Grounding question

[fiveoffour]

I tried stripping some of that outer wrapping. Do I need to solder it to the back to find out if it will work, or can I just hold it to the back of the pot and see if it works? I've tried the holding theory, and it did not work. Starting to think I am completely screwed here.

 

[fiveoffour]

WAIT
I HAVE SOUND.
If I hold a wire between the ground wire, and to the stuff wrapped around the hot lead, I get sound. Someone help me out!!!

 

[TakeABreak]

You're pickup probably wasn't getting a ground connection before. Don't worry about grounding to the blend pot. Just solder a wire from the pickup ground to another existing ground, preferable the point where everything else is grounded. If you can't find one accessible, ground at the output jack.

 

[fiveoffour]

Ok, some stupid questions. Does it matter what kind of wire I use? Is there one that people suggest? And secondly, does this ground wire need to be touched by nothing else? It's a little cramped in there...

 

[TakeABreak]

The type wire isn't important. The size of the conductor shouldn't be too tiny, but you don't have to go crazy - go with something similar to the existing wiring. You want it insulated, so it doesn't short anything else out. I usually use black for ground wires.
If you get sound when you connect your pickup to ground, that should be all you have to do - run that wire between your pickup ground and the existing ground point. Do the same for the other pickup.

 

[ctmullins]

Are the wires coming from the pickups coaxial? Sometimes there are two (or more) wires, separately hot and ground. But sometimes it’s one fat wire that contains an outer braid that needs to be grounded, and an inner wire that is the hot connection.

You didn’t photo the factory wiring, before disassembling it, by any chance?

WAIT
I HAVE SOUND.
If I hold a wire between the ground wire, and to the stuff wrapped around the hot lead, I get sound. Someone help me out!!!

I love being right!

 

[TakeABreak]

Ok, just found the wiring diagram for your preamp. Try grounding the pu to the point indicated on the diagram.

 

[fiveoffour]

Awesome! One more stupid question. Where would I buy wire like this? Can I get it at a place like home depot?

 

[fiveoffour]

Wow...got it done, you guys. I owe you all a drink. God bless you for wanting to help someone you'll probably never meet. I truly appreciate it!!!

 

[ctmullins]

Yay! How’s it sound?

 

[Kaplan]

I use a similar noll pre in my bass. The balance pot joints are very tight together, Are you shure, that there is nothing bridged by accident?

Oh, too late