Wiring Quandary...

[Bottoms_Up!]

I just re-wired my friend's Kramer Duke which basically consists of two Jazz PUPs wired series/parallel with one volume and one tone.

DPDT Mini switch is 2-way on/on
V & T are CTS 250K
Cap is an Orange Drop 0.047 uF
Jack is Switchcraft barrel style with tip, sleeve, and battery

The series/parallel switch seems to be in working order (more aggressive vs. more mellow), but the volume is reversed (bottom is now top and vise versa). Cutting the tone knob will cut everything and touching the knob itself brings the buzz on...and not in a good way X-) .

For the record, this was the first time I've wired up a mini-switch.

Here's exactly what I did. Anyone see anything wrong here? If so, please point it out. Much appreciated!

 

[iiipopes]

Check to see that something is not accidentally grounded or touching a wire it shouldn't.

 

[Steve Dallman]

The volume is wired backwards, and you have no ground connection between the volume/bridge/pickup ground and the tone control/output jack ground.

 

[Bottoms_Up!]

Hmmm, I've used that Buzzard's Bay wiring diagram (from the volume pot down) a million times and I've never had an issue before. I do see what you're saying tho. Maybe they're assuming I'm using a shielded pick guard (which I am not)?

 

[Bottoms_Up!]

Any other observations?

 

[tjlee87]

Ground the tone pot to volume ground.

 

[Munjibunga]

Reverse the wires on the volume pot and on the tone pot. Then run a grounding wire from the case of the tone pot to the case of the volume pot.

 

[Hopkins]

Ground the tone pot to volume ground.

The volume pot in that diagram is fine. It sounds like you have it wired backwards on the bass though. If the volume is backwards then you have the wrong terminal grounded and the wiper is making full contact on the wrong side.

As for the tone killing the volume. Make sure wire that is connected to the pot is not touching the body of the pot and grounding out before the cap.

The buzz is most likely a ground issue.

 

[Stone Soup]

The volume is wired backwards

There is no backwards. It's a variable resistor. It's not directional.

run a grounding wire from the case of the tone pot to the case of the volume pot.

I would try this.

 

[Hopkins]

There is no backwards. It's a variable resistor. It's not directional.

I would try this.

True, there is no backwards between which wire is connected between the terminal and the wiper. But if the wrong terminal (the one on the right side, when they are facing you) full the volume knob will work backwards. Its pretty easy to make that mistake.

 

[iiipopes]

And if it is an audio taper pot instead of a linear taper pot, you will get all-or-nothing if wired up on the wrong lugs.

 

[bassbenj]

Hmmm, I've used that Buzzard's Bay wiring diagram (from the volume pot down) a million times and I've never had an issue before. I do see what you're saying tho. Maybe they're assuming I'm using a shielded pick guard (which I am not)?

There you go. Diagram assumes that foil on pickguard connects ground to volume to ground on tone and jack. Just run a ground wire between the backs of the two pots. And put some foil on the pickguard while you are at it also!

 

[Bottoms_Up!]

Thanks guys! I'll try some of the suggestions this weekend.

 

[line6man]

There is no backwards. It's a variable resistor. It's not directional.

This is absolutely not true! Pots often have logarithmic tapers, which are not symmetrical when reversed. There are two ways to wire a volume pot backwards. One is to swap the input/output and ground, which causes the sweep to run in the opposite direction, and the taper to change. The other is to swap the input with the output. For a bass with only one volume pot, this changes whether the pot places a variable impedance load on the pickup or the output.