1960 Strat wiring volume trouble

[xtian]

Friend's 1960 Strat has trouble with the Volume control. It won't turn the volume down to zero. Sounds like the volume is still on about half when you turn the knob down. There's no scratchiness with any of the controls; they all operate smoothly.

I measured resistance at the Volume pot's terminals (marked in red in photo). When the pot is set to full volume, resistance is about 30 ohms. When closed down to zero volume, resistance is 235K ohms (seems about right, since this is a 250K pot.

Why can't I turn off the volume?

Another observation: On measuring the resistance of tip-to-ring on a cable plugged into the jack, the resistance drops only to 241K ohms when volume is turned to zero. In contrast, on my working Strat, resistance drops to 14 ohms when volume is at zero (which makes sense, because the signal should be connected to ground when you want zero volume).

On reading this wiring diagram <http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/stockstrat.php> it appears that the third (currently unconnected) lug on the volume pot should be grounded. Is it odd that it's not connected to ground?

I don't want to do any unnecessary soldering on this guy's guitar!

[img968]http://www.superconductormusic.com/pub/ ... t_vol1.JPG[/img]

[Reeltarded]

Clean harness.

Nope. It's absolutely not odd. Gut another pot and rebuild it in situ as not to disturb the original joints. I like those classy splices from where...

The guitar was refinished.. I am guessing?

[xtian]

Nope. It's absolutely not odd. Gut another pot and rebuild it in situ as not to disturb the original joints.

And, what? Forget to ground the volume lug?!?

Yes, it's a refin. Ugly paint, too. Owner is sending it to be repainted.

[Teleguy61]

If the third lug is not grounded, it is acting as a variable resistor, rather than a voltage divider. Volume will not go to zero unless the wiper is at or near ground at its full counterclockwise rotation.
It's to taste of course, some players like it that way. I have a middle pickup on my Tele, on a separate pot, that I ground or not as the whim takes me. It works diffferently.

[Reeltarded]

What color is it going to be? I have all the duco colors and love that kind of work.



Just sayin'...

[xtian]

Seafoam green, I think. He's got it all lined up--but I'll recommend you next time!

[Reeltarded]

Always a great color. My favorite is sonic blue without clear coats when the guard turns condensed milk green. Looks like an airplane for some reason.

Cool dood! I have a guitfolio! Heh!

[Jana]

Was the lug on the volume pot ever soldered on? It should be grounded.

[xtian]

Was the lug on the volume pot ever soldered on? It should be grounded.

I soldered the lug to the pot body. Solved the issue; owner happy.

[Structo]

Yeah common mistake.

Another is to get the output wires crossed. Makes a nice buzz.

Here is a Sonic strat I did.

I wanted it to look like a well played '61.

[img:640:512]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t5yi ... 2520up.JPG[/img]

Later I put the pinup on it.

[img:640:480]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-swS- ... G_0327.JPG[/img]