Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 Restoration Project!

**mesaboogieman** · 03-05-2010, 04:05 PM

Hopefully one of these will help....

**Lukesilo** · 03-05-2010, 10:36 PM

Getting close! Cant wait to see it bro. I bet your itching to take it for a spin!

**Morbid** · 03-06-2010, 02:13 AM

Boogieman, thanks so much for taking the time to take and post photos of your BFR. It's very much appreciated. And might I just say, holy CRAP what the hell!? Now I'm REALLY confused.

It would appear that you don't have a wire running from your selector switch to the 'washer' either. But beyond that, you have wires running from place to place that aren't even mentioned in the diagram!
At least now I know it's not just me...the diagram is retarded, not me!

Well, can anyone else make heads or tails of this diagram before I call Ernie Ball to ask? Because I'm starting to think I should have waited to start soldering. That or I should have gone with the regular tone pot instead of the push/pull!

Insanity...any additional input is welcome!

**threeminutesboy** · 03-06-2010, 03:00 AM

and you thought the "wood part" was the most complicated

All EBMM electronics is high class wiring

**jamminjim** · 03-06-2010, 05:57 AM

Morbid - Go back to spuds control cavity pics and you'll see he pointed out the central grounding point in the control cavity. He also pointed out the bare wire that appears to just lay on the edge of the control cavity rim so as to make contact (continuity) with the foil on the control cavity cover. You can see that really well in mbmans pics. One black wire from the central grounding point goes through a drilled hole into the tremolo cavity and is soldered onto the trem claw. (like in a strat) Another goes to the output jack. Another one is soldered to the back of the volume pot. Since your central ground only shows two wires you're going to have to add a solid conductor bare wire and one stranded black wire, 22 guage most likely.

The bare wire that is supposed to go to the ring on the main pickup switch is not visible in either of the two JPs pics. It might be that it is soldered in from underneath and we can't see it. Could mbman or spud confirm? It would be very similar to the one in the piezo switch pic earlier in this thread.

Post a pic of the other side of the main pickup switch and circuit board.

What I don't see in the diagram is the wiring for the piezo switch, or the piezo pickup . I think there is a wiring bundle coming into the control cavity from the switch. The two magnetic pickup wiring bundles are terminated with white heat shrink. Then there is the other one terminated with black heat shrink. Is that the piezo switch wiring or wires from the piezo pickup? Where are the wires coming in from the piezo switch?

I would request a schematic from CS for the JP6 with piezo. Or if someone has it could you post it up here.

**bkrumme** · 03-06-2010, 06:42 AM

Seems I'm late with pics. I didn't have a chance to get them last night. mesaboogieman hooked you up, though.

I also don't have a wire going to the switch washer. Also, remember the BFR has the piezo circuit and the last pot toward the back of the guitar is the Piezo volume control. So you're seeing more in the control cavity than is in the diagram because of that.

**jamminjim** · 03-06-2010, 06:47 AM

Bkrumme I previously stated this "What I don't see in the diagram is the wiring for the piezo switch, or the piezo pickup and that he needs the JP6 Piezo schematic, to address the extra wiring in his control cavity.

So the yellow, orange and black are the wires coming into the piezo pot from the piezo element. Then the wiring bundle with the black heat shrink is the wiring from the piezo switch. And it could be wired up from mbmans pics then, maybe. Are there two different guitars in mbmans pics? Or did he move the wiring a bit in a couple of the pics?
I'm guessing the latter. Anyway, it looks like the red wire from the piezo swith goes to the center tab on the piezo pot, the clear wire appears to be soldered on the back of the volume pot. Also looks like there are two black wires. One goes to the push-pull switch and one goes to the central ground.

A JP6 piezo schematic will confirm where all the wires go.

**bkrumme** · 03-06-2010, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by jamminjim

Bkrumme I previously stated this "What I don't see in the diagram is the wiring for the piezo switch, or the piezo pickup and that he needs the JP6 Piezo schematic, to address the extra wiring in his control cavity.

So the yellow, orange and black are the wires coming into the piezo pot from the piezo element. Then the wiring bundle with the black heat shrink is the wiring from the piezo switch. And it could be wired up from mbmans pics then, maybe. Are there two different guitars in mbmans pics? Or did he move the wiring a bit in a couple of the pics?
I'm guessing the latter. Anyway, it looks like the red wire from the piezo swith goes to the center tab on the piezo pot, the clear wire appears to be soldered on the back of the volume pot. Also looks like there are two black wires. One goes to the push-pull switch and one goes to the central ground.

