Electronics Help

[GSFV]

Please help if you can. One of my guitars is acting funny, and I need it Friday and Sunday for gigs. I have others but would prefer to use this one if possible. Earlier in the week everything was normal. But went to play tonight and ran into issues. Thankfully I had a spare handy.

Here’s the guitar:
2 P90s, VT/VT pots, 3 way toggle (typical Gibson style controls)

Here’s the problem:
In the neck position signal is VERY faint. But still fully bright.
Middle position sounds exactly like a bridge should
Bridge sounds normal (in this case no change from middle position)

If I put pressure on the neck volume pot, the volume jumps back up but is almost a little duller sounding. Like tone pot rolled slightly off. Maybe. Could be my imagination.

Switch down to middle, normal. Switch to bridge, normal.

Back up to neck and the volume is gone. Cycle resumes.


Any insight?? I’ve always felt the toggle was a little wobbly, not secure/tight when switching between positions.

Swap out the neck pot? Swap the switch? Do both and call it a day? What do y’all think?

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Maybe ask a Mod to please move this to 'tech shop'.

Those with the knowledge are more likely to see it there.

Good luck.

 

[AcornHouse]

Sounds like a broken solder joint in the neck pickup ground at the volume pot. I'd add a touch of solder, if you have that ability. No need to swap out the pickup.

 

[GSFV]

Maybe ask a Mod to please move this to 'tech shop'.

Those with the knowledge are more likely to see it there.

Good luck.

Thanks! I agree, it should be over there. I forgot about that forum. I'll create a new one and post the link below in case someone comes across this one.

 

[GAD]

Moved.

 

[GSFV]

Moved.

Thank you!

 

[Nuuska]

One more thing

Some people have their radio - guitar - etc - controls always in same position of knobs.

THAT causes oxidation which normally gets wiped away when turning pots.

AND - when they some fine day decide to adjust a little . . . problems start.

Even the cheapest potentiometers can take way over 10 000 turns before stariting to loose connection

Even the best potentiometers start oxidicing if not tweeked regularly.

Same goes for switches.

Therefore I URGE YOU to turn all controls at least 50 times back and forth - then see what happens.


In case your specific problem w this guitar is a bad solder joint, you have only loosed few minutes of your time following my idea.

Good luck

 

[mellowgerman]

Given your comment on putting pressure on the neck volume pot (I'm assuming you mean downward pressure on the pot shaft?) causing the volume to come back a bit, my first thought was that the neck volume pot was damaged by removing a press-on style knob... that can sometimes pull the shaft out of the assembly and cause bad contact with the wiper inside the pot. When this has happened in the past, I've actually had luck opening up the pot and reassembling it to fix the problem, but that doesn't always work, depending on the construction of the pot and the extent of the damage.

That said, I might be misunderstanding/misimagining what you mean by putting pressure on the pot, so it is indeed possible that it's an oxidation issue that could be cured by a series of turns or a bad solder joint. If the shaft damage issue above does not apply and the pot turns don't help, I would look at the solder joints and see if there's any obvious issue. If not, then just redo each solder joint and see if the problem is fixed. If not, it's most likely just time for a new volume pot.

Hope that helps!

 

[GSFV]

Sorry. When I say pressure I mean I can tap down on the top, OR turn the knob up (even after it’s maxed out). I ran into some issues in trying to swap parts. Mostly that I didn’t have what I thought I had.

I did however, have deoxit. So I hosed out the inside of the pot and also down into the 3way toggle. It seems to be working right for now. But if it continues I’ll be swapping out the pot.

I appreciate y’all’s help. Not sure why I didn’t think of deoxit first. but y’all’s suggestions of cleaning got me there.