Squire pots changed to CTS. Now buzzing in the neck position. Why? Baffled!

[Rich78]

Hi.
Ive changed the pots in my cheap Squire Strat ready for some BKPs.

Ive also changed the selector.

I rewired everything to the letter but in the neck position there is a buzzing that only stops when I grab the
middle tone shaft (with the cap off the pot).

Also the middle tone pot is acting as a volume control for the neck pickup....(!)

The bridge and middle pickups are fine and sound great even with the cheapo stock pickups.

Ive checked and checked the wiring using loads of pics and info from my books and the internet.
Im pretty baffled by the above and its getting annoying with all the faffing about...

What do you reckon? Have I missed something fundamental?

   Cheers.  Rich.

[WezV]

ground loop

[Ratrod]

Probably a ground issue.

Check here for wiring diaframs of practically everything from FMIC.

http://www.mrgearhead.com/

[Rich78]

Cheers for the replies.
I know its a ground issue but I really have checked the contacts over and over...
Ive been modding my guitars for a few years now and this has never happened before...
Quite strange....

Cheers for the site Ill check it out and get back....

Rich.

[ToneMonkey]

Sounds like an earth problem, it usually is with anything electric  :?

I've sent one of my axes to be rewired with my mate (who's promised not to use the flourscent pick wire that he has been).  I have to change the pots and things over as the ones on there are CTS pots, but the type used in panel wiring so you can't get decent knobs to fit.  This time he's using some connectors that slip on and off the pots so that I can change them.  He's also made me a harness for the earth wires, one main wire and the rest ultrasonically welded to the main.  Complete overkill, but I'm quite curious about how it will turn out.

[the guitar repair workshop]

a great tip for finding problems like this is to put away the diagrams (literally - so you arent tempted to peek) then redraw your cicuit from the actual guitar - not from memory!

Check the new diag with the original correct diag and you'll find where you've gone wrong.

I used this technique several times when i built my amp - worked a charm everytime :)

[Rich78]

Cheers for info. I do draw the original...

Its sorted now anyway. I found the pot was slightly touching the foil near its thread.
I pushed the foil away from the thread with a small screwdriver then insulted the pot with insulation tape.

This has been good. Ive learned alot.

Cheers. Rich.