Stagg S-Style Solidbody Needs Some Help

Folks, what we have here is a Stagg S-Style Solidbody in none too good shape. I could start off by addressing the sheer amount of grime and crud encrusting this instrument, but this time around, I've only been asked to diagnose and fix the electronics. No more and no less, as the client is always right. In the video below, I'm checking the electronics to determine what works, and vice versa.

What I've discovered is that all three pickups are in working order, as is the five-way pickup selector switch. The Master Volume control, on the other hand, works intermittently, all the while producing annoying snaps, crackles and pops. Worse still are both tone controls, which do not seem to be doing anything. Last but not least is the loose output jack, which I suspect might be further degrading the signal.

So I've popped the hood, and checked all the ground connections. They're all solid, thank goodness. Now, about that output jack. It's grimy and dusty, no doubt, but the kicker is the frayed wiring and evidence of tampering. To be blunt, someone's been in here, cut the red coaxial cable too short, and "reconnected" the ground by twisting the negative wire around the ground lug. Like, who needs solder anyway, right?

Pickups and Electronics as Received

Gnarly Output Jack Wiring

At the other end of the same red cable is the Master Volume pot. Besides burnt insulation and messy soldering, you can see how the hot and negative wires are twisted around each other. This might cause a short circuit, resulting in intermittent output. Moving on, the five-way switch and tone pots look to be in much better shape than the Master Volume, belying the fact that neither of those pots are functioning.

Pickguard-Mounted Electronics

Master Volume

Tone 1

Tone 2

Five-Way Selector Switch

Right, then. I've begun remedial work by desoldering and servicing the output jack, and rewiring it with a new grey coaxial cable. Tone 2, sadly, remains unusable despite repeated servicing, and has been replaced. Tone 1 and the selector switch, meanwhile, have been serviced and should perform as expected. Which brings us to the Master Volume pot. The original red coaxial cable has been disconnected, and the pot soldered to the grey coaxial cable from the output jack.

Remedial Work in Progress

Rewired Output Jack

Tone 2 Desoldered

New CF 500K Tone 2

Rewired Master Volume

Now, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating, let's watch and listen as I put the rectified electronics of this Stagg S-Style Solidbody through yet another sound check through the same amp (Fender Rumble 15) at similar settings. Thankfully, everything is working as it should. And, to my ears at least, there's a marked improvement in both volume and clarity.