Jump to content

Help! Middle position doesn’t work!


SiZi

Recommended Posts

Hi, I’m building a tele with a custom made P90 (braided wire) at the neck position and typical two wire single coil at bridge. I followed the diagram below from Fralin but for some reason I just cannot get both pickups to work in the middle position. Can anyone please help? 
 

5C98D504-E272-4F2A-B046-4540B58CF56E.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Professor Woozle that is similar to a standard Tele wiring diagram, so most likely that's not the issue. That's from a guy who can read follow the lines on such diagrams but can't understand the real schematics.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the suggestions. Here are pics of the control plate, as well as diagrams to explain what I’ve done (because the pics are tough to see through clearly). I’ve also attached a diagram of what my switch and it’s lugs look like and named each lug to help you with suggestions. I truly appreciate  the support!

 

BB5A3BC2-6B1C-4C62-82E2-F9285E8BFD44.jpeg

1DEC1897-6F99-4B72-839F-4A62232F10D9.jpeg

4F14F245-6DFE-478D-8350-82901025DB4A.jpeg

995FEA48-D288-4ED8-A750-6F8F160BCDB9.jpeg

E1FF85E3-E4EE-4F77-B079-C7970F054FE3.jpeg

773672BF-E10C-4FCC-8ECF-D89829914B1B.jpeg

67D199DA-3C55-431E-BBF8-847FA8931AA4.jpeg

80D02A09-C4A1-4DBE-A8D1-8F5530BD095A.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

67D199DA-3C55-431E-BBF8-847FA8931AA4.jpe

80D02A09-C4A1-4DBE-A8D1-8F5530BD095A.jpeg

If that drawing is accurate, your ground wiring is a bit off. B-D-E-G should connect to the lug of the pot. Instead you have C-D-E-F connected to ground.

image.png.9cf41234043690a0ec165e929cdf7142.png

Just to clarify… are you suggesting that I should not connect CDEF with each other, but instead connect BDEG and connect the ground to BDEG?

just FYI, I tried to connect BDEG (with ground at F (as it was) but that didn’t work. 
 

Sorry, if these are silly questions, I just don’t understand the logic of how this wiring stuff works in spite of watching many videos 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, henrim said:

Don’t connect any lugs of the switch to ground.

The body of the switch should be connected to ground though. The plate appears to be painted but I guess paint is removed under the pots and and switch.

So I should remove ground and connect BDEG? Let me try that and report back. Thanks 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok, here is how I have rewired it. But now none of the pickups work in any position. The neck and bridge only work  if I revert back to connecting CDEF with F also connected to the pot lug (but still none of pick ups work in the middle position)

70FFEF8E-A8D0-43E1-9C66-0CB9A0E13587.jpeg

Edited by SiZi
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, scratch that. The photo of the switch you're using suggests it will not work if you just follow the original diagram as-is. There's some transposition you're going to have to do to make it work.

It's late in my time zone. Assuming no-one else manages to pick this up I can whip up a revised drawing for you in the morning if you like.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, curtisa said:

Actually, scratch that. The photo of the switch you're using suggests it will not work if you just follow the original diagram as-is. There's some transposition you're going to have to do to make it work.

It's late in my time zone. Assuming no-one else manages to pick this up I can whip up a revised drawing for you in the morning if you like.

I think the fact that my switch is different is causing me confusion. Yes I would greatly appreciate a diagram whenever convenient, thanks so much for the offer!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, SiZi said:

I just don’t understand the logic of how this wiring stuff works

I'm not good at it either but I've managed to follow that type of drawings...

What I've learned about wiring is that it's a loop starting and ending at the jack. Well, not actually, the loop continues through the amp but inside the guitar everything should make a loop from the hot to the ground of the jack, or alternative loops to be more exact.

And regarding your issue with the switch: Searching for DM-30 switch diagrams revealed that you're not alone, there's been many others struggling with the same problem! Apparently the switch is commonly used in Made In Japan Teles but the diagrams are harder to find. This is the clearest I could find using a DM-30: https://www.customworldguitarparts.com/netherlands/tele-wired-gold-control-plate-mighty-mite-orange-drop.html

Telecaster pre wired upgrade gold control plate mighty mite + orange drop

But that's different to what was shown at https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-guitar-shop/6060590-dm-30-wiring-diagram?p=6060843#post6060843

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

I'm not good at it either but I've managed to follow that type of drawings...

What I've learned about wiring is that it's a loop starting and ending at the jack. Well, not actually, the loop continues through the amp but inside the guitar everything should make a loop from the hot to the ground of the jack, or alternative loops to be more exact.

And regarding your issue with the switch: Searching for DM-30 switch diagrams revealed that you're not alone, there's been many others struggling with the same problem! Apparently the switch is commonly used in Made In Japan Teles but the diagrams are harder to find. This is the clearest I could find using a DM-30: https://www.customworldguitarparts.com/netherlands/tele-wired-gold-control-plate-mighty-mite-orange-drop.html

Telecaster pre wired upgrade gold control plate mighty mite + orange drop

But that's different to what was shown at https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-guitar-shop/6060590-dm-30-wiring-diagram?p=6060843#post6060843

Wow this is very different from what the regular switches require. No wonder I have been struggling! Because I have successfully wired up much more complicated set ups and was shocked that I couldn’t manage this simple 3 way switch! I’ll try these tomorrow morning and report back 🤞Thanks so much! If Curtisa manages to share a diagram I’ll try that too. I’ll keep everyone posted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, henrim said:

I’d say say the actual lesson to learn here is that the multimeter is your friend 😁

Yepp. If you can use it. I can check the voltage of batteries with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Bizman62 said:

Yepp. If you can use it. I can check the voltage of batteries with it.

With normal guitar wirings the only thing you really need is continuity test. That’s the most simple thing a multimeter can do. No voltage, amperage, resistance or anything like that. Just a test whether current can flow between two points. And if it flows somewhere where it shouldn’t. That is all you need to get switch lugs figured out. If you leave electrics out of equation it is all just simple and-or logic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...