3rd build STF-1

[Simon Barden]

No, you can't test a capacitor that way as the multimeter will use a DC voltage for testing and a capacitor only passes AC. It's very unlikely it's a bad capacitor, so it must be something else.

A close-up photo of the wiring would help.

Also, with two tone controls and three pickups, how exactly have you wired them up? If it's just like a Strat, then you won't get any tone control operating on the bridge pickup - a standard Strat doesn't. You can modify the wiring so that either you have one tone control shared between two pickups, or you can leave the middle pickup without a tone and have it on the two humbuckers. Or leave it as it is and have the bridge pickup without a tone control.

[brokin009]

ok thank you heaps. it is like a strat wiring i think. can i share the tone between the middle and bridge pickup? is that possible? if so would you know where i can get a wiring diagram so i can wire it up that way. thanks again for your help
pic below of the wiring but its not too clear sorry hard to get a good pic

i have wired it up so the humbuckers can split

[Simon Barden]

It's going to depend on the 5-way selector switch you've got. I know it means taking it all apart again but a photo of the switch showing all the soldering contacts would help here. It's easy on a wafer switch with two rows of tags, but some of the switches with one row of tags and an internal PCB are slightly harder to understand.

Edit: You got there before me!

[Simon Barden]

Any chance of showing the wiring diagram you used? It's all a bit confusing from one picture. Also another pic showing the other side of the controls might help clarify things.

[brokin009]

i have an idea that might work i have found a 3rd plug unused with the pcb switch im going to try that and see if it works. i will let you know how i go. thanks again for your help without your advice i wouldnt of known i have the option and that the strats didnt come with a tone for the bridge pickup. i never realised

[Simon Barden]

Yes, you can take a link from that to the input of one of the other tone pots. With a wafer witch with exposed tabs, you can simply link the tabs together, but here you'll need to run all the way to a pot.

[brokin009]

yeah that was the plan. great minds think alike. haha

[brokin009]

ok i have been playing around with it and have finally got tone from the bridge pickup. i have changed the pot and cap (now .22) and i only have tone for the bridge and middle pickup. the neck pickup doesnt have tone but does split so i do get two different tones out of the neck pickup and unbelievably it sounds great. the issue i believe was either the pot or the cap so i just replaced both to save me stripping down the guitar once again. im very happy with the sound now coming from the guitar i have have to set it up properly and it will be spot on.
i am also waiting on my black nickel tuners so hopefully they will arrive soon.
another pic a rough idea of how it will look except the tuners and maybe the pot knobs i maybe changing

[Simon Barden]

Looking very good indeed.

The string bar on the headstock looks like it needs some adjustment. It needs to be set low enough so that it holds the strings flat across the face of the locking nut. The clamps shouldn't have to push the strings down at all, they should just clamp on strings that are already flat. That's how these nuts are designed to work.

[brokin009]

ok thanks again Simon. i got a pic below, do you think that is that low enough? or should i go more?