How To Troubleshoot Guitar Wiring - The Basics Episode

[@choimdachoim9491]

Everything you demonstrated here is so blatantly obvious and I feel so stupid for not figuring it out myself. This video is pure gold.

[@wyldeslash2003]

Thanks for going thru this slowly. A sign of a good teacher and not someone trying show you how much he knows as quickly as possible.

[@michaelreyes9997]

Watch it in slow motion, You’ll love it I promise 😂😂 I can’t stand this wasted time banter, just show me the baby and spare me the labor pains

[@redicoyote]

Dylan, I want to thank you. I followed the steps shown here and found that my neck humbucker has a dead coil. I've been trying for months to learn how to diagnose the problem, but you're the first person to actually explain what I need to know. BIG THANK YOU

[@carpo719]

And he's pretty damn good at explaining stuff

[@michaelcordeiro44]

O L on your fluke meter actually means" Over Load". Not Open. I just thought I would let you know, I'm an Electronic Engineer , this is what I do for a living.. but that reading does mean that you do not have Continuity between both connections that you tested. So you do not have a short between both of the connections...

[@floattheboat100]

Good stuff, even for someone who knows a bit about what you’re talking about, it’s still communicated thoroughly and you have great patience. You don’t assume people know, I’m not trying to sound cool like I know, but I actually happened to know what you were talking about. But I don’t think I could’ve communicated it that well, and for someone trying to figure this out I get a feeling you’re a valuable resource. Good work brother.

[@carpo719]

Also Just a side note to people who do their own wiring, when I was being Hasty I somehow got my positive and negative crossed when I was soldering to the output Jack. I checked everything else and nothing worked.... and I realized it was that simple. I thought it might be the switch but I was getting no output from any of the pickups so I switched those wires and it works now. So if none of the pickups work at all, the first place you might want to start is that output Jack knowing that everything is grounded there

[@iankinzel]

this video is very frustrating to follow & worthless as a helpful guide

[@matdube3577]

What's up Dylan? Great vid. Quick question: When I check the resistance and flipping the p/u switch, my reader shows half the resistance from what Seymour Duncan suggest on their website? Configuration is 2 humbuckers. BTW, was installed by a luthier! Would it be installed paralleled instead of series? Thanks again ;)

[@mikelilly7285]

The very last thing you said about making sure ALL components are grounded....yeah...that part. Thanks, problem solved!!!!

[@vyger6336]

I only get a reading when the switch on my tele is set to the middle...I get nothing when it is set to the bridge or neck pick up ...This is a fairly new guitar and not played much. It only works when the switch is in the middle and then both pickups work.

[@caifanesdelaaalaz8529]

I am LIKE 618. Just subscribed. Cheers from Mexico!!!

[@thecentralscrutinizerr]

So, I bought an Yngwie Malmsteen prewired pickguard. I installed it. All the pickups work and have an output BUT the bridge pickup has a terrible hum (but still has an output) AND the volume pot doesn't work when that pickup is selected but works on the other two. I tried replacing the volume pot. Same thing. I just ordered a new 5 way selector switch. If that doesn't work, I'm burning it.

[@FrugalFixerSpike]

Doing my #GGBO21 planning wiring, I need advice. Get in touch. Dropped you an Instagram message. Spike

[@spokes28]

? This tip did not solve my problem and I’m hoping that you would suggest something else. I just put together a diy kit with all new parts 4 CTS pots, and two humbuckers wired 50s style. I get sound from both pickups but very very low and only when the volume pot is all the way up. With a multi meter I have verified that everything is grounded, the pickups are at appropriate resistance (7-8k) and the capacitors are at about .23. I am at a loss to know what to do next. Thank you for your help.

[@WilliamLohan]

I have an Epiphone SG that is very very quiet after sitting for a while. Both pick-ups are open 0ohm. The jack looks good. 1 tone and 1 volume seems good but the other 2 are open 0ohm. Not sure next step / sceptical because you said pick-ups typically don't go bad.

[@dragonsage6909]

Really great reference share, thanks!

[@ltcm5052]

4:20 “Mary Tyler Moore hair”😂 I never thought of it that way.

