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Posted by: Davidian Apr 7 2014, 11:24 PM

Hi guys!

My friend has a Squier Telecaster signature model that I'm borrowing for a while.
It's a fine guitar and I like it a lot!
But, when I tried it today, I turned the volume pots all the way down. So, normally, there shouldn't be anymore noise coming out of my amp.
But, even with the volume on the guitar turned all the way down, I still have some noise, although a lot less.
This happens with both of the pickups.

What's the problem here? And how can it be fixed?

Maarten

Posted by: jstcrsn Apr 7 2014, 11:30 PM

QUOTE (Davidian @ Apr 7 2014, 11:24 PM)

Posted by: Mudbone Apr 8 2014, 03:00 AM

There is probably some dirt trapped in there that is preventing the knob from turning all the way off. Spray some contact cleaner in there and work the knob back and forth. If that doesn't work, just change it, they're pretty cheap. Just make sure it's the same value, otherwise it will alter your sound.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 8 2014, 04:07 AM

Single coils run pretty noisy but I"m sure there are some "Tele Guys" here that can provide some tips!!

QUOTE (Davidian @ Apr 7 2014, 06:24 PM)

Posted by: klasaine Apr 8 2014, 04:40 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Apr 7 2014, 08:07 PM)

Posted by: Davidian Apr 8 2014, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the replies, guys!

This Telecaster has 2 humbuckers in it.
I fiddled a little more with it: when I turn off the volume of the bridge pick up, I doesn't make any noise at all, BUT only when the volume of the neck pickup is also turned down completely. When the volume of the neck pickup is turned up, I have the aforementioned problem that the bridge pickup isn't completely silent when turned down.

I hope this is clear I understand this might be confusing.

EDIT: when the volume of 1 of the pickups is turned down, and the other volume is not, the pickup who's volume is down is not completely silent

Posted by: klasaine Apr 8 2014, 04:13 PM

Common problem but I don't know exactly what causes it.
It's either a wiring thing or an impedance mis-match between the two pkups.

Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 10 2014, 08:43 AM

It's the wirring problem. Some of cheap guitars are slightly different wired than their more expensive originals.

Show me a pic of Your electronics. If You have Two independent volume knobs for both pickups than I should be able to help You


I'll try to be as simple as possible. (started to explain but post was going to be waaaaay long)

Reverse hot wires on the pot pin and the the left one ( right one should be soldered to ground or just pressed to the body od the pot.
One of the hot wires is pickup output. It should be soldered to the letf pin of the pot. There can be also additional cable to the tone pot. Both should be soldered to that pin. Another hor wire is hot output to the jack. Should be soldered to the middle pin of the pot.

All descriptions based on a pot view - top, pins directed downwards


When they're soldered the previous way, You never have Your hot wire connected to the ground for zero noise. This is why You roll down the volume and still get hum.

Posted by: pdf64 Apr 10 2014, 07:28 PM

What Telecaster model is it (whose is the signature)?

Posted by: Davidian Apr 10 2014, 08:03 PM

It's the John 5 signature: http://www.fender.com/squier/series/artist/squier-j5-tele-rosewood-fingerboard-frost-gold/

This guitar doesn't have a backplate, so a quick picture of the inside and wiring won't be possible I guess, without changing the strings
And I don't have a spare sets of strings lying around at the moment.

Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 10 2014, 10:21 PM

But You don't have to unscrew the pickguard. Only the plate with pots

From what I see it should be exactly what I wrote above. Just switch the cables from center pin with left pin. Of course on both pots

Posted by: Sensible Jones Apr 11 2014, 11:45 AM

Darius has got it right. You should be able to just unscrew the plate that has the Volume/TonePick-up selector on it and try his solution. Another part of the problem may be that the P/ups are probably not Wax Potted and are slightly 'microphonic'.

Posted by: Davidian Apr 11 2014, 07:12 PM

My bad, I thought I had to unscrew the scratchplate...
So, I've took some pictures from the pots and wiring. Hopefully it will clarify everything

Left pot (bridge PU)


Right pot (neck PU)




Note: the PU's are wired differently than normal, so that the left one is the bridge PU and the right one is the neck PU. Apparently, John 5 likes it this way.)

Posted by: Davidian Apr 15 2014, 06:00 PM

I just went to the local guitar shop and asked if they knew what the problem was.
They said it was common with that type of guitar. It's because the pickups have a big output signal.
Changing some of the components would help, but possibly with a loss of signal. Or I could change the pickups.

I guess I'll leave it like this for a while...

Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 16 2014, 09:00 AM

Man....You're trying to complicate things that are simple as hell Don't think too much Just switch the cables:

(looking at last picture)

1. left pot - switch red and whit cables
2. right pot - switch red and green cables

and whoala! You have no noise when You have no additional noise when You roll down the volume.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS IT LOOKS


When both volumes are 100% turned on than all them hum/ noise and feedback issues are "because the pickups are the type they are". But with this combination You probably have a hum even if You roll down both volumes because with this wirring You never get full "hot to ground" connection.