dual humbucker wiring problem

Gerald Pierce · Post by **Gerald Pierce** » 21 Oct 2010 1:35 pm

I have a guitar with 2 humbuckers, 2 vol & 2 tone pots and a 3-way pickup selector.

When both pickups are selected, turning either of the pickups vol down to 0 cuts off the other pickup too.
I can't picture in my feeble mind how that's happening....seems to me it shouldn't.

The wiring is as it came from the factory. I haven't pulled out the wiring to check it out yet (semi-hollow 335 type guitar..not as easy as solid body guitars).

This may be a dumb question...is that normal? I've never owned a dual-humbucker guitar before, but having looked at gibson-type wiring diagrams, it seems that each pickup's controls should be independent of the other....I'm assuming my guitar should be wired the same way.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for...bad parts or wrong wiring.

Thanks for any help. - GP

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 21 Oct 2010 4:43 pm

I suspect that the guitar has incorrect wiring.
Seymour Duncan has a lot of wiring diagrams
at this website: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/

You may find what you need there.

A simple way to wire two pickups and two pots
is to put each hot lead on the center terminal
of its pot. Then tie the top terminals together
and connect to the tip of the jack.

The bottom terminals on the pot are tied together,
grounded and connected to the shield of the jack.

This is a most simple way without a switch or tone
control.
The Duncan website has more complicated diagrams
involving two pickups and the three way switch.
Generally when you mix the pickups with passive
controls there will be some interaction.
However one control should not short out the other.

Gerald Pierce · Post by **Gerald Pierce** » 21 Oct 2010 4:51 pm

Thanks Blake! The Duncan site is where I went first for a wiring diagram for 2-HB pickups, 2-vol, 2-tone and one 3-way switch for pickup selection.

I feel sure that its just wired wrong. I'm going to pull the wiring and see what I have.

Thanks again! - GP

Larry Robinson · Post by **Larry Robinson** » 22 Oct 2010 3:31 am

I experienced the same problem on one of my guitars. Solution was simple. I just reversed the input and output wiring on each volume control. The wiring diagram on Seymour Duncan site is how I rewired my guitar.