[@gsxroyce256]

Been chasing a buzzing / high pitch squill and can’t find the issue. I’ve tested everything. Idk what else to do

[@giantessmaria]

my strat neck pickup isn't coming on. i tested from the outside . the K ohms were; bridge pu- 6.53 middle pu- 6.60 neck pu- 230.0 before i open it up, would this confirm my neck pu is bad, or could this still be the switch? thanks, great video explanation!

[@streetlegal008]

Great methodical presentation and explanation for problem shooting. Just one other thing that might present as the source of a problem would be one of the small wires themselves being faulty (broken copper wire) and needing to be replaced. I think this might be more likely on a new guitar, where the fault hasn't been picked up by factory quality control, so a new guitar should be returned for refund in that case.

[@Landvq5rx]

Hi mate, I love your videos. I have an issue with my guitar, hopefully you could help me. The bridge pick of my guitar has audio signal but the low end is very bad. If I compare the sound from the neck pick up and bridge, there is a huge difference. It’s like if there is not bass and mids signal in the bridge pick up. My pick ups are: seymour Duncan Sentiment in the Neck and Pegasus in the bridge. Any advices ?

[@RobAndKim444]

I have a pickup problem, hoping someone can help... I had out of town music store work on my HSS Stratocaster (Select series), after I gotta it back, the middle and neck pickups sounded weak and thin while the bridge pickup sounds muddy, (all on their own), The work was done out of town and it's next to impossible to get back to this so-called music store, can anybody take a guess as to what is going on? I lifted the pickguard and all the wire connections look good, I'm going to change the pickup selector just because it's been used a lot, but then again if somebody has any information as to help me assess this problem I really would appreciate it 👍

[@jreagle58]

Excuse me repeating this question from another of your videos but what is the next step after checking the guitar with the cable and it reads OL? I rebuilt the wiring on a LP Standard style guitar and get an OL from both pickups. Is there a way to check the switch with the multimeter? I'm guessing there's a short somewhere. No sound from amp but there is a hum and the volume of the hum goes up and down when adjusting the volume controls.

[@deassassinwolf1156]

maybe someone can help me. I just bought this guitar and I plugged it in and the hum was really bad and if I touch any of the metal parts(bridge, tuning pegs, strings) it gets significantly louder and it's pretty much unplayable as is. any idea whats wrong?

[@MustafaBaabad]

I may have missed the explanation of the wiring diagram, it would be really useful to understand how it works. Thanks chief. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@abhinavaggarwal4062]

Hi ! I just received a new original series fender strat ordered online. To my dismay, it sounds very weak and not chimy and resonant like a strat is supposed to. The sound of the guitar is very weak and kind of muffled and it is barely audible even at volume 5. As opposed to my other strat which sounds big and open and chimy even at volume 4. I have not yet opened the pickguard of the guitar. Do you think this is something I can troubleshoot and fix myself or should I just return the guitar. I really wanna keep this guitar because acoustically it sounds good and feels good. Please help !

[@patrikfekete2nd]

These videos is my favourite! Thank you Dylan for your good work!

[@thomasmulvaney]

I've recently tried to install a 3rd volume pot and wired my middle pickup to that volume pot then to the output wire off the main volume pot. The problem I have is when I try to blend the middle pickup it lowers the volume of the other pickups. Is this normal or have I wired something incorrectly. Also when I try just the middle pickup which should be directly wired without any switch between it has no sound unless I turn main volume up.

[@moonboundPiglet]

I got stopped right at 6:03. When i have all knobs at 10 and measure, i have an open. Adjusting all controls does nothing, which the exception of the volume knob, when i turn it all the way down, it swaps to a short at the very end. would this indicate a bad volume pot?

[@josephsolvason6535]

i have a fender strat squire and i think i may have a ground issue. I tried checking for continuity between the metal stem of the pickup switch (just under the rubber grip, the stem that is visible even when the electronics compartment is closed). there is no continuity there. Does that indicate an issue?

[@joeydugas1898]

The neck pickup on my Player Strat doesnt even register on the meter on the cord and on the pickup but still works. It doesnt put out as much as the neck but still works. Do you have a suggestion?

[@winnietancawan6768]

my guitar have low volume output..i have to switch everything to 10 from guitar to guitar amp to be able to hear the output..

