Switching out a switch

[HowieWowie]

Hey, I've got a Epiphone LP Custom Pro with a typically faulty switch. I've read here in several places to change it to a Switchcraft switch and that will fix it.

The wiring for the current switch doesn't seem to have enough slack to pull it far enough out of the cavity to work outside of the guitar, and the cavity is deep and narrow; would be challenging to solder in place. But where can I disconnect them at the other end? It looks like they run through the pickup cavity - do I need to pull the pickups just to change the switch?

Also, I looked on the Switchcraft site for 3-way guitar switches; they only had one with 5 terminals, and it's a different shape; longer I think, while my current switch has 3 terminals (plus the ground, of course). Can someone direct me to the right switch or tell me how to wire the 5-terminal one? (I need it in gold/brass).

Thanks.

 

[Oranjeaap]

What's the issue with the switch?

I had a faulty switch once, but on closer inspection it was a mechanical failure, not an electrical failure. One of the legs wasn't making contact and I could fix it just by bending it slightly back in place.

 

[HowieWowie]

It's unreliable; sometimes it works fine, sometimes it cuts the entire signal from the bridge PU and there's no sound at all coming through - also in the middle position it cuts the bridge. If I wiggle it, I get a tiny bit of static, but there's no way to reliably get it to work every time; after switching back and forth either once or a bunch of times, it will connect. I never know.

I read on other threads here that Epiphone switches are a known weakness. Some folks recommend spraying it with Deoxit and that fixes it, while others swear that the only fix is a new switch. Since a can of Deoxit is around $28, and a new switch is like $35, I figure why try to save $7 when the Deoxit might not work anyway? Just switch the switch. . . .

 

[DHart]

Yes, some Epiphone switches and output jacks can be a finicky or unreliable. They are the weakest elements of Epiphone guitars, but easily replaced.

Forget the Deoxit and go for replacement. Unplug the leads from the control cavity if you need more length to work on the switch outside of the guitar.

If the job feels a bit too challenging to you... just take it to a competent repair shop.

 

[BayouGTR]

When you unsolder the switch wires in the control cavity, securely tape a length of string or old guitar string to the end. Long enough so that when the switch is removed from the guitar for replacement you can pull the wire back when done. This way you won’t have to remove the pickups. And strings.

 

[WannaLesPaul]

May as well upgrade your wiring along with the new switch. Those long wire runs should be done with braided wire. You won't regret it.

Switchcraft Toggle Switch Wiring

Wiring diagram showing how to wire a Les Paul Switchcraft 3-way toggle switch using braided guitar wire, commonly found in Gibson guitars. The outer braid of the three lead wires are pulled back - the inner hot wire is soldered to the contacts and a fine piece of wire is connected to the ground...

sixstringsupplies.co.uk

 

[HowieWowie]

Yes, some Epiphone switches and output jacks can be a finicky or unreliable. They are the weakest elements of Epiphone guitars, but easily replaced.

Forget the Deoxit and go for replacement. Unplug the leads from the control cavity if you need more length to work on the switch outside of the guitar.

If the job feels a bit too challenging to you... just take it to a competent repair shop.

OK thanks. That's definitely part of the answer I was looking for - unplug the other end and get more slack.
The job does not in any way feel too challenging to me; thanks.

 

[HowieWowie]

When you unsolder the switch wires in the control cavity, securely tape a length of string or old guitar string to the end. Long enough so that when the switch is removed from the guitar for replacement you can pull the wire back when done. This way you won’t have to remove the pickups. And strings.

Great idea; I appreciate the tip. I was sure there had to be a way to just change the switch without taking everything apart; this does it.