Author Topic: Pickup changing problems! (Read 2755 times)

AngusYoung01 · « **on:** February 26, 2008, 10:49:08 PM »

Well, when I change from bridge to neck on my Charvel Star, today about 5/10 times there has been a HUGE loss in output. I think I'll need t take it to my local tech, but I kind of need it for Friday and have no money. What can I do to ensure this doesn't happen?

I need to play Under a Glass Moon, and don't want this output drop to occur when changing in the solo :o

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:45:57 AM »

Dodgy switch, or connection? Poor ground on the neck pickup?

jibidy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2008, 10:12:34 AM »

I had a Problem similar to this only with a warpig. it was because i bought it off my mate and the wires were badly stripped making a weak connection. So it might a connection where the pickup connectes to the earth or pot or something.

Philly Q · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2008, 10:19:36 AM »

It's funny, I've had a few guitars with Gibson-style 3-way switches which have had that problem - switch to the neck pickup and (sometimes) it's dead. And it's always the neck pickup, never the bridge.

I've had that happen on two LP style guitars, with the factory wiring (so it's not my soldering!). I thought it might, somehow, be something to do with the long length of wire between the switch and the control cavity. But then it happened on another guitar with the switch right next to the controls.

It's never happened with a Fender-style switch. It's all a bit of a mystery.

AndyR · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2008, 01:14:14 PM »

I had a similar problem with my Epi Les Paul when I got it out of the attic a few months back.

With me, it was the bridge pickup failing.

I tried all sorts of things, and then I noticed that when I switched to the pickup with the big loss in volume (not the middle position), if I tapped the other pickup with a screwdriver it was was still active.

So I took the switch out to see if anything was looking dodgy. I found several years' worth of cr@p in it. I gave it all a good going over with Servisol switch cleaner and the problem went away. I think there was some sort of short or lack of connection in the switch contacts themselves - I didn't fiddle with the wiring or soldering. It was still a little flakey sometimes after this - but my jack socket and plate were on their last legs anyway, causing even bigger problems!

After I put Mules in a month or so back, I decided to replace all the electrics last weekend - no problems at all now. (And by the way, the Mules sound SUPERB now, an unbelievable difference with decent pots and caps).