Anyone know how to wire a Strat?

yellowperil

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Jan 17, 2000
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I took off the pickguard of my Squier Strat yesterday and in the process pulled three wires out (grr). Two of them are coming from the output jack (one black, one white) and one is coming from the back of the guitar (tremelo?). I don't know how the wiring works but I'm gonna try to solder them back together myself. I'm looking at this page and can't figure out where to solder them. The main thing is that my pickup selector looks different than the one on the page. I'm gonna try to update this post with a pic of my wiring soon, if anyone can help me out I'd appreciate it.
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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The white wire is the "hot" signal lead. It connects to jack connection that contacts the tip of the plug on your guitar cord. The black wire is the "low" or ground connection. It connects to jack connection that contacts the sleeve or long shaft of the plug on your guitar cord.

The wire that goes to the tremolo is a ground wire for the metal parts. It should be hooked to the same point as the black wire, or to another connection that contacts this wire, for example, the back of a pot or any other common junction of that circuit. Try to determine where it was hooked, before, and reconnect it there.

Hope that helps. Good luck. :)
 

yellowperil

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Jan 17, 2000
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Here is a pic of my wiring and my wild guess as to where each wire goes:

Wiring

From the wiring diagram at Guitarnuts it looks like all three wires are soldered at the R1 (volume) pot. Please correct me where I'm wrong. Thanks again
 

Harvey

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Oct 9, 1999
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Ummm... I thought I already posted that the back of the pot is grounded. So is the low terminal of the volume pot.

That picture shows exactly what I described. What's the problem? :Q :)
 

yellowperil

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Jan 17, 2000
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<< Ummm... I thought I already posted that the back of the pot is grounded. So is the low terminal of the volume pot.

That picture shows exactly what I described. What's the problem? :Q :)
>>


The problem is that I'm a complete idiot at this :) I just need to know which wire goes where so I can finish this up and watch TV :)
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Geez... The picture is labled, and it shows exactly what you need to know. Read my first post to know which wire is which.

It won't blow up. The worst that will happen is, you'll reverse the wires, and it will buzz like a mutha when you plug it in. Keep the volume on the amp low, just in case. If you are too intimidated to manage that, go back to your TV until you get ahold of a friend who knows which end of a solder iron not to grab. :)