Noisy Guitar Pick Up Switch
-
- KVRist
- 223 posts since 2 Aug, 2004 from Boston, MA
I have a guitar that has a noisy pick up switch, and I think one of the pick ups is cutting in and out. I've never maintenanced the electronics of a guitar, but I did recently build a computer...should I start taking the guitar apart or should I take it into the shop? If anyone can tell me what the problem is and what to do, I'd appreciate it a lot. Thanks.
-
- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
go to the rat shack (radio shack) ask for pot cleaner, spray it liberally over all the contact points and work the switch some. If that doesn't work any switch can be found here, but remember they charge 6.50 for shipping so check your local store first. http://www.allparts.com/categories.php? ... e=SWITCHES
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
-
- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Take'er apart. 
Unlike PC repair, you might have to get your hands dirty with some solder. Well, don't take that literally. You don't want to drip solder on yourself.
I'm just a guitarist, not a guitar tech, but here's what I'd do:
First, I'd check my cables. If it's only happening while your switching between pickups, your first assessment is likely correct; however, always start at the easiest spot. It'll only take 30 seconds.
Next thing to do is get in there and have a look. It's pretty tough to screw things up just by peeking. If something gets disconnected, it was probably a pretty flaky soldering job to begin with and likely the source of your problem.
If a quick peek doesn't clear things up for you, there are a few other possibilities:
Look at the wires connecting the pots to the jack, making sure the jack itself is nice and tightly bolted together. If the wires aren't properly connected (the solder joint should be nice and firm and not allow for play right at the joint), this may be the source of your problem already. Clean it up with some alcohol just to be thorough. If this wasn't obviously the problem:
Dismount the switch itself (the knobbie is removable for sliding through the pickguard/body) and clean it with alcohol, making sure to be thorough. Sometimes it's nothing more than some built-up grit and skin flakes. While this should help if it's a dodgy switch, you MAY still need to replace it. Even good guitars need switches replaced sometimes.
While you're cleaning, this is another opportunity to take a closer look at the solder joints on the switch itself. If it looks like the solder itself is making the connection between the wire and the switch, you have a cold solder joint which is no good. Haven't heard of a cold joint causing 'crackles', but it's still something to fix.
Switch cleaned and switch soldering intact, have a look at the other end, where the wires connect to the pickups. This might be a bit trickier because the 'leads' (wires) are connected to the copper coil -inside- the pickup, so you may not notice by visual inspection that it's a bad connection. However, you MAY notice a dodgy connection if it's dangling awkwardly there.
All these things in place and looking OK, and having re-soldered any questionable connections, it might be time to see your guitar tech. Fixing a joint right at the pickup isn't hard if you're experienced, but for a newbie it might be safer letting someone else tackle it.
[edit: I was mid-posting when the other tip came up. By all means, use that switch spray instead of alcohol]
Greg
Unlike PC repair, you might have to get your hands dirty with some solder. Well, don't take that literally. You don't want to drip solder on yourself. I'm just a guitarist, not a guitar tech, but here's what I'd do:
First, I'd check my cables. If it's only happening while your switching between pickups, your first assessment is likely correct; however, always start at the easiest spot. It'll only take 30 seconds.
Next thing to do is get in there and have a look. It's pretty tough to screw things up just by peeking. If something gets disconnected, it was probably a pretty flaky soldering job to begin with and likely the source of your problem.
If a quick peek doesn't clear things up for you, there are a few other possibilities:
Look at the wires connecting the pots to the jack, making sure the jack itself is nice and tightly bolted together. If the wires aren't properly connected (the solder joint should be nice and firm and not allow for play right at the joint), this may be the source of your problem already. Clean it up with some alcohol just to be thorough. If this wasn't obviously the problem:
Dismount the switch itself (the knobbie is removable for sliding through the pickguard/body) and clean it with alcohol, making sure to be thorough. Sometimes it's nothing more than some built-up grit and skin flakes. While this should help if it's a dodgy switch, you MAY still need to replace it. Even good guitars need switches replaced sometimes.
While you're cleaning, this is another opportunity to take a closer look at the solder joints on the switch itself. If it looks like the solder itself is making the connection between the wire and the switch, you have a cold solder joint which is no good. Haven't heard of a cold joint causing 'crackles', but it's still something to fix.
Switch cleaned and switch soldering intact, have a look at the other end, where the wires connect to the pickups. This might be a bit trickier because the 'leads' (wires) are connected to the copper coil -inside- the pickup, so you may not notice by visual inspection that it's a bad connection. However, you MAY notice a dodgy connection if it's dangling awkwardly there.
All these things in place and looking OK, and having re-soldered any questionable connections, it might be time to see your guitar tech. Fixing a joint right at the pickup isn't hard if you're experienced, but for a newbie it might be safer letting someone else tackle it.
[edit: I was mid-posting when the other tip came up. By all means, use that switch spray instead of alcohol]
Greg
-
- KVRAF
- 1981 posts since 26 Oct, 2003 from Toronto
This might be a good place to ask...
I've got a Dan Electro guitar with a 5 way selector.
But if I set it on the furthest 'treble', I get a nasty hum. If I set it to second treble in - clear as a bell. 3rd in, I think there's a hum too, but then the next to 'beefy' switches are okay (to my ears atleast?) Could this be a pick up problem? I've tried it elsewhere, and it seemed fine on the amps and all. But soon as I get back home, there it is again.
Don't tell me it's a 'ground loop' problem.
I've got a Dan Electro guitar with a 5 way selector.
