Sonics first build JMA-1: ShoeGazer MK1

[wazkelly]

Hey Simon. Yep I spent a lot of time reading and taking the trouble to try and understand how it's supposed to be. You are correct, it switched the direction, but putting it back the other way it wouldn't work at all. Even in the swapped direction the adjustment could be best described as 'subtle'.

Anyway, I did some extensive messing around and investigating this evening...



I tested one of the pots with the multimeter and could easily see the swapping direction. Double checked all the soldering connections and the switch layout.

Having the tone controls with the front running the rear pick ups and vice versa was also annoying my so I pulled the 'tone' pots out and swapped them around, moving the bridge earth to the rear most post again after realising I had effectively removed one of the pots from the circuit. I put the capacitors back how they were originally. Now the rear most one is working great, but no action from the front one. I remembered reading in Kicks thread about the A and B pots and one of my tone pots does look different to the other. The volume also only seems to work for about a 3rd of the dial - although this depends what its plugged into, far more noticeable on my computer interface than the little practice amp in the shed.....

So I pulled them off and it does seem like I have a B pot wired for volume and an A for tone, which is the one that isn't working.



So I'll swap that around tomorrow and see if it helps.

For around $20 - $30 you could upgrade all pots and caps with quality gear and also solve current problem.

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[Joe3334]

For around $20 - $30 you could upgrade all pots and caps with quality gear and also solve current problem.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

He could maybe even buy them prewired, even better.

[Sonic Mountain]

This axe looks awesome mate. Great job!

Thanks Melkor, I am pretty happy with it overall, its been a great 'training wheels' build, I've learnt heaps.

For around $20 - $30 you could upgrade all pots and caps with quality gear and also solve current problem.

The thought has certainly crossed my mind.

I actually think I've got it worked out now, just need some time to fiddle with it some more. Biggest mistake at this stage was assuming the factory wiring was correct. The digram on the Pitbull site would be fine otherwise, but its a bit of a problem in that it only shows half the story, so its difficult to confirm if you don't really know how its supposed to work. Its been a good learning exercise at any rate and I have a much better overall understanding of the principles.

[Sonic Mountain]

He could maybe even buy them prewired, even better.

LoL.. thats what got me into this mess in the first place! I thought about that as well, but I'd rather learn so I can do it from scratch in the future. I have a stack of other semi scratch builds at the planning stage that will require me to make it work from parts.

[wazkelly]

Thanks Melkor, I am pretty happy with it overall, its been a great 'training wheels' build, I've learnt heaps.



The thought has certainly crossed my mind.

I actually think I've got it worked out now, just need some time to fiddle with it some more. Biggest mistake at this stage was assuming the factory wiring was correct. The digram on the Pitbull site would be fine otherwise, but its a bit of a problem in that it only shows half the story, so its difficult to confirm if you don't really know how its supposed to work. Its been a good learning exercise at any rate and I have a much better overall understanding of the principles.

Some of the wiring diagrams look a bit confusing.

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[Sonic Mountain]

I think that's all wiring diagrams - but I am used to following them. For cars I usually trace it out then redraw just the stuff I'm working on in an easier to follow format. I would consider myself a fairly competent automotive electrician, but thats only because I've spent so long messing around with it. This is just a slightly different application of the same principles, but it still takes some nutting out and experience.

[Sonic Mountain]

Yes well, I spent an hour or so trying to get it to work I swapped the A and B pots around - I checked and rechecked everything and I was 100% certain it was correct, still no go. So I cracked the shits and went its to band land and grabbed 1 new A and 2 New B's. Wired them both in and presto, it now works properly, in the correct direction and correct order of pots. I guess I fried the original A pot switching it around. Anyway, sorted YAY! Only cheapies, but they work, so I'm leaving it alone now.

New strings going on right now.

[Gavin1393]

You could try staining the fretboard if the two-tone wood is putting you off. Manufacturers do it a lot on cheaper guitars as they often use non-consistent colour boards and then stain them dark to avoid wastage.

Sonic, it's looking really good!

[Sonic Mountain]

Well done. Can I ask what the pots cost?

About $3 each, super cheap, but they don't seem any worse than the kit ones.

[Sonic Mountain]

Sonic, it's looking really good!

Cheers Gavin, yeah the two tone has ended up pretty subtle after its been oiled.

It's pretty much done now, I just want to give it a wipe over with the polish cloth and wait for some decent weather to take some photos out in the sun.