Guitar electronics problem driving me nuts

[Whoopysnorp]

I have a Peavey Predator (Strat copy) that has a problem that I can't resolve. It started as a hum manifesting itself intermittently while playing--the hum would cut out the signal coming from the pickups, and if I banged on the knobs with my hand it would usually go back to normal. Now it won't work at all. I tried replacing the pots, but they were apparently not the cause. Something's definitely wrong with the grounding, because when I touch the tailpiece or the strings, the hum gets louder. If I touch the jack plate, the hum drops to a normal level. I can't figure out what to fix; the wiring is just like a standard Strat wiring (I checked my schematic with one on the internet). What I really need is a voltmeter to check continuity on all the wires, but I don't have one. Anybody have any ideas about what may be wrong?

[M.Brane]

The only option without an ohm meter would be to start replacing things. You can get an analog meter at Rat Shack for under $20. It's something that no musician should be without.

[Tom Hicks]

There is supposed to be a common ground wire that connects all the pots and pickups and then runs to the brigde.Sounds like it may have come loose.

[Whoopysnorp]

Originally posted by Tom Hicks
There is supposed to be a common ground wire that connects all the pots and pickups and then runs to the brigde.Sounds like it may have come loose.

That was my first thought. It's fine, though. Oddly enough, when I connect that ground wire to the first tone pot instead of the volume pot, the noise goes down to reasonable levels, but then I don't get anything through the pickups. I'm stumped! I'd like to record some parts with this guitar, and I really wish it was working! I almost bought a 5-position switch at the guitar shop today, but it was 12 bucks and I really didn't think it'd do any good.

[Sonixx]

do you have a drop in volume when it hums?

this sounds like an open winding or cold solder joint. if you have access to a soldering iron, reheat all of the connections.

is this a multi-pickup guitar, and if so does it hum in all pickup positions?

[Whoopysnorp]

Originally posted by Sonixx
do you have a drop in volume when it hums?

this sounds like an open winding or cold solder joint. if you have access to a soldering iron, reheat all of the connections.

is this a multi-pickup guitar, and if so does it hum in all pickup positions?

The hum is all I've got. I can't get any signal from the pickups or anything; just a big steady hum.

I'll try reheating the connections. I've done a lot of them already, but not all.

[Emeric]

Did you replace the output jack, those get messed up easy.

[Whoopysnorp]

Originally posted by Emeric
Did you replace the output jack, those get messed up easy.

Well, there's a thought. I haven't looked at that yet.

[Scooter B]

Definetely check the jack and get a digital multi-meter/ohm meter to check individual connections!

I knew one guy who had a guitar go dead just before a show (borrowed one to do the gig) and spent hours trying to track down the short.

Turned out a tiny piece of paper found it's way into the jack and presto no conection to the outside world!

Easy fix but one heck of needle in the haystack to find!

[toyL]

I can fix this for you if you give me just a few more details--1) yr it was made...2) how many and what kind of pick-ups?...3) what kind of switch?...4) how many pots?

[Whoopysnorp]

Originally posted by toyL
I can fix this for you if you give me just a few more details--1) yr it was made...2) how many and what kind of pick-ups?...3) what kind of switch?...4) how many pots?

1) Not entirely sure when it was made, but sometime in the late '90s. I bought it used in '96 or so.

2) Pickups are 3 single coil EMG Select pickups. They aren't the original pickups; I cannibalized them from another guitar four or five years ago and put 'em in. Before they were just stock single coils.

3) Five-position switch.

4) 3 500K pots.

The more I'm thinking about it, the more I'm leaning towards the switch being the problem. First, I think the jack is fine, because I connected the wires that lead to it directly to the guitar cord and got the same results. Second, I know I'm not getting anything from the pickups, and everything from the pickups goes though that switch. Third, in its final stages of not working right, I'd have to wiggle the switch to get a sound out of it. And also, I think I pulled the switch out of the same crappy guitar that I got the pickups from.