A JP6 piezo schematic will confirm where all the wires go.

I didn't recall you saying that, but now that I read back a bit I see that. Yes, definitely need a JP6 BFR Piezo diagram.

**jamminjim** · 03-06-2010, 08:06 AM

Right. A BFR JP6 piezo schematic. The one with the push-pull switch. Thanks for correcting me.

**Spudmurphy** · 03-06-2010, 08:14 AM

To take a picture from underneath is a bit difficult as it would mean dismantling all the "gubbins".
I'm sure that it will all become clear when the right diagram is sourced.

I've tried Ernie ball.com but all you can download is a schematic of the switching options.

**Morbid** · 03-06-2010, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by threeminutesboy

and you thought the "wood part" was the most complicated

All EBMM electronics is high class wiring

Haha, no joke sir!

Originally Posted by jamminjim

Morbid - Go back to spuds control cavity pics and you'll see he pointed out the central grounding point in the control cavity...

The majority of all that I get now. I'm not worried about the wiring for the piezo system, as that's fairly self explanatory since the guy who disassembled the guitar cut the wires in have instead of desoldering them.
What I'm confused about, is even the wiring that I thought was clear cut in the diagram (from volume to tone pot and from pickups to selector switch)is totally different in Boogieman's guitar.
Here is how I wired my selector switch, just like the Diagram SEEMED to tell me...

If you look, the 3 wires for each pickup that I wired (as per the Diagram)match up with the letters on the board. S for shield, G for Green, W for White and so on. Unless I'm missing something, aside from the mystery bare wire, that's all that the diagram wants me to solder to the board. But in Boogieman's pictures, he's got a Red wire leading from the board to the push pull tone pot, and a black wiring going to somewhere else.

Now as was mentioned, my diagram does not include the piezo system, you're right. However, I DO have a diagram on paper that does, and the Piezo system does not (on that diagram)and should not interfere or change the way the rest of the electronics are attached simply because it's a system all on it's own.

But like you said, the only way I'm going to get this sorted is to call Ernie Ball. I'll have to call them Monday as I have to leave for work now and won't be back until late, and tomorrow is Sunday.

Originally Posted by bkrumme

I also don't have a wire going to the switch washer.

Another confirmation means all the more reason I must call Ernie Ball!

lol

Originally Posted by Spudmurphy

To take a picture from underneath is a bit difficult as it would mean dismantling all the "gubbins".
I'm sure that it will all become clear when the right diagram is sourced.

I've tried Ernie ball.com but all you can download is a schematic of the switching options.

Don't want anybody dismantling their babies Spud! No need actually, as there are now 3 confirmations of no odd wire.
I checked the website also, and also had no luck. As I said, I'll call EB Monday afternoon.

I appreciate the time and effort fellas! Thanks a lot.

**jamminjim** · 03-08-2010, 11:53 AM

Ok Morbid, I received the schematic for the JP6 BFR Piezo and it should answer all your questions. It does show the bare wire going to from the switch board to the ring as the posted schematic does. Apparently EBMM is leaving off the bare ground wire that goes to the switch ring. So my guess is the switch is getting grounded some other way. Or there is no need to ground it. This is the question to be answered by EBMM CS IMO.

Of the three wires coming into the control cavity with the black heat shrink (upper switch) the white (or clear) gets soldered to the back of the volume pot. the black wire goes to the center tab on the volume pot and the red wire goes to the center tab on the piezo pot. All grounding black wires are as previously described.

The green and red wires of the bridge hummer go to one side contact of the push-pull switch, and the black and white wires from the neck hummer go to the other corresponding side contact of the push-pull switch.

You also need the black and white wires going from your switch board to the volume pot.

Can send the schematic if you forward your email addy.

~Jim

**Morbid** · 03-08-2010, 02:53 PM

I was looking up the number for Ernie Ball and getting ready to call, then decided to check the thread to see if there were any new posts.
Glad I did

Sounds like the diagram still doesn't match the actual wiring we've seen above, but I'll give it a shot. You have my email address in your inbox. Thanks for grabbing the diagram, it's appreciated. I'll let ya guys know what I come up with.