Toggle Switch Issue on Epiphone Les Paul

[cricket_mstr]

G'day I'm new to this forum, so hello from Melbourne, Australia

I've had an Ephiphone Les Paul for about a year and a half now, but today was the first time I noticed the toggle switch messing up. For a while the bridge pickup was struggling to get any sound on the treble and middle setting. The neck pickup was also getting a fair bit of sound on the treble setting which it normally doesn't.

It was great that after I put it down for a while and picked it up later it started working back to normal, but I'm not convinced that I can rely on it not to mess up.

I reckon I'm good at playing guitar, but in terms of reworking a guitar's setup I'm an absolute beginner. I changed the strings on it for the first time yesterday (I'm not sure if this is related to the toggle switch problem or not).

I've read some threads about toggle switches and people talk about replacing it manually or cleaning it.

My questions are I guess: Is it worth it to open up a guitar when you don't know what you're doing? Is there a good website out there or thread that shows how to change a toggle switch? and may it just need a clean?

Cheers,
James

[07LPStandard]

The switch is relatively easy to work on or replace. Simply remove the 3 screws of the switch cavity cover to access it.

If you know how to solder, then I reccomend buying a new Swichcraft switch and installing it. If not, I would take it to someone and have him install it. The stock switch is not very good and it's simply not worth cleaning.

[NoStatic]

James- toggle switches seem a common failure on Epis. I fixed one for a friend recently- he had bought a new switch. It didnt fit. Be aware that the switch is a metric sized switch in an Epi- an Imperial (gibson or gibson aftermarket like switchcraft ) switch wont fit through the hole in the top of the git. You can widen the hole a little. Dont drill - use a file or sandpaper round a pencil, work from the back. Be careful.

But I fixed that one, possibly temporarily, simply with contact cleaner. Get a can of electrical contact cleaner, remove the backplate and hit the switch. Do the pots at the same time.

If that doesnt work, change the switch. Simple job- just get the right part.

[TeleDog]

I had an Epi LP and the switch started giving me crap right away! So... replaced the darn thing with a switchcraft, problem solved.

They put some crappy parts on those Epis or so it would seem, so, you might as well go and get a new jack and new pots and caps while you're at it, if you wanna upgrade all those things and get rid of the less-than-quality stuff.

[Raz59]

Yep, same thing happened to my guitar. Some positions had low output even though the volume was on full blast. Now I have a long Switchcraft and seemingly no problems...

[GerryL98]

It should be covered under the lifetime warranty. Just bring it back to the dealer. They should be able to take care of it for you. I had an issue with toggle switch right out of the box. Just need to toggle back and forth every once in a while. I almost always use the bridge pickup so it doesn't really bother me that much.

[Dolebludger]

In addition to my Epi LP, I have a number of other guitars. Some are higher-end brands, and I have owned some for in the 30 to 50 year range. I have found that using contact cleaner on these switches is sort of like changing the oil in your car. Just routine maintenance. I realize that a lot of Epi toggles have broken, so replacement is not a bad idea. But as your problem is intermittent, it sounds more like dirty contacts to me. And cleaning these is just maintenance.

[Dkr84]

The toggle switches on Epis aren't the best. When I switch to neck pickup it occasionally doesn't put out sound. I just have to switch it to bridge then switch back.

[TinyBlackCat]

I've this problem too. Have to keep switching it to make it work. However it tends to happen more at home then during jamming practices. I guess it's related to the larger force i used to change the switch during jamming.

[edselman]

I bought a new Epi Sheraton about two months ago and the switch is now starting to go. It seems like a common problem. While I am at replacing it, I will probably yank all of the electronics and upgrade. Love the guitar though.

[jonesy]

The switches that come in the epi's are pretty cheap and upgrading them is a good idea if you plan on keeping the guitar. Also epi's are not wired up like a Gibson so when you upgrade keep that in mind.

I have also learned that the paint inside the epi switch cavity is often conductive, so if any part of the switch lugs or bare wires are touching the cavity it will cause a short. The switch craft switches are slightly bigger so you allow for that when mounting the switch in there. I normally take a needle nose pliers and carefully bend the switch tabs out to the sides to keep them from hitting the sides of the cavity.

[toa]

Hi I have a problem my lp custom i got yesterday and when i put it from middle to rythem it makes a poping noise somtimes is it normal or should i get it replaced because its under warranty

[MyLeftyPaul]

Hi toa, firstly, the thread is more than two years old. Imo, you just have to refer to this kind as reading material/reference. That being said, better create a new thread than resurrect this one. Anyway, just an advice.

Off to your question, switching it up and down should be making that popping sound like all other switches does. Unless when you switch it up/down and pops back to the middle, or worse it makes no sound, then it's a different story. But if it stays up/down when you switched it then you should be fine.

[Paul]

could just be dirty, I find spraying a bit of lens cleaner (not water) into the top of the toggle and giving it a little work back and forth fixes it, if not I'm in melb too, if you feel like coming over to hoppers crossing I've got a couple spare toggle switches and I'll chuck a new one in your Epi for free.

EDIT: Wow, I just read how old this thread is