Hi, I'm new here and I was wondering if anyone can help with a guitar wiring issue I'm having.

So I installed new pickups on my strat HSH configuration, after I put it back togther I noticed the middle pickup remains on with every selected position also when the switch is on the solo middle pickup position it sounds way louder than both humbuckers despite it being the least hot pickup!
I would appreciate it if someone can point out what I'm doing wrong here?

 

model of pickups and pictures of the wiring (specially on of the switch) would be very useful, that's very likely where the issue is.

 

If you're a newbie and take apart a guitar, make a diagram of where each wire on the pickups goes, do it one pickup at a time goes and don't unsolder anything else, also take a few snapshots of the wiring with your phone. Search the net for strat HSH wiring diagrams, there should be plenty of them. just unsolder the pickups from the switch and follow the net diagram exactly and rewire your pickups. Also make sure the bridge and neck pickups are in the right position, some have it marked on the bottom of the pickups. In future have a friend who is more knowledgeable help you, if you had a problem with just pickups never try opening up your pedals or an amplifier, it can be a costly mistake.

 

Show us a picture, it will be faster :D

 

is the pickup potted? it might be microphonic and you are hearing it pickup the other pickups. but yeah more details would be helpful. check your work, make sure you didn't short a wire together with solder.

Draw out your wiring diagram,and verify it matches what you wanted to do.

also the height of the pickup will affect the volume, you might try lowering the loud pickup to match the volume of the other pickups.

 

There are too many variables without any pictures.
I've seen ppl wiring one/several pickups directly on the selector output so ...

I bet this is the case here, so the same pickup is ALWAYS selected, whatever selection is.
Who bet with me ?

 

That's solid advice for anyone venturing into guitar electronics for the first time! Taking a systematic approach, like focusing on one pickup at a time and documenting the wiring with diagrams and photos, can help ensure a successful rewiring process.

 

You clearly didn't wired the right way on the switch selector just unsolder everything on the switch search for the right schematic on internet and SLOWLY solder back one cable at the time also if you have a Japan sor sometimes called import switch and the schematic is showing a Usa switch you need to know the difference here is a pic to show the difference

 

Last edited: Apr 18, 2024

And.....you may have a short....easy to do. Or a kink in a cable that's now broken the connection. The idea to make a diagram is a great one, but what I do when tinkering with something new is video the process from the time I remove the first screw. Easy to do with your phone, and it can be handy in many cases where disassembly is tricky.

 

That's a wonderful guide.