Wiring Problems with my Jag

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:19 pm

I just bought a Japan 62 RI Jag. I knew it had electronic problems because the first owner put a single coil size humbucker in the bridge pick up and wired it all wrong the lead/rhythm switch was scratchy and needed replaced because sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.

I ordered a bridge pick up from an American RI and wired it just like the schematic said and in the rhythm section everything works exactly as it should. Cool. Then I notice the bridge pickup isn't working at all in this position. If I touch the neck pickup I hear that little pop. When I touch the bridge pickup, nothing. In the rhythm circuit is the bridge pickup turned off?

I switch to the lead circuit and nothing. The volume knob is working. The only reason I know this is because if I turn my amp up loud enough to hear the hum I can hear it go away when I turn the volume down. I'm almost positive I have everything wired correctly and have good connections; I've rewired everything 3 times now. But just to make sure, does anyone have pictures of their Jag's wiring.

Anyone have any guess as to why this would be happening?

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:34 pm

the bridge pickup is deactivated in the rhythm circuit. you get no sound in the lead circuit? not even neck pickup? sounds like a faulty/miswired switch.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:43 pm

I don't get ANY sound out of the lead circuit.

I've replaced the switch and rewired it several times. I guess if the switch I got was bad it could be a bad switch but everything seemed okay.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:08 am

check all your grounds. is yours an older one with the brass plates? make sure they are all wired together. if not, make sure all the black wires have a common point somewhere. you can check continuity on the switch if you have a multimeter to rule out whether it's bad or not. double-check all your wiring. if the switch is good, chances are there's a short or broken connection somewhere.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:02 am

Yes, it's a 62 RI, so it has the brass plates. I don't know why but I never thought about checking the switch, I'll do that when I get home tonight. Hopefully after one more night of work I can finally get my Jag working as it should.

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:50 am

portugalwillie wrote:Yes, it's a 62 RI, so it has the brass plates. I don't know why but I never thought about checking the switch, I'll do that when I get home tonight. Hopefully after one more night of work I can finally get my Jag working as it should.

Well, jap jags don't exclusively have brass plates. I '95s and earlier (?) have them. The newer ones have shielding paint if i'm not mistaken.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:46 am

yeah, i had a mid '90s one with brass plates and an early '00s one with black shielding paint.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:55 pm

Huh. I just assumed they all had brass plates.

Anyways, I took the switch out last night and it checked good. So, I looked at a more clear wiring diagram and realized I did in fact have the three switches wired wrong. Fixed that and now it just needs some work with the tone knob and everything will work exactly as it should!