Dear Martian
I have assembled a new Strat out of predominantly Fender parts,I have a hum with the volume at anything less than wide open on the volume.The pickups are CS 54's and the electrical hardware is from Acme,CTS 250k volume and tone pots with 2nd tone a blender,and it is stamped as such from CTS.The 5 way switch is a CRL the type with the exposed spring and the wire is vintage push back style.The body is a 57 MIM reissue that has been shielded with Stew Mac paint for that application,I have a 62 style shield plate below the pickguard.
It makes no difference the position of the 5 way or how the bridge is blended.Any thoughts,thanks in advance for you expertise.Craig

I'm sure we can get you up and running!

As you are looking at the volume pot from underneath with the shaft pointing toward the floor, have you grounded the right leg of the volume pot to the can itself?

Verify that the buss (lead wire) of the capacitor is not touching the grounding plate in between the toggle or the volume pot (depending on which way you've chosen to wire it).

Have you linked the two sides of the 5 way with a jumper wire which should continue to the left leg of the volume pot?

This body shielding paint business is virtually unnecessary and oftentimes, causes more problems than benefits. We'll get back to this. For the moment, please verify my above three concerns.

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Martian,thanks for your reply,please see www.acmeguitarworks.com/pdf/WiringDiagr ... lender.pdf this is the wiring diagram I used and I took the guitar back apart to verify that it is exactly like this.the grounding on the volume pot is like the dia shows ground wire from jack to that lower lug on the vol. pot and continueing on to the back of the pot,there does not appear to be anything joining the two sides of the 5 way switchas you have asked and the cap looks to be in the right place as well. no shielding paint appears to be rubbed off but who knows.any help you would care to offer would be most welcome.also if the link must be typed in manually note the lower case and caps as they are how it was on the link.cheers,Craig

I looked at their wiring and of course, their variation is also correct.

I would really need to see your job. Can you post some CLEAR pictures?

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hey martian,
are you Seymour Duncan in the cyber flesh.

are you an electrical engineeer or just a experienced guru when it comes to pickups.

No, I'm not SD. LOL As a matter of fact, I've only spoken with him a handful of times.

I shall not drop any names but I will give you a 'watered down' version of my credentials: Starting way back in 1969, I have gone through several traditional guild type situations, one-on-one under masters in virtually all aspects of guitars, pickups and tube amplifiers. Needless to say, this covered many areas which encompassed many years. I still "practice" in all areas but admittedly, I backed off on the amps to a large extent. Of note is that I am NOT an alumni of any of those so called, "Luthier" schools. I am indeed, a degreed professional (not in engineering though), having graduated from an, "Ivy League" university, located in the Northeastern part of the US.

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Ok Martian, you are my hero. Looking for an apprentice?

[Off Topic]
Hey Martian: I noticed that you changed your avatar to the Surf Green '57 for a couple of days - the same one I use. Nothing wrong with that: a change of mood is always good.

But I find it very disconcerting. My eye glimpses the avatar and I read through the post believing it is my own. I find myself thinking; "Damn I was on good form when I wrote that!!". Very nice - till I realise it wasn't my work at all...

- C

Back to business.
[/Off Topic]

Wow, such praise, thank you!

I'll tell you what, if I ever am, you'll be the first to know, how's that?

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Change your's to the one I'm back with now! LOL

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Ready when you are.