But if I set it on the furthest 'treble', I get a nasty hum. If I set it to second treble in - clear as a bell. 3rd in, I think there's a hum too, but then the next to 'beefy' switches are okay (to my ears atleast?) Could this be a pick up problem? I've tried it elsewhere, and it seemed fine on the amps and all. But soon as I get back home, there it is again.
Don't tell me it's a 'ground loop' problem.
-
- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
Single coil, electro magnet = noiseSteven West wrote:This might be a good place to ask...
I've got a Dan Electro guitar with a 5 way selector.
But if I set it on the furthest 'treble', I get a nasty hum.
2 single coils out of phae cancelling noiseIf I set it to second treble in - clear as a bell.
single coil3rd in, I think there's a hum too,
but then the next to 'beefy' switches are okay (to my ears atleast?) Could this be a pick up problem? I've tried it elsewhere, and it seemed fine on the amps and all. But soon as I get back home, there it is again.
try seperating yourself atleast 10 feet from your amp, single coils pick up transformers. Also make sure dimmers,, tvs, flourencent lights and such are off.
no, it's a guitar made of masonite that has the cheesiest pick-ups and the worst designed ones at that...that's a good thing thoughDon't tell me it's a 'ground loop' problem.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
-
- KVRAF
- 1981 posts since 26 Oct, 2003 from Toronto
I hear you Hink, that's why I opted for it.
So it's just the single coil jobbies then? Phew! Yeah, I got a couple of Zip drives nearby I try to distant myself from. Those are HORRENDOUS for generating noise for some strange reason?
But I always stick with the 'cheapos'. I like Gibson's and Fender's - but their sound is so 'typical' - but nice, for nice music.
So it's just the single coil jobbies then? Phew! Yeah, I got a couple of Zip drives nearby I try to distant myself from. Those are HORRENDOUS for generating noise for some strange reason?
But I always stick with the 'cheapos'. I like Gibson's and Fender's - but their sound is so 'typical' - but nice, for nice music.
-
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 223 posts since 2 Aug, 2004 from Boston, MA
Update: I've fixed my guitar merely by opening it up and touching the contacts with my right index finger. If this has never been reported before, I'd like to arrange for a press conference.
-
- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
-
- KVRAF
- 1718 posts since 3 Sep, 2003
Static electricity in the coils, making them more sensitive too radio interference?
-
- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
that's why I like EMG humbuckers (they do have single coils as well but the use rails under their cap instead of poles), they're active, low impedance (my pots are 25k) so I have significantly less signal loss over longer runs and the humbuckers are silent. I won't pick up my tv if I'm over ten feet away (three meters) from it.Pukeweed wrote:Static electricity in the coils, making them more sensitive too radio interference?
But everybody should make sure their electronic cavities are sheilded. Many guitars are not built this way, they'll have the back of the pickguard sheilded for grounding but that's it. Five bux gets you a roll of copper sheilding tape, you can do many guitars and it's nite and day. Just makes sure to overlap the tape on the body so the pickguard sheilding or sheilding on an electronics cover make contact. Also I think it's wise to ground your jack to the sheilding.
A couple of weeks ago I replaced my pots and swith's (5 way and a toggle to split one humbucker) here's a picture I took while it was apart to show the sheilding, sorry my camera washed it out some.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
-
- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Agreed, esp. for passive single-coil guitars. I had no access to the copper tape until I made a recent Stewart-Macdonald order, but you can get decent results with kitchen foil, too. However, it still won't save us poor CRT monitor users. Oh, to have 2 17" LCDs....
Greg
However, it still won't save us poor CRT monitor users. Oh, to have 2 17" LCDs....Greg
-
- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/parts/p ... _shieldingLunch Money wrote:Agreed, esp. for passive single-coil guitars. I had no access to the copper tape until I made a recent Stewart-Macdonald order, but you can get decent results with kitchen foil, too.
Greg
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
-
- KVRAF
- 1981 posts since 26 Oct, 2003 from Toronto
So this 'copper tape' could help me too Hink? And a buddy with a Telecaster with real bad hums till you put your hand on the bridge - this sounds like the remedy as well.
But he goes for his 'Gibson Les Paul' now for it's 'clean sound'.
(Maybe buy the Tele off him 'cheap - for parts'... Throw some copper tape in, and voila!
)
Thanks Hink!
But he goes for his 'Gibson Les Paul' now for it's 'clean sound'.
(Maybe buy the Tele off him 'cheap - for parts'... Throw some copper tape in, and voila!
)Thanks Hink!
-
- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
[quote="Steven West"]So this 'copper tape' could help me too Hink? And a buddy with a Telecaster with real bad hums till you put your hand on the bridge - this sounds like the remedy as well. [quote]
Not necessarily. ALL guitars will hum more until you make contact with the strings or bridge. That's where the whole thing gets grounded! To YOU! If you've ever looked into the guitar, you'll see that the ground connection will eventually be traceable back to the bridge and therefore the strings as well.
Where the copper shielding will come in handy is for reducing the amount of hum that's still present even when his hand IS touching the bridge.
Steven - I was aware of online sources, but I live in Canada. I didn't want to pay shipping and duty just for a roll of copper tape, so I waited for a parts order and included it there.
[quote]Not necessarily. ALL guitars will hum more until you make contact with the strings or bridge. That's where the whole thing gets grounded! To YOU! If you've ever looked into the guitar, you'll see that the ground connection will eventually be traceable back to the bridge and therefore the strings as well.
Where the copper shielding will come in handy is for reducing the amount of hum that's still present even when his hand IS touching the bridge.
Steven - I was aware of online sources, but I live in Canada. I didn't want to pay shipping and duty just for a roll of copper tape, so I waited for a parts order and included it there.