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 Post subject: Spectrum Wired Backwards
PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:22 pm 
I got the Silverstone one back yesterday. My guitar guy said to keep buying as many as I can find! He personally likes Washburn Falcons which I agree, look pretty neat!

Anyway, now that it is playable, and it does play sweet, two of the switches seem to be wired wrong compared to its sister, the Pearl Burst. The Pearl Burst electronics appear to work correctly according to the Westone Sales/Training CD that I got from a guy on eBay. If you don't have this CD it is worthwhile!

So, how the switching should work is: Toggle switch forward, neck pickup on. Middle position, neck and bridge on. Middle position with middle tone knob pulled up, middle single coil on. By pulling the volume knob up, you get all three single coils like a Strat. The lower tone knob is the phase switch when pulled out and creates a thinner sound. This is all according to the CD, and the Pearl Burst is exactly like this.

This Silverstone Spectrum acts like this: Toggle switch up position, neck pickup is on. Middle, both pickups are on. However, the phasing switch knob is "on" when pushed in, not pulled out", so initially I thought something was wrong since it wasn't as "beefy" sounding as its mate. When I pulled the phase switch up, it got real beefy then. Now, here is where the other problem happens: With the phase engaged, when I move the toggle switch to the bridge pickup, nothing. If I push the phase switch in, which engages the phase, then the bridge pickup come on. Weird?

So, does anyone have a wiring diagram for these? If not, I thought since I have a proper working Westone, I could take the electronic plates off and compare the wiring and wire the Silverstone to match the Pearl Burst.
What do you guys think??

Thanks!


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:04 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2004 12:17 am
Posts: 1903
sounds like someone unscrewed one or more of the pickups and reinstalled it backwards. maybe?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:27 am 
Do you think that would do it? The PU's look like they haven't been removed, at least looking at it from the outside...The bridge pickup is a little different that the rest on the guitar, and the Pearl Bursts. The Pearl Burst and the Silver Stones Neck and Center PU's all have the "riveted" pole look. The Bridge PU in the SilverStone has flat smooth poles. Any idea if this was stock or not??

I think I will pop both guitars open over the weekend and just look at the wiring on the control knobs and the toggle switch. I want to get a different TONE/PHASE switch on the Silverstone one. For some reason, besides not working right, it kinda "sticks up", ie., is not flush with the body as they other two knobs are. I am going to order a backplate from Allparts and 3 new knobs for it. The black knurled knobs I put on the Pearl Burst work great! I can't grip on the SilverStone ones...and they aren't the right knobs anyway.

The backplate from AllParts that I put on the Pearl Burst fits and looks perfect! She is all comlete now! Woo Hoo!!

I may pull the bridge PU and check the wiring if I find nothing out of order with the control knobs and toggle switch...


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:57 am 
What kind of pot is used on the tone/phase switch? Is it a 500K or 250K?

I can get a push/pull in either. Also, would a mini-pot be the right one? since the one on it is too long (knob sticks up too high when pushed in), I was thinking the mini push/pull pot would be approriate.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:07 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2004 12:17 am
Posts: 1903
500K. standard size should be OK though.

Sticking up too far means somebody lost the washer or nut that go on the pot shaft between the pot body and the wood- or possibly that it's there but misadjusted. you have to adjust the two nuts- one on either side of the gutiar body- to get the right height. people dont realize this and jsut use the outer nut, and then it's set sticking out at far as it will go.

What model is this? an X175? three singles and what controls? i may be able to provide a control cavity photo if it helps for wire routing.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:47 pm 
I think it is an X189. It has the Bridge and Neck Humbuckers with the single in the middle. It is the same body as a Westone Specturm. There is a picture of it on my photobucket site. The Silverstone one at the bottom...

I will see if I can adjust the nut. Thanks for the tip. I had not realized that either. Pot is probably fine- just wired backwards.

http://photobucket.com/albums/c196/hotrails02/


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 2:09 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2004 12:17 am
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oh sorry, missed that.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:04 pm 
Hmmm...I opened up both guitars today. The Pearl Burst appears all original and unmolested in as far as the pots go. The SilverStone has two original pots as they match the Pearl Burst, and the phase one (troublesome one) has been replaced.

I wired the Silverstone one as close as I could to the Pear Burst. I think someone substituted Blue jumper wire for the original orange and a black for a green that appears to run into the wiring harness.

Anyway, my end result was I simply reversed the problem. Now the Neck pickup is out when the toggle is flipped and the phase knob is in!

X199, you were correct about it missing a nut! I have to get one for the inside and then I can adjust the height. Thanks!

Anyway, I may just take both to my guitar tech and let him have at it. I have too much going on before Christmas and these are supposed to be gifts (one for me and one for my son). At least with the original white one intact and working correctly, he will be able to go through the Silver Stone one!


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:06 pm 
Sorry, I meant X189! LOL


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