Guitar Issues

[Cbull]

Hi, wasn't sure if there was another thread to ask so started a new one. Hopefully there's a superman out there that plays the guitar that can help.

Yesterday my son was having a little practice downstairs with the Epiphone Les Paul Smokehouse Burst I sold to him recently, it's barely over a year old from new. We noticed the nut and washer fall on the floor, they're from the jack input (it keeps going loose). This time the jack input had recessed and I couldn't plug a cable back in so had to access the back. In doing so I noticed a loose cable that goes into the body on its own little hole but solder had come off whatever it was attached to. The guitar still worked.

Does anyone know what this cable is and where I should re-solder too?

Also, is there a way to stop the jack input going loose?




TIA

[catso]

Doing it up tight should be enough but, this being a motoring forum how about some Loctite on the threads?

With regards to the wire, if it all works then maybe it's an earth to the jack plug? if it was 'sandwiched' somehow in the plug's threads then it falling out could have made the plug loose?

[Cbull]

catso said:

Doing it up tight should be enough but, this being a motoring forum how about some Loctite on the threads?

With regards to the wire, if it all works then maybe it's an earth to the jack plug? if it was 'sandwiched' somehow in the plug's threads then it falling out could have made the plug loose?

Thanks buddy.

Ahh of course, think I actually some of that blue stuff in the garage if it hasn't dried out. Will give it a whirl.

Just been looking at some wiring diagrams. I suspect you're also correct with it being the earth. So according to that I should be able to solder it to one of the pots as per...



Thanks again.

[catso]

Whilst it still works, the earth should be to stop it 'humming', my Son's first guitar, an Aria 'Strat' developed a hum that was only present if you weren't touching the strings.

I suspect it was a loose earth somewhere and that when touching the strings, it was earthing through your body? but never got round to looking into at as he lent it to a friend to learn on some years ago and never saw it again.

Thinking back, I remember tightening the jack socket a couple of times so, maybe the earth came out of there like yours...

[Mastodon2]

For the jack socket, be careful how tight you set it, if you over-tighten it you'll crack the plastic plate under the nut (assuming it has one), super common thing to happen on LPs. You can get replacement metal jack covers from Stewmac or you can gamble on eBay Chinese parts.

For the wire, it's almost certainly a ground wire. Plug the guitar in, listen for hum, solder to a pot as per the diagram above and see if it gets quieter.

[Cbull]

Thanks for the advice chaps. Quick update on this.

Managed to fix the jack but I might update that as the design isn't the best.

Yes it was the ground wire for the strings etc. I attempted to solder the ground to the switch but my soldering iron is fkd, a tiny dot of it works up along the side so after 40 minutes I gave up and Sellotaped it on for now ha ha. New soldering iron is on the way.

Thanks again.

[TorqueDirty]

Cbull said:

Thanks for the advice chaps. Quick update on this.

Managed to fix the jack but I might update that as the design isn't the best.

Yes it was the ground wire for the strings etc. I attempted to solder the ground to the switch but my soldering iron is fkd, a tiny dot of it works up along the side so after 40 minutes I gave up and Sellotaped it on for now ha ha. New soldering iron is on the way.

Thanks again.

Make sure your soldering iron and the solder you are using are matched. Lead free solder does not work with a solder soldering iron designed for lead based solder. Ask me how I know! I could never get the solder to melt properly. I thought it was my crap skills - and it turn out that it was only partly because of that.

[Cbull]

TorqueDirty said:

Make sure your soldering iron and the solder you are using are matched. Lead free solder does not work with a solder soldering iron designed for lead based solder. Ask me how I know! I could never get the solder to melt properly. I thought it was my crap skills - and it turn out that it was only partly because of that.

Ha ha thank you very much sir. Every day is learning day they say. The new kit arrived yesterday so I'll watch a basics soldering video at some point and promptly become a soldering expert of course

[Peterpetrole]

I originally read the thread as being dodgy wiring on a Les Paul which made me a little relieved at the shocking wiring / soldering in my Epiphone - then realised it is about an Epiphone.

Was a few years ago but it was so badly done, and they don't seem to have improved. I can't see how it even saves them money, mine had enormous dobs of solder that must have taken ages to dribble into place.

[Cbull]

Hi Peter. Well, to be fair the dodgy soldering could just be down the to individual at the time. Personally I really like this particular guitar, think it's made in Indonesia if I remember correctly but I could be wrong. It actually feels like a really good quality guitar... minus the occasional loose wire of course ha ha.

Here's the culprit...

[Nexus Icon]

That's a nice colour scheme. I have a similar looking one in solid cherry but I don't really play it as it's too heavy compared to my Jackson and Ibanez models so it feels awkward if I switch.

[Cbull]

Thanks, yes I think she's a beauty and I love the looks of the Gibson version too. Think this one weights about 7.4lb. In all honesty I won it on a guitar competition website.

[catso]

Cbull said:

Thanks, yes I think she's a beauty and I love the looks of the Gibson version too. Think this one weights about 7.4lb. In all honesty I won it on a guitar competition website.

Nice win and a nice colour too. My Son has a Les Paul in a similar scheme, not quite as dark though.

[Cbull]

Oooh Catso thats a great pic. As a biker also I'm now thinking of a new guitar to match mine, will have to be a silver burst tear drop guitar of sorts

Attempt #2 to solder the wire didn't go too well. Bloody thing just wouldn't stick to it so I taped it up, shut the lid and handed it back to him ha ha.