Neck Pickup Volume Problem

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Hey guys, I've been having volume problems when I switch to neck pickup position on my Epi LP for a while and wondering if any of you guys can give me any ideas.

The main thing that happens is if I'm playing with my switch on the bridge position and my amp volume set to 3, and then I switch over to the neck position, I get half as much sound and I have to turn up my amp volume to 6 in order to get the same volume output.

Also, what's weird is the neck pickup volume knob doesn't get any sound when I turn it all the way to 10, but if I turn the knob down a bit to 9 or 8, it starts getting sound.

I've tried adjusting the action and pickup heights already but they don't help. The bridge pickup seems to be working fine though. I also opened up the covers to the pots and the pup selector to check for anything abnormal. As far as I could tell, the pup selector seems to be ok. When I checked the wiring on the backs of the pots, there was a red wire (I think volume wire? not sure...) running to the neck pot that had a few loose strands sticking out. I tried heating the solder and mashing the loose strands in. The loose strands are in now (I think…) but the volume problem is still there.

I'm wondering what I should consider next? Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I'm playing with only half of my guitar at this point.

Here's a picture of the wiring at the back of my Epi LP if that helps at all. I searched the forum and it seemed like people who had a similar problem to mine just re-wired everything and got it to work, but I just wanted to run this by the forum and see if there is anything I'm missing.

 

[snaredrum]

at the very least you need to get all that nonsense out and just do the standard '50s wiring mod.

i'm racking my brain trying to remember what's wrong with yours at the moment though. is it a grounding issue? maybe a knackered pot?

 

[#1guitarman]

I had the same problem with a re-wire I did, it was a bad solder joint...had to re-solder and it was good to go. With the cluster f*ck that Epiphone calls a wiring harness, it'll be amazing if anyone can figure it out from your pic.

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Problem fixed!

Thanks for all of your help guys. I was wondering about the wiring for a while, since every time I open the cover on the back, I freak out a little.

This may be kind of stupid, but I was just playing around with the pots and noticed that the nut/washer (I don't know what it's called but it's that 6-sided screw thing) on the neck volume knob was tightened a bit too much, so I loosened it and voila! The neck pickup position works now! yeaaahhh!

I guess writing about it on here helped me think of possible things that might have been wrong.

Anyhow, I'm still thinking of perhaps going to 50's wiring this summer when I have a bit more time... maybe...

But I guess if it's working, I shouldn't try to fix it.

 

[snaredrum]

Anyhow, I'm still thinking of perhaps going to 50's wiring this summer when I have a bit more time... maybe...

But I guess if it's working, I shouldn't try to fix it.

oh trust me - with the '50s wiring mod it'll work sooooo much better