Restoring a Sonex 180 Custom

[Sonex Boy]

Hi everybody!

I've been the proud owner of a Sonex for nearly 20 years. It's a wonderfully playable guitar with a big noise.

I've decided the poor thing needs a bit of a restoration and I've hit an odd problem.

 

I've bought a new scratchplate/pickguard which fits perfectly. However when I fit the thing there is no sound from the guitar. When I put the electrics back onto the old guard everything works again.

 

I'm guessing its something to do with isolating it, I've had a go but I can't seem to figure out where I've gone wrong.

 

Does any kind Gibson fan/owner have any recommendations for me?

 

Me & my Sonex thank you for your time!

 

Phil (sonex boy)

[vernyvern]

restoring your sonex after 20 years, thats a coinsidence so am i. it sounds like the insulation ,silver backing, is it making contact.

where did you get your replacement scratchplate ? my one has split in half.

[Sonex Boy]

Hi there!

 

I got the scratchplate from http://www.wdmusicproducts.com

 

It didn't come with insulation so i added my own. But I'm not sure whether I've done it right.

Any ideas of how it should be done properly?

[David Vee]

I had a similar problem with a Sonex 180 Custom... it turned out to be as simple as the braided wiring from the Dirty Fingers making contact with the bottom of the 3-way switch when I reattached the scratchplate. It silenced the pickups by shorting them to ground. Solved by ensuring the wiring is moved away from the exposed underside of the 3-way switch. Hope it's that simple for you, though your description of self-applied shielding could cause the same result if the wiring can move around under there and get pinched into contact.

Good luck!