[@scottdarksetscoleman7042]

Rob Dyrdek starts working on guitars after mtv🤣

[@pescadorr69]

When I do the basic test, my multi meter stays blank, I.e. I plug the cable into the guitar and the leads on the hot and ground of the other end of the cable, I get a blank screeen on all selector positions, I tested the guitar cable, it reads 0 ohms like it should, the guitar plays but has a quieter sound on the high strings, please help

[@TimHoustonSB]

You’re the Man, Dylan! 🤙 I would subscribe 50k more times if I could 😀🎸

[@AaronFrick-zc6xu]

I'm losing My mind on this. Finishing this recording has yet another obstacle. I need some glasses as well 😂

[@jakefromkmart]

my guitar pickups work sometimes sometimes non work and it also depends on the angle i hold my guitar? idk whats goin on

[@vanshankguitars]

I actually had this happen with my single pickup Music Master. I plugged it in and you could literally hear the volume drop. Turning the knob didn't bring it back. So I decided to change just the volume pot. After looking at the condition of the rest, I went all out, volume and tone pot and since I had some Orange Drop caps, one went in. Only thing I kept was the output jack because it's a Switch Craft. First time trying Bourns pots. They seem ok. They were the only dime sized pots I had on hand that fit the cavity.

[@michaelmenkes8085]

I had a crazy random short in my wiring on my last build. I had to eliminate things one step at a time. It was a combination of problems. First I found that one pickup lead was also connected to the pickup switch lead out, closing the circuit. Ok that seemed to fix it. Then I found as I stuffed the wires back into their cavities that it was cutting out again. Turns out that braided cable's grounding needs to be isolated between pre-switch and post switch and if they touch they will short. And finally we had a short at the pre-amp terminal because separating a braided ground from the wire and rewinding it as a ground wire is a bit of a finicky beyotch. My first real wiring job! No for unknown reasons I still get a ghost in the machine where the neck pickup and middle pick and blend knob can be in a certain position where I get no signal at all. But there is no need for the setting. I have no idea what I'm doing.

[@Hexspa]

For anyone looking for a multimeter, I did all the specs research and the Kaiweets 118E is one of the best for the price. You can literally spend over $500 on a DMM and not even have it be able to measure the kinds of values you need for guitar. Whatever you get, check the ranges of values for current, resistance, capacitance, and whatever else you might want. Some dmms are meant for different tasks and paying more doesn't necessarily get you a better tool for your needs.

[@sixty4rainy]

Thx a lot!! You're so kind sharing these knowledge for free, God Bless you!!

[@sixty4rainy]

You got a new subs from Jakarta!

[@claudiajay8291]

How about the bridge on a hard tail ? Or Tremelo ?

[@angdav5968]

25 at harbor freight and it's the same multi meter

[@CSLBRK]

does the strings needs to be grounded through a grounded bridge?

[@RevolvingPotato]

So i bought a Headphone Amp because ive been playing without an amp for a few years, when playing with the headphone amp i noticed is that i cant hear 5th and 6th string from the amp at all. could it be the amp, the string, or maybe a section one of my pickups are working? :(

[@brodge04]

Thanks, great summary. My last build intermittently loses signal for a split second, but only sometimes. Very hard to diagnose but I suspect there’s a soldering issue somewhere. Have tried replacing pots and checked for wires touching where they shouldn’t, but same issue keeps happening. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@carpo719]

Make sure the wires are not getting crossed in the output. I was having issues there

[@georgejbonetsky8686]

Thank you again very informative 👍

[@AaronFrick-zc6xu]

My gain kinda drops out and won't have the usual sustain. Really doesn't cut completely out. Started doing this recording last time, so that's on hold. Gonna go through everything, I've never done this before hahaha. We have a guy that works on Our guitars, just don't have the money. And the guy does a few solos on both albums so far HAHAHA. And schedules.. Always great videos Sir. I'll get this!!🎶

[@donald-parker]

This concept of "testing at the pickup" (roughly at the 9:50 mark) seems like it would not work unless you first disconnect the pickup from the switch. If you have a bad switch and its shorting your PU, it will make the PU look like it has no resistance unless you remove the leads from the PU at the switch first. No?

