Need lap steel wiring help

[Chris Lackner]

I have a Boen lap steel. 6 string, single pickup, 1 volume pot, 1 tone pot.
The wiring to the output jack has come off the soldering. I've looked at a lot of different wiring diagrams to repair it but I can't find any diagram that uses this wiring configuration.

The capacitor connects the two pots using the two middle lugs.
On each pot, one outer lug has been bent and soldered to the pot bottom, and the other outer lug has been clipped off.

I know the black wire from the output jack needs to be soldered to the bottom of the volume pot (because I removed that wire).
My confusion is the red wire from the output jack. Does it need to be connected to the middle lug of the volume pot where the capacitor is? I am assuming the two lugs that were clipped off weren't used - and that's throwing me off.

Any help would be appreciated. I want to restore the instrument to how the wiring was intended (assuming this is how it was built by Boen). The attached pic shows what I have.

[Dave Grafe]

Black is low (ground) side of the p/u, should be connected to the ground side lug of the volume pot and also have electrical continuity to the copper shield, shells of both pots, outer sleeve contact of the 1/4" jack, and the bridge/strings.

Red is high (signal) side of the pickup, should be attached to the outer contact of the volume pot opposite the grounded lug. The center lug of the volume pot is the wiper and should be attached to the tip contact of the jack. Thus the pickup faces a constant resistance and the amp input sweeps between no resistance/maxed and grounded/off, requiring use of all three lugs.

The capacitor is the path for high frequencies to go to ground through the tone pot and needs no constant resistance, only a single-ended sweep betwen minimal path to ground (full highs) and fully grounded (no highs). I have attached an image recycled from another forum thread.

Hope this helps

[Chris Lackner]

Thanks Dave. As far as I can tell, following that diagram would mean rewiring the lap steel (beyond just the output jack). I don't know if rewiring it in a more conventional way would be to the benefit or the detriment of the instrument. I don't know if the wiring that is currently there is native to when it was built.

[Dave Grafe]

Thanks Dave. As far as I can tell, following that diagram would mean rewiring the lap steel (beyond just the output jack). I don't know if rewiring it in a more conventional way would be to the benefit or the detriment of the instrument. I don't know if the wiring that is currently there is native to when it was built.

Not at all. Just move the red wire from the center lug of the tone pot where it does not belong to the other side of the cap, i.e. soldered to the opposite lug of the volume pot from the existing black wire. The missing hot wire to the jack then attaches with the tone cap to the center lug of the volume pedal. You don't want the tone cap and pot between pickup and amp but rather between pickup/amp and ground.

[Jerry Knapper]

Hi Chris
I have been gone, so didn't get your request. If the steel has the Boen name, it was probably built by Jimmy Boen.
I have a wiring diagram. Or 2 from him if you still need it. I should be home next week. Let me know.
Jerry
jerico47@gmail.com

[Chris Lackner]

Hi Chris
I have been gone, so didn't get your request. If the steel has the Boen name, it was probably built by Jimmy Boen.
I have a wiring diagram. Or 2 from him if you still need it. I should be home next week. Let me know.
Jerry
jerico47@gmail.com

Thanks Jerry! My lap steel is Boen branded. I would GREATLY appreciate any diagrams you can send my way.