Guild Starfire IV Wiring Confusion

[jmorrell]

Hi Guys,

I have a 1998 Guild Starfire IV, One of the tone knob pegs recently snapped off. I bought 4x CTS 500K to replace all the pots.

I used the schematic here - http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/wiring_diagrams/Starfire_IV.pdf

Something i noticed is that the wiring in the guitar from stock is different to the schematic. The wire to the switch came off the centre tap of the volume pot and the connection for the pick-up and capacitor went to the left of volume pot.

So that when both pickups were selected, if one was on 0 there would be no output - Can someone shed some light on why this is the case?

Having since resoldered the new pots in. Capacitor to earth from tone on Input to volume pot. I can now adjust the volume independently with both pickups selected. However, I have noticed that now when i adjust the volume on each pickup it appears seems to lose tonal clarity? and not just volume.

I'm very curious as to why guild decided to not followed the schematic in the pdf?

Thanks all for any help,
I'm stumped on this one

 

[fronobulax]

I'm very curious as to why guild decided to not followed the schematic in the pdf?

I'm not sure why and the information behind my feeling is lost in the mists of time, but I got the impression that the wiring diagrams posted applied to the vintage instruments, say before 1980. So your first step might be to find someone with a 90's Starfire and ask whether they think the diagram applies.

 

[capnjuan]

... I have a 1998 Guild Starfire IV, One of the tone knob pegs recently snapped off. I bought 4x CTS 500K to replace all the pots. I used the schematic here - http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/wiring_diagrams/Starfire_IV.pdf However, I have noticed that now when i adjust the volume on each pickup it appears seems to lose tonal clarity? and not just volume.
The schematic calls for 200k, not 500K, tone pots; did you have a reason for choosing 500K?

I'm very curious as to why guild decided to not followed the schematic in the pdf?
Well ... there's no one to say they didn't. The previous owner could have been in there fooling around.

Try the tone caps ... see what happens. Good luck.

 

[Walter Broes]

Both wiring schemes have a downside - wire the guitar "decoupled" (so you still have signal with both pickups selected and one pickup turned down entirely), and you'll lose treble when turning down - this is the way my vintage Guilds came, btw.

The other way around the volume pots don't turn to mud as quick, but turning down one pickup entirely with both selected will mute the entire output.

There's nothing you can do about that really, with a typical passive circuit like that.

 

[jmorrell]

ahhhh!!

thanks for the info guys,

capnjuan: i did noticed this too, all the tone pots i removed were 500k so i thought i was just do a straight replacement.

I think i'm going to return the guitar to its old configuration.

I would prefer more clarity with less volume than full control over each pickup. My dad will be very interested to read your comments.

Thanks

 

[capnjuan]

capnjuan: i did noticed this too, all the tone pots i removed were 500k so i thought i was just do a straight replacement.

Ok; I thought that would have been too easy anyway ... good luck!