[@DylanTalksTone]

it is almost impossible for a blade switch to short on it's own. They usually go open. If the switch has shorted, someone ruined it. It didn't "wear into a short"

[@donald-parker]

​@@DylanTalksTone Fair enough. But a loose ground wire somewhere could touch anywhere. So maybe it is safer to say IF you can measure resistance at the PU but not at the output jack, the likely problem is the switch or a bad pot. But if it measures 0 everywhere, you have a short somewhere and different steps to investigate are needed.

[@douglasreynolds8842]

Really interesting. I have 3 identical home-made lap steels, all with identical electronics and aluminum bridges screwed into the wood, (not grounded to anything). Only one of them buzzes and touching anything metal stops the noise, including touching the non-connected bridge after taking strings off. Any ideas?

[@robertcurtis6433]

*installed two Seymore Duncan liberator solderless pots on my 2003 Sheckter C1 that have 2 Seymore Duncan pups I even followed their instructions and I'm getting nothing. Would you be willing to do a how-to video on the liberator pots? as there is very little information about these. Seymore Duncan"s instructions are weak at best. Thanks in advance

[@n8shac1978]

Q: WHY are my Tone knobs consistently producing Volume results? Multiple guitars, meter confirms all connections are good (Ground V completes across all expected points, Hot V pings at expected sources). Several guitars now, and I’m just following the diagram. Clearly a short somewhere but the installation appears robust.

[@philipelmes705]

Enjoyed that, but I have a problem with my Texas special pickups , after re stringing Only half the pickups work G,B and E have no sound on all three pickups E,A and D perfect. The three high strings no sound. Basically only half of each pickup is working, Any Ideas as to what may be causing this problem?

[@ronmounts8075]

Outstanding Brother!!!! Your Videos are well Spoken,, Slowly showing your Audiences every generic electronic problems!!!!! I have had shorted out problems with my treble and rhytym switch for 10 years or so lol!!!!! Time for me ti replace!!!! Thanx Big Guy!!!! I have your website Saved Buddy!!!!!

[@dwainmcbain5263]

Great video! I'm trying to find out why my tele sometimes sends a signal through to the amp even when the vol pot is closed then i wiggle some stuff like the tone pot and jack input and it closes. it seem intermittent... sometimes i can reproduce it and other times no way! so frustrating because I can't trust it lol

[@metalfuryskulls]

I have a similar issue - generally the advice for this is that your volume pot isn't earthed well.

[@RcKDrUmm3R]

What would you check for a burnt smell in the guitar? I checked where the battery goes and there’s corrosion inside the guitar

[@0oTHEJACKo0]

I don't understand how you measured the neck pickup itself by just going to the metal of it with both probes and got your ~6kOhm. How did you do that? :D (Are you going to the ground and the inside of the coil?)

[@algreen266]

Hi i was wondering if you can help me , i purchase a new harness assembled harness kit for my les paul.I also purchased 1 490 and 498 pick ups, unfortunately the 498 has 5 wires and the 490 has 1 wire wrapped with a neutral and i dont know where they should be soldered.can you help me.Thanks

[@ElAltillo.musical]

Hi there, good video! Dylan can you help me with a question? I have a HSS strat with a 5-position selector switch (new), in position 4 (it would be between the bridge microphone and the middle one) the intensity of the sound is lowered, everything is checked with a multimeter (4ohms in position 4), pad height, soldered wires... and it's all good... so I can't find the problem. can you help me? thanks!

[@QuantumDivergence]

I am having an issue with a bass guitar, (active) Fender 5 string (I believe it may be a Frankenstein, bought on eBay.). If you could do a video like this in active systems I would very much appreciate it. Great work. Thank you

[@IdovShai]

Thank you

[@jeffphillips2745]

Do you have a video on isolating a ground problem. I have a Les Paul type guitar and I put some Tonerider Alnico II Classics in it. I have checked with my multimeter and all grounds seem to be ok but when I put some overdrive or distortion to it, it seems to get a little buzzy. I've checked the ground connections from hell to highwater and they all check out fine. I will say when I put the new pickups in, I did a complete rewire job with all new pots, switches, and jack. So I am puzzled is it just normal or am I missing something?

[@BOMBPHONICS]

So I’ve got a schecter c5 get 5 string bass. Recently my neck pickup when selected with the selector knob has no output. Either all the way on or when split between both, the volume is cut as if the pickup doesn’t work. Testing with a cable plugged in to the guitar I get the same resistance with each position. So I’m guessing that means the pickups are good but the knob is bad? I’m new to using multimeters.

