both, to the tone pot chassis.
According to the SD diagram, one of the wires from the output jack should go to the middle terminal of the tone pot, and the other output jack wire has to go to ground.

Good luck.

[Jazz Ad]

Man, you really soldered like a pig. There are chances for shortcuts everywhere.
I wouldn't be surprised if you fried the cap of a pot track either.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by Bubba Ghanoosh

(BTW, it's an OUTPUT jack).
I'm not an expert, but it looks like in your diagram, you're grounding one output jack wire and the tone pot middle terminal, both, to the tone pot chassis.
According to the SD diagram, one of the wires from the output jack should go to the middle terminal of the tone pot, and the other output jack wire has to go to ground.

Good luck.

That's what it looks like to me, as well. Just undo all of the wiring and start from scratch, using the Seymour Duncan diagram. You should be good after that.

P.S. Try to leave some of the coating on the wires. It looks like you were trying really hard to melt all of it.

[line6man]

No offense, but your soldering skills really need some work.

You may have melted the plastic part in the pot...
Does it still turn ok?

[dinghy]

Yeah I know I suck at soldering. The pot still turns ok though, but when heated up I noticed that it turned really easy, waaay too easy. IDK if that might indicate failure.

I checked it and even though its bad there arent shortcuts.

[martyman5000]

You have to have a large very hot Soldering gun to do that and it has to be done quick so you don't cook your parts...it might look like it worked but it will just pop off if you give them a pull.

[JackANSI]

I can tell you that you're solder joints look cold.

Let your iron heat up a bit first. 7 minutes for 35watt, 10 minutes for anything less than 30 watts.

Do things in order, furthest from the iron to closest.

Before you try to attach anything to anything else, make sure that you've 'tinned' each piece first. This isn't optional if you are using a pencil type iron or anything <=30watts.

Most importantly, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NU2ruzyc4

[martyman5000]

He most likely has a small pen iron that is no good...doesn't matter how long he lets it heat up. the bottom of a pot is a large surface.

[JackANSI]

I've done plenty of pot work with a 25 watt pencil.

You just have to let it get to temp, use a tip big enough to hold enough heat, and let it recover between joints.

[martyman5000]

You just have to let it get to temp, use a tip big enough to hold enough heat

there is another point...does he have a pen with different tips?

[dinghy]

Originally Posted by Bubba Ghanoosh

(BTW, it's an OUTPUT jack).
I'm not an expert, but it looks like in your diagram, you're grounding one output jack wire and the tone pot middle terminal, both, to the tone pot chassis.
According to the SD diagram, one of the wires from the output jack should go to the middle terminal of the tone pot, and the other output jack wire has to go to ground.

Good luck.

You win, I didn't see this post last time around and now I fixed it. I do indeed have the worst soldering iron in the world($7 from Home Depot) and the worst technique, but the internet helped me with that. It didn't take long to figure out what to do and how to do it this time. Thanks all.

[martyman5000]

Clean it up and show us what you did after the fact