Afwayu Tone

[SonOfMI]

I just got my ‘72 LP Custom back from my tech who installed an Afwayu set from Motor City Pickups. I did a quick check before I left his place - 3 way switch changed pickups, volume pots work, etc and it seemed fine. I get home, plug into my equipment and the bridge pickup is constantly dark no matter how the tone pot it set. I don’t hear a difference with tone set to 0 or at 10. It always sounds dark like the neck pickup when the neck has its tone pot turned to 0. Turning the neck tone pot to 10 causes the neck to get bright. Not so with the bridge. My tech is out until after the New Year so I’d like to figure this out on my own, but have no idea how to check if a tone pot is working. If I check the pot’s resistance and it reads say 500K, does that mean the pot is working as it should?

Here’s a pic of the control cavity.

 

[SonOfMI]

BTW, it doesn’t matter what amp I plug into, I get the same situation with the bridge pickup. I can crank presence and treble, cut all mids and it’s a bit brighter but nowhere near like the neck.

Another BTW, the neck pickup, whether plugged into my JJ Jr, Recto, DSL40CR, or 5153 6L6, the neck pickup is like f’in wow. And I usually don’t get excited about neck pickups. It’s really clear, sounds so freaking good.

 

[Emg77]

Wow... I dont think there is enough solder on those pots! Lol. Joking aside , looks like the red wire from the switch isn't connected. Perhaps could have something to do with it. I believe it should be soldered to the middle leg of the volume pot.

 

[creep66]

I just got my ‘72 LP Custom back from my tech who installed an Afwayu set from Motor City Pickups. I did a quick check before I left his place - 3 way switch changed pickups, volume pots work, etc and it seemed fine. I get home, plug into my equipment and the bridge pickup is constantly dark no matter how the tone pot it set. I don’t hear a difference with tone set to 0 or at 10. It always sounds dark like the neck pickup when the neck has its tone pot turned to 0. Turning the neck tone pot to 10 causes the neck to get bright. Not so with the bridge. My tech is out until after the New Year so I’d like to figure this out on my own, but have no idea how to check if a tone pot is working. If I check the pot’s resistance and it reads say 500K, does that mean the pot is working as it should?

Here’s a pic of the control cavity.

That looks like shit!

 

[Ben Waylin]

You paid someone to do that ?

 

[Beyond Black]

Who’s your tech, Billy Blades?

 

[Racerxrated]

Just disconnect the tone pot from the bridge volume pot. You can always put it back.
That should brighten it up.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

I don't know where all the wires are coming from or going to so I can't direct 100% certain. First that red wire should be connected to something, presumably the center lug of the bottom left pot. That's assuming the brown sheath with the 3 wires sticking out is coming from the toggle switch. I also see a number of areas where exposed wires could be contacting something they shouldn't. The bare wire coming from the brown sheath, or the braided sheaths that are loosely floating in there. Any of those could cause an issue if they move around or get pushed into something when the cover goes on.

As stated above you can disconnect everything from the tone pot as a temporary fix. To be frank though, I'd go back to the tech and demand my money back then bring it to someone else. A wire broke out of where it was soldered. The soldering looks like horrendous blobs. Ground wires connecting to the back of the pots look to be fully exposed. There should at least have some heat shrink tubing on them to prevent accidental contact with something. That is a full on sloppy armature job and no tech worth their weight would let something like that walk out the door.

 

[SonOfMI]

I can’t argue it looks like shit, but it’s pretty much how I remember it looking before I took it to him. I didn’t take a before pic, but from my memory it looks the same. He said all he did was remove the Duncan JB & 59 that were in there then install and solder in the Afwayus. The Duncan’s worked fine including the connected tone pots, just didn’t want another guitar with the same pickups.

I don’t have a soldering iron at the moment. Mine died on me a few months ago and I didn’t order a replacement until last night when I realized the tone pot wasn’t working. I had hoped for a way to do some prelim testing without swapping parts or removing wires but I’ll just wait until the soldering iron gets here to get into it.

 

[Ben Waylin]

I can’t argue it looks like shit, but it’s pretty much how I remember it looking before I took it to him. I didn’t take a before pic, but from my memory it looks the same. He said all he did was remove the Duncan JB & 59 that were in there then install and solder in the Afwayus. The Duncan’s worked fine including the connected tone pots, just didn’t want another guitar with the same pickups.

I don’t have a soldering iron at the moment. Mine died on me a few months ago and I didn’t order a replacement until last night when I realized the tone pot wasn’t working. I had hoped for a way to do some prelim testing without swapping parts or removing wires but I’ll just wait until the soldering iron gets here to get into it.

No matter your skill level, you certainly couldn't do any worse.

 

[scottosan]

The red wire from the switch isn’t soldered to the bridge pot

 

[Exo-metal]

Dirka Dirka the bomb maker wire that up?
I imagine it's probably pretty tough to hold a soldering gun when you're missing half your fingers lol

 

[johnny q]

Those globs of solder may be a clue. I am no expert in this area, but is it possible he applied too much heat to the pot and fried it?

 

[acidvoodoo]

Those globs of solder may be a clue. I am no expert in this area, but is it possible he applied too much heat to the pot and fried it?

I was thinking the same thing, I’m guilty of frying a pot or two!

 

[Dino 939]

Just disconnect the tone pot from the bridge volume pot. You can always put it back.
That should brighten it up.

Bingo.

 

[Detroit1973]

I think all of it needs to be Redone & soldered by a qualified tech. This looks like it was done by a friend who " Knows how" to solder cause they did it once & it worked. Everyone seems to fancy themselves as a "Tech" and most aren't.

 

[jeff5]

Definitely a wiring issue and that sounds like a bad tone pot to me too.

If you need it, direct from Wade, here are is the MCP wiring.

• Green for go (Hot)
• Red and white parallel/split
• Black and braided to ground

 

[scottosan]

Those globs of solder may be a clue. I am no expert in this area, but is it possible he applied too much heat to the pot and fried it?

I was thinking the same thing, I’m guilty of frying a pot or two!

Bingo.

I think all of it needs to be Redone & soldered by a qualified tech. This looks like it was done by a friend who " Knows how" to solder cause they did it once & it worked. Everyone seems to fancy themselves as a "Tech" and most aren't.

Definitely a wiring issue and that sounds like a bad tone pot to me too.

If you need it, direct from Wade, here are is the MCP wiring.

• Green for go (Hot)
• Red and white parallel/split
• Black and braided to ground

I’ve already point out the obvious issue. The red lead from the 3 way switch needs to be soldered to the middle lug of the bridge

 

[Detroit1973]

I’ve already point out the obvious issue. The red lead from the 3 way switch needs to be soldered to the middle lug of the bridge View attachment 150322

I really want to buy one of your Pickups as soon as i clear some of my debt.

 

[Racerxrated]

I really want to buy one of your Pickups as soon as i clear some of my debt.

They are GREAT.