Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 Restoration Project!

[B2D]

hominahominahominahomina...

Oh man... wow.

[threeminutesboy]

we want more !!!!

[Spudmurphy]

T
If anyone would possibly be willing to take some detailed pictures of the inside cavity of their JP BFR (I got a push pull tone pot for the JP)so I could see the wiring first hand, it'd be REALLY appreciated. I'm just not loving this diagram.

I'm on the case and will u/l photos ASAP

[petruccirocks02]

Morbid, thats looking great so far! That finish is really nice. Keep it up, you're almost at the top of the climb with this build.

-Phil

[Spudmurphy]

Is this "the wire" you are wondering about?


Let me know what close "close-ups" you want as my Pet is undergoing some work

[Morbid]

Thank you Spud.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what the wire is at all...

Here's the Diagram Ernie Ball gave me..



If you look at the bottom of the selector switch, where the Red wire for the Bridge Pickup would NORMALLY go (remember, I got the Push Pull tone pot, so the wiring is a little different), you'll see a wire that says "Bare to switch washer".
With a refreshed pair of eyes for this afternoon, I'm assuming they mean for a bare wire to be sodlered to this point on the switch;


But I still don't get what which washer I'm supposed to go to or how. Like I said, I'm ASSUMING it's like the Piezo Switch and they just want me to run a bare wire to the metal plate inside the cavity.

Now I'm also confused about something else.
Looking at your wiring has revealed something else to me that I thought I had figured out, but has now added onto my confusion.

If you look to the left of the Diagram, the black wire leading from the input jack goes to some weird shape...I dunno what you'd call that. At any rate, it branches off and connects to the volume pot, the tremolo claw, and then to "shield"...I have NO idea what shield they're talking about. Again, I find myself assuming I'm supposed to connect a shield wire from one of the pickups to this lead? But originally, I assumed that weird shaped thing was this;


And I was under the impression that it gets screwed into the Tremolo cavity, but I see yours on the inside of the regular cavity...that explains that hole there I guess. Of course, now I still don't know how I'm supposed to make it connect to the tremolo claw or what route I'm supposed to take.

I might just be an idiot (which is possible)but the Diagram doesn't seem real clear cut to me...I'm definitely having issues.
It doesn't help that I'm having to use a combination of THIS Diagram, with the one they originally sent me that doesn't have the Push Pull tone pot, but actually has the Piezo Options so I know how to wire the piezos up right.


I THINK that covers my confusion for now, though I'm sure I'll remember something else later.

[bkrumme]

Looks like you just solder a bare wire between that pole and the pickup selector switch washer, which should be a common ground.

Someone please confirm this before he does it.

[Spudmurphy]

Morbid - sorry I can't help you. I draw the line at electronics and leave that to somebody else.

For what it's worth the "wire" I show in my photo goes nowhere!! it just ends in a loop that touches the underneath of the plastic cover.

There are good "electronics" guys on the forum and I'm sure that they will help you out.

It's dark in the UK now - but tomorrow when it's light, if you want any real close ups of any components or particular areas of the wiring cavity let me know ?

[bkrumme]

Morbid, if nobody else has done so by then, I will take pictures of one of my BFRs for you this evening.

[Morbid]

Looks like you just solder a bare wire between that pole and the pickup selector switch washer, which should be a common ground.

Someone please confirm this before he does it.

At that rate it seems almost like I should just go ahead and attach it to the plate, don't you think?

Example...as in Spud's picture from way earlier in the thread, he shows his Piezo switch. Just like mine, there is a bare wiring leading from the middle prong to the metal plate attached to the switch


I feel like THAT'S what I should do in this situation...


Spud, I appreciate that more than words can offer sir.

The only close up I can think of at this particular moment would be the selector switch from the back of the cavity. A similar view to the selector switch i posted, but further down so I can see if there is a wire leading from your board to the washer itself.

[Morbid]

Morbid, if nobody else has done so by then, I will take pictures of one of my BFRs for you this evening.

That would also be stellar. Thank you VERY much.

[the24thfret]

That would also be stellar. Thank you VERY much.

I'd also volunteer for photos, but I remember that you wanted the BFR setup, right?

[jamminjim]

that thing in the diagram is a common ground point and the wire that is shown as going to the trem claw is a wire that goes into the tremolo cavity and attaches, or is soldered to, the metal piece that holds the trem tension springs. (the claw) usually the pickguards are lined with a conductive foil and the wires going to them can lay on the body and make contact when the pickguard is screwed dwon on top of it, or it is soldered to the back of a pot, or a switch which contacts the foil.

mind you I don't own a JP, just throwing out what I know from experience....

maybe spud or someone would take a pic of the opened up trem cavity to see how the ground wire is attached.

[Spudmurphy]

Last one b4 I go out on the town!

Here's a close up of the wiring and you can see that the bare wire on mine goes to the extreme left.

In my wiring (no push pull pot) there is nothing going to what you have circled in your picture.

Oh well I hope you get to sort this out by the time I log on tomorrow.

Good luck.


Edit

shoot nah - that is just the grounding wire for the pickup dum Spud!!
Sorry

[Morbid]

I'd also volunteer for photos, but I remember that you wanted the BFR setup, right?

BFR Setup is what I'll inevitably need, but all of the guitars have certain wirings in common. In other words, I won't turn down anyone who is willing to lend a helping hand by taking photos. All pictures will be appreciated and will be helpful.

that thing in the diagram is a common ground point and the wire that is shown as going to the trem claw is a wire that goes into the tremolo cavity and attaches, or is soldered to, the metal piece that holds the trem tension springs. (the claw) usually the pickguards are lined with a conductive foil and the wires going to them can lay on the body and make contact when the pickguard is screwed dwon on top of it, or it is soldered to the back of a pot, or a switch which contacts the foil.

That sounds about right, though I must admit, it seems like there should be a better way of doing it than just sitting against the foil. Still, pictures of other people's JP's will help reach a final conclusion. Thank you for the input.

shoot nah - that is just the grounding wire for the pickup dum Spud!!
Sorry

Haha, no worries Spud, the time you took to take the photo is appreciated, and actually helpful. Confusing, but helpful. So now I wonder why my wiring diagram is telling me to do something that yours does not have.

Very interesting...