Need some help with new Squire Vintage Mod. V

[TheTiptonian]

I've been wanting one of these for a while now and found one used on ebay for a good price. It's a beautiful instrument but I'm having some issues. When I turn the tone knob, the closer I get to full the more hum I'm getting, to the point where it's unacceptable. The noise does not let up when I touch the strings, so I'm not sure if it's a grounding issue. I also notice that when I have the tone and neck knobs all the way down with only bridge knob up, I'm only getting an extremely weak and bassy signal that's hardly audible. I opened it up to look at the wiring and this is what I see:

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The pickups also have a third wire along with the normal white/black that I don't see on wiring diagrams. Is this normal? Am I just ignorant to how Jazz basses work? Or do I need to do some resoldering here? The solders in there seem a bit off to me (no idea what that yellow is, not lighting)

Thanks.

 

[LoveThatBass]

I've been wanting one of these for a while now and found one used on ebay for a good price. It's a beautiful instrument but I'm having some issues. When I turn the tone knob, the closer I get to full the more hum I'm getting, to the point where it's unacceptable. The noise does not let up when I touch the strings, so I'm not sure if it's a grounding issue. I also notice that when I have the tone and neck knobs all the way down with only bridge knob up, I'm only getting an extremely weak and bassy signal that's hardly audible. I opened it up to look at the wiring and this is what I see:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The pickups also have a third wire along with the normal white/black that I don't see on wiring diagrams. Is this normal? Am I just ignorant to how Jazz basses work? Or do I need to do some resoldering here? The solders in there seem a bit off to me (no idea what that yellow is, not lighting)

Thanks.

An ohmmeter (i.e. DVM with Ohmmeter setting)
1. Check to see if your bridge is grounded. Measure between the bridge and the common on the ouput jack
2. Using an ohmmeter measure between the black pickup wire and then measure between the white pickup wire and the yellow on the pickup. report your readings please

 

[TheTiptonian]

An ohmmeter (i.e. DVM with Ohmmeter setting)
1. Check to see if your bridge is grounded. Measure between the bridge and the common on the ouput jack
2. Using an ohmmeter measure between the black pickup wire and then measure between the white pickup wire and the yellow on the pickup. report your readings please

Ok, if I did this right (red on bridge, black on jack ring) I'm getting readings from below 10 to over 100.

And I'm not sure I understand your 2nd suggestion. Between the black/white wire and the jack ring?

 

[LoveThatBass]

You said there is a black, white and yellow wire, right? Black is typically signal common and white is typically signal. I am wondering if yellow connects to the coil for coil splitting. To find out measure resistance if any between white and yellow and then black and yellow.
Note: I have seen black and white on a neck pickup and Yellow and black on the bridge, but only 2 wires from each pickup

 

[TheTiptonian]

You said there is a black, white and yellow wire, right? Black is typically signal common and white is typically signal. I am wondering if yellow connects to the coil for coil splitting. To find out measure resistance if any between white and yellow and then black and yellow.
Note: I have seen black and white on a neck pickup and Yellow and black on the bridge, but only 2 wires from each pickup

Oh, no. There's like some yellow mess around some of the soldering. There are 3 wires from each pickup, though. A white and a black in a cloth-like covering and then another black/grey one in a different smooth wiring.

Poking around with the DVM, it seems like all the pots are below 1 along with the soldering on the pot hooks except for on the tone pot. The pot itself reads 0 but the soldering points on the hooks are reading 248.

 

[TheTiptonian]

Well I fixed the bridge pickup problem, took out the pickup and saw the black wire attached by a single thread. Rolled the end together and soldered it back on and it works fine now. And by the looks of it, the third wire from the pickups is a grounding that runs from the pickup cavity to the main compartment, though I'm not sure what good it is with the foam between the pickup and grounding wire? Weird that it doesn't show on the wiring diagram.

Still have a pretty loud hum from turning the tone knob open, maybe my only course is to attempt shielding.

 

[LoveThatBass]

I would definately shield the cavities. I have used the electrically conductive carbon paint and prefer the copper shield with electrically conductive adhesive on back. It is much less time consuming than the paint which takes 3 coats allowing each coat to dry 24 hours before applying the next one. The copper is very easy to solder ground wire to, less messy, easier to use and costs less and is a better conductor. If you miss a spot you can just cut a small piece to put over it. Let us know how it turns out.