Basket 0APPARITION / KNOWLEDGE
Start with a symptom, narrow the checks, and inspect the appropriate circuit view.
Symptoms suggest areas to inspect; they do not prove a diagnosis. Disconnect the guitar before continuity tests. Keep amplifier checks external; never work on mains-powered amplifier internals.
Check the cable and amplifier input with a known working guitar first, then jack tip/sleeve wiring, unwanted hot-to-ground shorts and selector output.
Learn: Ground, shield and the output jack → · Inspect: Wiring Generator →
Compare both single-pickup positions. Inspect its hot lead, return, series link and selector branch against the diagram.
Learn: Pickup conductors and colour conventions → · Inspect: Signal Forge / Circuit Lab →
Check the ground-end lug bond and the input/wiper identification against the selected wiring. Do not assume every two-volume topology behaves identically.
Learn: Potentiometers explained → · Inspect: Wiring Generator →
Inspect the capacitor connection, tone wiper and required ground bond. Check the selected wiring style before moving a lead.
Learn: Capacitors and treble bleeds explained → · Inspect: Signal Forge / Signal Lab →
Inspect bridge/string ground and shielding continuity. This symptom can be consistent with interference pickup but is not proof of a specific fault.
Learn: Ground, shield and the output jack → · Inspect: Wiring Generator →
Try another cable and environment, then inspect shielding, return paths and pickup type. Single-coil interference is not always a wiring defect.
Learn: Ground, shield and the output jack → · Inspect: Wiring Generator →
Check whether movement of the shaft or a nearby lead reproduces it. Inspect joints and the control; use only suitable contact maintenance for the part.
Learn: Potentiometers explained → · Inspect: Wiring Generator →
With the guitar disconnected, inspect loose jack contacts, fractured joints and leads that move or short. Avoid pulling delicate pickup wires.
Learn: Ground, shield and the output jack → · Inspect: Wiring Generator →
Identify the actual common and contact pairs with a disconnected continuity test. Compare the expected path in Circuit Lab.
Learn: Selector contacts and pickup paths → · Inspect: Signal Forge / Circuit Lab →
Verify input/wiper terminals and whether the resistor is parallel or series. Compare the pot, cable/load and volume assumptions in the Designer.
Learn: Choosing a treble bleed in context → · Inspect: Treble Bleed Designer →
Inspect the supported circuit topology, contacts and conductive paths. Each example opens a supported starting circuit; it does not identify your actual guitar or pickup measurements.
Continue learning: Ground, shield and the output jack → · Selector contacts and pickup paths →