wiring help

[derrick007]

Is there any reason this wiring wont work on a fender p bass with an added jazz bridge pickup?

I've checked it a hundred times now, i followed that schematic exactly, and it simply doesn't work.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Verify that your 3-way switch works as you expect. Usually the center lug is the "moving" one and the outer are for "one way" and "the other" as shown.

Sometimes this is not the case.

 

[derrick007]

no, i understand the 3 way switch, and all of it, like i said i've gone over it over and over, everything is wired exactly as that diagram says it should be, but no noise whatsoever. the pickups are fine, everythings grounded, it's not the amp, i can't find what it is, and it's pissing me off like never before.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I presume you've properly wired the output jack? On a P, the shell of the jack grounds to the pickguard shield. If you flipped the wires to the jack, that would do it.

Easy test without desoldering: Unscrew the jack from the PG shleld and let it float. If you get sound, that's your answer.

 

[derrick007]

okay that was it, but now i have some grounding issue. i get a horrible feedback unless i touch the metal part of the cable while its plugged in. any ideas on what i missed?

edit: it also goes away when tone is all the way down.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

okay that was it

Cool! Glad I was able to help. That jack is drawn strangely. Took a moment for me to realize it looks backwards. Which explains the wiring mixup.

I suspect the capacitor is too small; the drawing looks like it's for a guitar, where the cap would be much smaller than on a bass. Try 0.1uF to start.

Verify that you have proper grounds to the bridge and output jack. Hook a clip-lead among them to test. Just a wire with alligator clips will make a temporary connection.