ebuck

Everything is finished thanks for the help

Update. I changed the pot and re-soldered a few things. After I got it in place it seemed to help a bit. I have heard that this type of circuit is prone to this issue "because it changes the impedance too much".

If you're using two separate physical wires going to the output jack that can add hum. Are you using any kind of metal shielding in a cavity or pickguard?

If no one else can help me figure it out, the next step will be a new pot (or two) lol.

I contacted the guys I bought the pots from and they said if pots go bad they either - get scratchy, OR don't work at all. I'm inclined to believe this. In addition, he told me to send my diagram and info to him so he could check it out. I'll let you know what he says.

I believe I have located the hum. Listen to this... The middle and neck pickups.. NO hum.. humbucker.. a bit of hum However, on ANY pickup, once I rollback the master volume knob, I have a loud hum. If I "short circut" the tone knob by putting a piece of metal from the right lug to the shell - Silence as it should be. With the whole thing "short circuted" If I roll back the master vol knob.. same hum. Bad pot?

Which ground wire? The one on the output? Why wouldn't it be? Thats how grounding works.

UPDATE: I re-soldered all the grounded connections and it seemed to help a tiny bit. The main problem still exists. Now only the humbucker buzzes (oh the irony). When I touch metal parts like screws, or a jackplate you can hear quiet little pops and the hum diminishes very slightly. But here's where it gets weird... When I touch the metal slugs of the humbucker and it buzzes like I'm touching the end of an unplugged guitar cable. This only happens on the "metal slug side" of the humbucker, not the "screw" half. help?

New wire done. SAME THING I am seriously baffled. I have a pretty strong hum/buzz.. when I turn down a volume pot a bit.. It gets even louder. Here is my wiring schematic. Someone please help me. I don't even know who I could take it to that could figure this out

Great! Thanks for the input. I wasn't digging the metal braid shield so I bought wire that contained a hot and the metal shield ground in one. All of wires are then covered in a plastic sheath. .. Thats probably confusing. Here is what is coming (hopefully) by the end of this week.

Cool. I actually read many articles on that site right before I posed. I'll wait for this new wire to come in, then I'll see where that gets me.

Hey man thanks for the help Both the pickguard and cavity have copper tape. When I was testing it I didn't even screw it in yet. If it doesn't work open, it really wont work screwed in. I also tested the continuity of my shielding with a Multimeter. What about this star method?

Thanks for a reply. It appears everything else functions. I am using this metal braided wire for the hot output jack. That must be the issue. I was using a separate wire for the ground. When I touch the metal jacket of the hot wire while its hooked up, it buzzes louder, when I press it to a grounded pot, it diminishes a bit. What are the rules or advice for doing output on this guitar? I just ordered some new guitar wire that I think will better suit it. This metal braid stuff seems to be more for an old Les Paul style.

Everything is now on the back of the pot.. no luck. Still very loud hum/buzz almost like its unplugged.

UPDATE: I removed a couple ground loops. I forgot to mention the pickguard/cavity is fully foil shielded. I have now soldered the normal (leftmost) lug to the back of the pot. Would this also cause a ground loop?