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Post subject: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:43 pm
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My friend brought a used EJ strat over for me to help him with, seems the tone controls are not working. This is the red one with the bound rosewood neck. The strat looks new to me and the wiriing looks like it may be unmolested, all pickups are marked EJ and what position they go in, however I am not familiar with the EJ setup. Does anyone have a clear wiriing diagram? the ones from my google search are not clear to print out, thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:08 pm
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The EJs have the lower tone control on the bridge pickup, and the upper tone control on the neck pickup.
The middle pickup is not assigned to either tone control.
The EJ service diagram is here https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/art ... e-Diagrams

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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:13 pm
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Thanks Chris, after comparing this diagram, all looks correct, and all solder connections look factory to me.He brought it to me unstrung, so I guess I have to string it it to test for myself.Just so we are on the same page, only the bridge and neck pickups will have tone control?


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:17 pm
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my56strat wrote:
Thanks Chris, after comparing this diagram, all looks correct, and all solder connections look factory to me.He brought it to me unstrung, so I guess I have to string it it to test for myself.Just so we are on the same page, only the bridge and neck pickups will have tone control?


That's right, and the support diagram says the same.

It's a good mod - I did it on my son's 60s Lacquer Strat, and it has made the bridge pickup a whole load more usable.
The middle pickup, although bright, doesn't have as penetrating a tone as the bridge pickup.

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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:43 pm
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Now I'm stumped, all connections are clean/factory I'm sure, everything matches the diagram, restrung, and the tone controls do nothing on any position! What am I missing?


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:53 pm
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Have you checked the tone-cap soldering connections for full conductivity?

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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:06 pm
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From what I can see Arjay all the solder joints look good, and seem untouched, I even bent the ceramic cap out so I could see, and all connections look good, the pain of it is I have to remove all the strings to check again.Would it be possible that the capacitor was bad from the factory? this guitar looks untouched, even has film on pickgaurd, and stickers on neckplate.


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:14 pm
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Indeed, that's always a possibility albeit a rare one.

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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:21 pm
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just did a google search of the tone problem and most ended up being the 5 way switch, guess I will check that out tomorrow, not sure if I have any spare 5 ways, only lots of 3 ways.


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:28 pm
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Could well be the cap .. check it is well soldered both to the lug and its case... just noted you have done this
While you are at it check the continuity of the jumper across the switch for the tone controls. You should be able to check switch continuity as well to determine if the switch is faulty.
You do not have to string the guitar to check if the pots work.
Just tap the pickup poles lightly with something metallic, move the controls and you should hear a difference if they are working :D


Last edited by jimmy_james on Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:33 pm
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shouldn't there be a shielding plate under these pots? all my 50's style strats do, here is a pic.[imgImage][/img]


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:43 pm
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Yeah and looking at the pic there is no ground on the tone pots.
Either add one or a shield on the pickguard to connect the grounds on the tone thru to the volume else it is not going to work properly :D


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:50 pm
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thanks, looking at the pic after I already restrung I now notice the lack of shield plate, not sure why there is none, guess I will put a jumper between the 2 tone pots, as I can't find an extra shield in my parts bins. A job for tomorrow too tired tonight.


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:55 pm
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Yeah but not just between the two tones you will have to carry it thru to the volume control i.e. Just run a black wire from the tones thru to join with the can of the volume.
Normally the cases would connect thru the shield plate :D


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Post subject: Re: Eric Johnson strat tone control trouble
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:02 pm
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I may stop and pick up a shield plate, just to save from modifying the wiring on his strat.


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