[@sampsonsimpson20]

I just changed out my pots to 500K pots. I wired it up the same way that it was wired before. I plug it in and I am not getting anything. I followed this video and when I check the resistance through the guitar cable I am getting .2 ohms at each pickup selection. Where do I go from there? I checked everything else in this video and everything else was good. Do I have a grounding/shorting issue or something?

[@BrianLopez-dv7ep]

This is why troubleshooting is so important, embarrassing story time... Some time ago I was thinking about painting my guitar. So I plugged it in to play and think about what color I'd like and it didn't work! I checked the Amp, it was fine, I checked the guitar "mostly" it seemed okay, so I figured it was the jack. I decided right then and there that this was a good time as any to start the process of dismantling and preparing the surfaces. Fast forward two weeks and I was putting it back together, as I was, I tried one last time to see what the problem was. All the solder was intact and there was no broken wires. Just by chance I started messing with the pots and goddammit, the volume nob was turned all the way down!🤣🤣🤣😅

[@jeremymura-g7r]

bro awsome info n demo i got 4 electric guitars that belongs to my unkle who played in a band the 4 electric guitar needs rewiring 3 gibson n 1 tokai electic guitar i had them 4 30yrs watching your video makes me want to learn how to play the electric guitar now😄👌🎸🎸

[@richardsmith3383]

Waffle, waffle, waffle...

[@DougHinVA]

A useful video... 1 point for all grounds to go to is at the jack and the bendable prong can ruin everything. And replacing it is simple and cheap!

[@narupickles7982]

Go to stewmac, the have a wiring book and dvd for cheap. if you know how to wire it yourself, troubleshooting is easy.

[@MOZOGuitars]

I did a bunch of work on my old p bass and after making a new pick guard I thought I had a grounding issue with lots of noise occurring when I turn up the tone knob. After the video I think it’s big because I didn’t put a grounding shield on the pick guard itself. Will update…

[@charlieburns1385]

Thanks awesome👍

[@bigtguitars7312]

Hi Dylan what if a les paul clip on kit works on the bridge and both work in the middle but the neck gets no sound on its own? Sure I’ve clipped the wrong wires together somewhere

[@rodjos5463]

👍

[@TheChef470]

Working on my guitar's wiring is like going to the Dentist..........dread it but has to be done.

[@chopper4484]

Won't make the premiere but this will be great as one of my guitar is very noisy and quietens down when I touch the strings. Somewhere its not grounded properly but haven't been able to figure out where.

[@ServiceOrchestramegastore]

very good explanation. much details in every aria of the guitar, and the best part is you talk good English that everyone can understand. thank you!!

[@prestonbowden1008]

Great video man! This helps me a lot. I have a couple guitars I’m working on atm and I’m new to the tech side of things.

[@davidledford3522]

My knobs go to 11

[@MaartenAnna]

Thanks Dylan, exactly what I needed. I have a tone pod that doesn’t work on the bridge pick-up (my guess is, that one of the wires from the switch to the tone pod got pinched). You reckon I can test it by putting the switch in the bridge position, putting the cable in & then testing the resistance by changing the tone knob? If nothing happens, I should take the scratch plate out & check the wiring, right?

[@AndyHarrison1963]

It's a tone POT (as in POTentiometer).

[@MaartenAnna]

@@AndyHarrison1963 Yeah, thanks for that, I wrote this about 2 weeks after I started playing guitar & didn’t know any better. I feel really foolish now. But, that’s really helpful & informative. I’m so greatful, you took the time to point that out to me. Pfff… 👏👏👏

[@AndyHarrison1963]

@@MaartenAnna ditto 😉

[@traceybrown356]

Nice hat ;)

[@redhathacker]

thanks man!

[@FrugalFixerSpike]

Good info, most i knew, but still learned.

