Pickup Selector Problems

[Vulgartrendkill]

Hey peeps,

Having a problem with my three way selector switch on my Dean, it won`t stay at the neck position, it just flicks straight back the the middle. Is there anything I can do to make it stick (preferably by not using tape etc) or do I have to invest in another switch?

And if I do, how difficult is it to change?

Ta,

Mat

[Philly Q]

Have you had a look at the switch?  I'm assuming it's a Gibson-style toggle (rather than a Tele-style blade switch).  It sounds like one of the springy metal contact strips (don't know what else to call them) on the switch may be obstructed by something in the control cavity which is preventing it from opening properly - if it's not that, then the switch probably needs replacing.

(Just thought, it might be one of the cheaper Korean/Japanese switches which is enclosed in a metal box - if it's one of those then the mechanism has probably failed.)

[Vulgartrendkill]

Yeah looks like its an enclosed one to me. How the flipping  eck do I change it?

Do I just pull it out from underneath?

[ailean]

If you're not comfortable with changing it yourself get a tech to do it.

But pretty much I'd say find the correct replacement first (post a pic here if you can;t find it and someone will know what it is). Then take some pics of how the current wiring is set up. Grab a soldering iron and get to work. I'm assumng that you've soldered stuff before, if not get someone else to teach you or to do it. Soldering is easy enough but the guts of your guitar are not the best place to practice :)

[Philly Q]

So it's along the lines of this one?  I don't think there's any way of fixing it, you'd be best replacing it.  But I'd suggest getting a better-quality, non-enclosed  American switch, like this, this or this (depending on the depth of the guitar body and the size/location of the control cavity).

It's a good idea to get the new switch, and a wiring diagram if you can find one, before taking out the old one.  All you need to do to remove it is unsolder the 3 (or possibly 4) wires connected to the switch, then unscrew the nut on the top of the guitar.  Then it should just be a matter of soldering the wires to the corresponding points on the new switch.