Hamer Cali Deluxe Issue

[Jon C]

Hello,

I recently purchased a 1991 Cali Deluxe with EMG's and a push/pull volume to split the HB....all stock.  Upon receipt, the volume pot made scratching noises and DID NOT cut the volume off when turned to minimum.  I figured it was dirty and sprayed with contact cleaner.  No change.  I took a good look at the wiring....electronics bay, tremolo ground, input jack.  All looked fine. 

THEN, I bought a direct replacement pot ("Bourns 25K Audio Pot w/Push-Pull Switch for EMG & Other Active Pickups") on line.  It makes the same exact noise and does not completely cut the volume. 

A short or dirt would explain the scratchiness, but the volume issue?  Linear vis Audio taper.....maybe the volume issue, but the scratchiness on two different pots?   Wiring issue?  The solder and wiring appeared to be stock.

Has anyone ever run into this?  Does anyone have a schematic for a Hamer Cali Deluxe with this set up.

Love the guitar, but before I gut out the stock electronics, I'd like to see if there is a fix using the original components.

Appreciate some expert recommendations or suggestions.  I am not a novice with guitar electronics, but this one has me stumped.

Jon C.

[murkat]

sounds like (no pun intended) you have a reversed hot / ground somewhere. usually happens with emgs if you try to reverse wire in out leads on volume pot to blend, but doesn’t really work.

[Jon C]

Quote

sounds like (no pun intended) you have a reversed hot / ground somewhere. usually happens with emgs if you try to reverse wire in out leads on volume pot to blend, but doesn’t really work.

Thanks for the response....Well, it must have been made that way or has aged poorly.  There are a shite load of wires on that push/pull switch.  Hope someone has a schematic.

[Hbom]

See if this is the one you need.  Wayback Machine (archive.org)

[Jon C]

7 hours ago, Hbom said:

See if this is the one you need.  Wayback Machine (archive.org)

I believe it is!!!!!  Thank you very much.  I'll verify the wiring and see if that fixes things.

Again, thank you.

Jon

[Jon C]

Okay, problem solved. 

After verifying that the wiring was correct via the diagram provided by Hbom (it was), I discovered that the volume pot was not grounding to the factory painted shielding in the cavity.  It was connected to the tremolo ground wire, but apparently not to the jack ground in any way.  It was dependent on the paint completing the connection to the jack ground.  I put down some shielding tape to contact the volume, tone, and 3 way switch.  All quiet and no scratching. 

Very happy now.  Thanks for the diagram Hbom and thank you Murkat for the hint about it being a possible grounding issue.  Love this site!

Anybody got any winning lotto numbers?  

Jon

[bry4321]

I love a story with a happy ending!

[Cboss]

On 7/16/2024 at 1:28 PM, Jon C said:

Hello,

I recently purchased a 1991 Cali Deluxe with EMG's and a push/pull volume to split the HB....all stock.  Upon receipt, the volume pot made scratching noises and DID NOT cut the volume off when turned to minimum.  I figured it was dirty and sprayed with contact cleaner.  No change.  I took a good look at the wiring....electronics bay, tremolo ground, input jack.  All looked fine. 

THEN, I bought a direct replacement pot ("Bourns 25K Audio Pot w/Push-Pull Switch for EMG & Other Active Pickups") on line.  It makes the same exact noise and does not completely cut the volume. 

A short or dirt would explain the scratchiness, but the volume issue?  Linear vis Audio taper.....maybe the volume issue, but the scratchiness on two different pots?   Wiring issue?  The solder and wiring appeared to be stock.

Has anyone ever run into this?  Does anyone have a schematic for a Hamer Cali Deluxe with this set up.

Love the guitar, but before I gut out the stock electronics, I'd like to see if there is a fix using the original components.

Appreciate some expert recommendations or suggestions.  I am not a novice with guitar electronics, but this one has me stumped.

Jon C.

Jon does it do the same thing when you're switched to the front pickup? Middle position?

[Cboss]

7 hours ago, Jon C said:

Okay, problem solved. 

After verifying that the wiring was correct via the diagram provided by Hbom (it was), I discovered that the volume pot was not grounding to the factory painted shielding in the cavity.  It was connected to the tremolo ground wire, but apparently not to the jack ground in any way.  It was dependent on the paint completing the connection to the jack ground.  I put down some shielding tape to contact the volume, tone, and 3 way switch.  All quiet and no scratching. 

Very happy now.  Thanks for the diagram Hbom and thank you Murkat for the hint about it being a possible grounding issue.  Love this site!

Anybody got any winning lotto numbers?  

Jon

Pictures of the guitar please

[Jon C]

2 hours ago, Cboss said:

Jon does it do the same thing when you're switched to the front pickup? Middle position?

Its fixed now, but it did it in any position.  Exclusive to the volume pot....tone pot okay.  After I put in the shielding tape it eliminated the problem.

 

2 hours ago, Cboss said:

Pictures of the guitar please

I'll get some posted asap.

[Bennyboy-UK]

I'm a Deluxe model fan, and wondered how much I'd like a Cali Deluxe - I'm guessing quite a lot!

[Jon C]

3 hours ago, Bennyboy-UK said:

I'm a Deluxe model fan, and wondered how much I'd like a Cali Deluxe - I'm guessing quite a lot!

Its the first one I have owned.  I have Cali and Chap Elites, but not any Deluxes.   The person I bought it from advertised it as a Cali.  

The push/pull for the HB is not something I will probably use.  Pretty much a power metal guy.  But I do like having the tone control over the front pickup.  Regular Calis don't have that, of course.  I really like the two boomer/dot fret marker combination.

The neck is right on....shipped to me in tune and intonated perfectly.  Has some checking and small dents, but the granite paint job hides all of that.  I have read these have alder wood....it seems lighter than my others.  The sustain is infinite....but that may be more my Mesa Boogie MK VII, I recently got.  I'll get some pics up soon.

[Jon C]

So, here are some pics of the new Deluxe and a family group shot.  Not normally a fan of the granite or marble look, but this one is subtle enough.  This will be the last Hamer I buy....unless there is a blue one, or a yellow one, or one that has the trem cover, or one that has the truss rod cover, or another Deluxe goes on sale, or one that is shiny, or dull, or perfect, or needs work.....

[Cboss]

6 hours ago, Jon C said:

So, here are some pics of the new Deluxe and a family group shot.  Not normally a fan of the granite or marble look, but this one is subtle enough.  This will be the last Hamer I buy....unless there is a blue one, or a yellow one, or one that has the trem cover, or one that has the truss rod cover, or another Deluxe goes on sale, or one that is shiny, or dull, or perfect, or needs work.....

That is a lot of boomers!

[Bennyboy-UK]

On 7/18/2024 at 8:58 PM, Cboss said:

That is a lot of boomers!

What the HFC?