Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice?

Tozatron · 03-29-2012, 10:20 PM

The pickup selector on my Les Paul has started goofing. The rhythm selection works perfectly, but if I put it in the middle or on treble, it doesn't do anything at all. I popped it open and looked for loose soldering, but it seems pretty solid. Any take on what this could be?

Pinkie · 03-29-2012, 10:40 PM

Wire pinched somewhere?
Take it out and have a good look at it.If it works then put it back in and don't pinch the wires.
Just because it looks OK doesn't mean it is.

Thumpalumpacus · 03-29-2012, 10:42 PM

Sounds like one of the contact leafs needs to be tensioned. I'd just replace it, myself.

Pinkie · 03-29-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

Sounds like one of the contact leafs needs to be tensioned. I'd just replace it, myself.

That could be the problem too thanks Thump.

msfenderarg · 03-29-2012, 11:09 PM

Tozatron · 03-30-2012, 01:18 AM

^ Ha! That's effectively what I have.

Thanks Pinkie and Thump! I'll take another look. For good measure, I'll post a video too. See if you all catch anything I don't.

Edit: what's this about a contact leaf?

sgxt120r · 03-30-2012, 07:49 AM

I have the same problems on most of my Epiphones. So now I usually replace the switch to a Switch Craft right off the bat and I don't have the problem anymore.

Tozatron · 03-30-2012, 12:33 PM

Yeah I've had it for 3 years. Just popping up now. I'm kinda short on cash at the moment, but I'd normally rather just replace the switch and be safe.

Malikon · 03-30-2012, 01:27 PM

Switchcraft is your friend. Never had problems with them, and they take some serious abuse.

Epi 57 classic · 03-30-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

Switchcraft is your friend. Never had problems with them, and they take some serious abuse.

+1

IndianScout · 03-30-2012, 04:42 PM

do switchcraft switches fit into the epi's with no drilling or do you have to widen the hole..

KP · 03-30-2012, 05:39 PM

This one is not bad.

USA Style Les Paul Toggle Switch- Chrome

Shagnwagon · 03-30-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tozatron

The pickup selector on my Les Paul has started goofing. The rhythm selection works perfectly, but if I put it in the middle or on treble, it doesn't do anything at all. I popped it open and looked for loose soldering, but it seems pretty solid. Any take on what this could be?

Normally its just a faulty switch. However my guitar tech told me that it can just get dirty and need cleaning, it happened to one of my LPs.

cherryles · 03-30-2012, 05:46 PM

My toggle switch on my epip lp standard started acting up only 6 months after purchase, apparently there known for it, i fixed it but have a switchcraft ordered as ive had to fix it again since, i just took the switch out without disconnecting any wires, got a flat head screwdriver and prised the switches contacts closer together to increase the pressure the contacts make against each other when the switch is engaged as thats what was causing the problem, i also gave the screws another twist as far as they would go, its hard to explain this procedure properly in words, a video would be much more usefull to you if i had one but i dont, order a new better quality switch as it will only be a reoccurring problem

rayspang · 03-31-2012, 07:37 AM

contact cleaner from radio shack fixes this problem sometimes.

GhostToMost · 03-31-2012, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayspang

contact cleaner from radio shack fixes this problem sometimes.

Yep ,exactly what I was thinking. Mine started doing the same thing a while back. The rhythm and middle positions were fine but the neck would cut out. All I did was blow into really hard a few times and I haven't had trouble since.

03-29-2012, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pinkie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,012 Thanks: 128 Thanked 32 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? Wire pinched somewhere? Take it out and have a good look at it.If it works then put it back in and don't pinch the wires. Just because it looks OK doesn't mean it is.

03-29-2012, 10:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Thumpalumpacus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hill Country Posts: 54,248 Thanks: 1,199 Thanked 687 Times in 79 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? Sounds like one of the contact leafs needs to be tensioned. I'd just replace it, myself. __________________ _____________________________________________ My Soundcloud

03-29-2012, 11:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
msfenderarg Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: "alla fine del mondo" Posts: 5,331 Thanks: 141 Thanked 33 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? __________________ If it ain't broke, Mod it till it is Leonidas no is puteus in primoris rudimentum

03-30-2012, 07:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
sgxt120r Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NY Posts: 76 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? I have the same problems on most of my Epiphones. So now I usually replace the switch to a Switch Craft right off the bat and I don't have the problem anymore. KP likes this.

03-30-2012, 01:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Malikon V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 19,450 Thanks: 371 Thanked 933 Times in 189 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? Switchcraft is your friend. Never had problems with them, and they take some serious abuse. __________________ "Your scars are beautiful" Lessons/Demos

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03-30-2012, 04:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
IndianScout Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,997 Thanks: 43 Thanked 80 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? do switchcraft switches fit into the epi's with no drilling or do you have to widen the hole..

03-30-2012, 05:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
KP Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kalifornische Demokratische Republik Core Club ® Posts: 13,661 Thanks: 1,117 Thanked 824 Times in 131 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? This one is not bad. USA Style Les Paul Toggle Switch- Chrome __________________ "Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything." .... Wyatt Earp "I want you to be nice until it's time to not be nice." .... Dalton "Free the two." .... KP 01110011 01101000 01110101 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01110101 01110000

03-30-2012, 05:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
cherryles Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 78 Thanked 114 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? My toggle switch on my epip lp standard started acting up only 6 months after purchase, apparently there known for it, i fixed it but have a switchcraft ordered as ive had to fix it again since, i just took the switch out without disconnecting any wires, got a flat head screwdriver and prised the switches contacts closer together to increase the pressure the contacts make against each other when the switch is engaged as thats what was causing the problem, i also gave the screws another twist as far as they would go, its hard to explain this procedure properly in words, a video would be much more usefull to you if i had one but i dont, order a new better quality switch as it will only be a reoccurring problem

03-31-2012, 07:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
rayspang Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 372 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pickup selector giving me grief- any advice? contact cleaner from radio shack fixes this problem sometimes.

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