[@dariusduvall4170]

So my bridge pickup doesn’t work, I have 6.9k ohms at the pickup and at the switch, but the neck pickup reads 0!! And the neck is the one that works 😂😂 the switch isn’t flipped or wired wrong!! The neck pickup for sure works but doesn’t show any ohms at the switch??? Is my switch bad?? And if it’s bad why does the guitar read ohms for the pickup that doesn’t work and ready no ohms for the pickup that works??? 😂😂😂 I’m confused and don’t want to just throw parts at it

[@justklampfing1140]

have you wired the guitar yourself? check for any loose strands of wire that may short the signal. pull lightly on every wire to see if a cable loosened itself. also check the cover plate if it pushes any exposed cables together if you're worried the switch may be broken you can bypass the signal and avoid it to see if that gives you the result you're looking for

[@dariusduvall4170]

@@justklampfing1140 the wiring appears to be stock, I opened it to fix the bridge pickup, I plan on wiring a Seymour Duncan in soon, and I found that the switch works differently 😂😂 all diagrams for the telecaster show the bridge pickup wires to the bottom post of the switch and the neck is wired to the top. This switch works the other way around, when it’s in the neck position it cancels the connection for the bridge pickup. It’s suppose to be wired backwards I guess 😂

[@justklampfing1140]

@@dariusduvall4170 Tele's have a 3-way switch, right? those things are confusing as hell :D I'd recommend "switching" to a toggle switch. only 3 leads, one ground and also 3 positions. might need a bit reworking of the instrument though

[@dariusduvall4170]

@@justklampfing1140 yeah I’m rewiring a new switch in and it’s a 3 way fender style the old one was an import, and this one is annoying I wired according to a correct diagram and I have the same problem except the middle doesn’t even have the neck pickup on!!! And then I randomly got the bridge pickup to work and now it doesn’t and I can’t find out why xD

[@justklampfing1140]

@@dariusduvall4170 sounds like a tough problem... what about the stock pickups? when i bought a cheap set of (active) pickups, they had their outer wires swapped, so red had to be used as signal instead of white. i completely avoided a 3 way by giving each hubucker its own volume pot

[@robertz9273]

Is there anything else I need to know about this when dealing with active pick ups?

[@fat-hand]

Thanks for the excellent intel - a friend is asking me to troubleshoot his strat and this is will help immensely!

[@ChefBrandonAllen]

I know a Tiffin when I see one!

[@DylanTalksTone]

Or not… because that’s not a tiffin.

[@jahyralvarado676]

thanks to you i realized i don’t have to change all the pots and pickups, it was a not well functioning cable causing noises

[@josezayas-bazan4814]

I have a 335 where we can see the tone difference just when the knob is between 0 to 4. What could be the cause of this? Bad pot? But it happens on both tone pots

[@grahamsocey3657]

This a great video, thank you so much!

[@devinsinderwitcz9134]

"Mary Tyler Moore Hair", boomer! Me too lol.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Lol. Def not a boomer. But I do remember it on nick at nite

[@christopherl4806]

Great explanation. Very well done. Thanks much!

[@stonerdave]

Idk how anyone could have trouble troubleshooting a guitar’s wiring- it’s like 3-5 components max

[@AveragePokeCollector]

Well I'm here because I just wired mine up in a super complex way. All sorts of coil splitting/push pull phase, push pull series/parallel.

[@stonerdave]

@@AveragePokeCollector even at its most complicated set up it’s still only 3-5 components

[@AveragePokeCollector]

@@stonerdave 3-5 components max is where you're wrong, considering even in this video he has 8 components to check. I have 11 on mine.

[@stonerdave]

@@AveragePokeCollector wow- double digits! Omg- how many transistors are there?

[@stonerdave]

You must count switches as a component- I do not

[@staleyexplores]

excellent video, ty.

[@tendingtropic7778]

Thanks for this! I have a fender ultra telecaster and i keep hearing a hum (when not playing) that disappears when I touch the (metal) knobs, or the bridge. whats the most probable diagnosis and how to fix it?

[@davidjairala69]

This is normal. You are grounding the guitar with your body. The solution is to never stop playing lol

[@eternallearner8185]

Excellent! takes some mystery out of a problem.

[@TheKoolBean]

This video is an absolute gem!

[@chopper4484]

So with the noise disappearing when I touch the strings it means the strings aren’t grounded through the bridge? I need to check the bridge to common ground ?

[@DylanTalksTone]

No... your guitar is working perfectly

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

I'm working on wiring issues as we speak

[@ardenstrat]

awesome brother great class

[@joshguilford7030]

Great stuff, thank you

[@thejeffersonlee]

You had me at "Guitar Nerd Stuff"