help with pc-1

[shaman]

wondering if anyone would mind opening up the back cavity of a pc-1 and taking pic so I can see how the pickups/sustainer wiring is supposed to be-recently picked one up-owner had changed bridge pup and now sustainer doesnt work-really need some help-these sustainers are like a hen's tooth!

[rjohnstone]

I have some wiring pics on my PC at home.
I'll post them later tonight.
Can you post a pic of the current wiring job in your PC1?
Curious to see what the dimwit did. Pickup changes on a PC-1 are almost as easy as swapping out EMGs.

[shaman]

thanks rj...it doesnt look like a problem with the pups..I think he maybe bypassed the sustainer(I know he didnt like it)-everything looks like it is plugged in correctly, and all pups work fine,but no sustainer-if I can get some good pics later, I will try to post!
thanks!!

[rjohnstone]

Did you check the batteries and make sure the connector on the underside of the board was still connected?
When you plug in a guitar cable, the led on the circuit board should light up for a second or two. This tells you it's working properly.
If you do not get any light, the batteries are dead or the power is not connected.
Or worse, the sustainer board could be fried.

[shaman]

hmm..will check again when I get home..doesnt seem like the red led on the cb lit up..and they are new/tested batteries...power supply to board..is that the red/black wire /2 prong connector I forgotwhatchacallit thing-y close to the red light?

[rjohnstone]

Yep... it's the black and red wire coming from the battery box.
Make sure it's connected and that it is also wired up at the jack.
The leads also have a tendency to come off at the battery box. Shitty solder joints.
You may have to pull the battery box and make sure none of the soldered connections have come loose.

[shaman]

man, I cant thank you enough so far...appreciate the help-I have a 2 yr old, so I will have to sneak around in order to troubleshoot...little dude is like a shadow!!I can sell this sucker(its a lefty...), but I dont want to until all is well-willkeep you posted..could be some cold ones involved if I can get this puppy fixed!!!!

[rjohnstone]

Here are some pics for ya.



In this pic, the connection on the left is power and the one in the center of the board is for the intensity control (3rd knob).




And yes, that's an unmolested factory soldering job.
Pathetic.

[rjohnstone]

One more thing I forgot to mention.
The connectors are color coded.
Take a close look and you will see colored paint indicating where each connection goes on the terminals.

[shaman]

ok...the small black wires entering the cavity-in last pic, looks like they are all possibly grounded via the screw deal...the ones in my guitar are clustered together on the vol pot(still going from memory right now)..that is a difference..the connectors all should be good -all the pickups work fine, so it seems to be a power issue....I will need to also look at the input jack-please dont forget me..could be a day or 2
bigtime thanks_hope I can fix this mutha!

[shredmonster]

Be very careful with the sustainer connections and such. They pins break easily.

I broke one in mine replacing a pup and had to take it to an authorized repair shop in town. The guy found me a part at a local electronic supply store that worked so I would not have to wait to get a part from Jackson.

[shaman]

ok...good news so far..you nailed it guys..it was the hot wire from battery box to input jack...didnt look like it had ever been soldered in the first place!!
now, it is a lefty pc-1...I am starting to wonder if a few other things are bass-akwards-how about the following: the toggles-exactly which one does what??seems like one is on/off....one is harmonic/fundamental note switch...and the knob-it controls overall intensity...
-could you describe which toogle does what on your respective guitar(s)?..the one closest to the bridge pup does" " etc...and could you tell me what "direction" is on/off..etc...?

and the two small controls in the circuit board-do you know what they control?/did a search , but I am still a little unsure...
thanks again!

[rjohnstone]

On a righty, the outside toggle is on/off and the inside control is the harmonic switch.
As for the two pots on the board, those are used for fine tuning the sustainer.
Leave them alone. Very bad things can happen if you don't know what you're doing.

[shaman]

arrrgggh...I have already twiddled with them....curiosity kills, I suppose-I am hoping that the "very bad things" are actually damaging the little dials..??do you know what is the optimum position for these guys...maybe I can re-set....I used the proper tool , didnt really hear a difference
and, in terms of the toggles , is "on" towards the butt of the guitar, or the headstock (same question goes for harm. switch as well...)
-is it like a pedal in terms of batt. usage?(unplug and I am ok...or does the on/off switch have to be "off" as well in order to preserve batt life??)
thanks

[Bryan]

arrrgggh...I have already twiddled with them....curiosity kills, I suppose-I am hoping that the "very bad things" are actually damaging the little dials..??do you know what is the optimum position for these guys...maybe I can re-set....I used the proper tool , didnt really hear a difference
and, in terms of the toggles , is "on" towards the butt of the guitar, or the headstock (same question goes for harm. switch as well...)
-is it like a pedal in terms of batt. usage?(unplug and I am ok...or does the on/off switch have to be "off" as well in order to preserve batt life??)
thanks

Unplug and you're OK.

And +1 for listening to rjohnstone. He's the expert and been super helpful with all my PC-1 questions.