NGD! 1964 Starfire V
- Thread starter maddox9
- Start date
So I'm following up with some slightly bad news...
It seems as though the toggle switch is seizing up on me. When kicked into the bridge position, I really have to tug at it to move it into the middle position. I'm afraid that too much force will cause further damage to the switch or worse - collapse through the top of the guitar. I've got it in the middle position now, and thankfully due to Guild's wiring scheme, I'm able to just go back and forth manually by dropping the volume out on whichever pickup I don't want to use. Kind of a pain, but better than breaking something!
The other not-so-good news is that the bridge pickup *may* be problematic. It sounds great, but my tech had to jack it up pretty high AND raise the polepieces to try and get at least some partial balance between it and the neck pickup. Now I know the neck pickup is always going to give more output being in the position it's in, but I've played similar era SFV's and SFIV's that had much more powerful bridge pickups than the one in my '64.
What's the going rate for a 60s small humbucker? I haven't seen any on ebay in the past two weeks, which makes me a little nervous. I'm thinking that even if there isn't a legit serious problem with the pickup, I might shop for one anyway. Same goes for the toggle. Just trying to make sure I keep this thing vintage-correct in the event I've gotta do some parts swapping.
P.S. There is what appears to be a full wiring harness for a non-MV 60s Guild archtop/semi-hollow on ebay for $199 that hasn't moved since the auction opened. Is that something I should consider? Right now my biggest concern is the toggle because I want to be able to use it.
Thanks!
It seems as though the toggle switch is seizing up on me. When kicked into the bridge position, I really have to tug at it to move it into the middle position. I'm afraid that too much force will cause further damage to the switch or worse - collapse through the top of the guitar. I've got it in the middle position now, and thankfully due to Guild's wiring scheme, I'm able to just go back and forth manually by dropping the volume out on whichever pickup I don't want to use. Kind of a pain, but better than breaking something!
The other not-so-good news is that the bridge pickup *may* be problematic. It sounds great, but my tech had to jack it up pretty high AND raise the polepieces to try and get at least some partial balance between it and the neck pickup. Now I know the neck pickup is always going to give more output being in the position it's in, but I've played similar era SFV's and SFIV's that had much more powerful bridge pickups than the one in my '64.
What's the going rate for a 60s small humbucker? I haven't seen any on ebay in the past two weeks, which makes me a little nervous. I'm thinking that even if there isn't a legit serious problem with the pickup, I might shop for one anyway. Same goes for the toggle. Just trying to make sure I keep this thing vintage-correct in the event I've gotta do some parts swapping.
P.S. There is what appears to be a full wiring harness for a non-MV 60s Guild archtop/semi-hollow on ebay for $199 that hasn't moved since the auction opened. Is that something I should consider? Right now my biggest concern is the toggle because I want to be able to use it.
Thanks!
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
The switchcraft toggle switches are relatively good available, it's just a bit of a pain to get it out and in again...All goes through the f-hole...
Ask Hans, he might be able to sell you one:
http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalor ... php?id=130
Mini Humbuckers are much harder to find.
Ken Nash might be able to help. Make sure to specify if you need a Bridge or Neck one, they are different.
Ralf
Ask Hans, he might be able to sell you one:
http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalor ... php?id=130
Mini Humbuckers are much harder to find.
Ken Nash might be able to help. Make sure to specify if you need a Bridge or Neck one, they are different.
Ralf
matsickma
Senior Member
You might add a dab of machine oil and let it run down into the switch. Not to much. the problem is likely the little rubber cap down inside the switch that is used to hold it ina switched position is old and dry. The best approach is to pull it out and add a dab of machine oil or silicone oil to it. You don't want a lot or it will get slippery and not hold in the neck or bridge position.
In regard to the pickups try lowering the neck and tweek up the bridge.Pole piece adjustments can be made as a subtle change.
Nice guitar. Really cool tuners.
Good Luck,
M
In regard to the pickups try lowering the neck and tweek up the bridge.Pole piece adjustments can be made as a subtle change.
Nice guitar. Really cool tuners.
Good Luck,
M
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Maybe to demonstrate this with a picture, it's a Gibson switch here, but same principle of operation. You see that black looking part in the middle, that is a kind of plastic cap that sits on the switch stick from the underside and is moving the two contacts left and right. If that black plastic is old and broken or just loose, it might be the problem. You could take the switch out (which is quite a bit of hard work through the f-holes) and rotate it 90 degrees or first try with some silicone or pot cleaner spray through the switch hole, but just a little bit! :matsickma said:
Ralf
SFIV1967 said:Maybe to demonstrate this with a picture, it's a Gibson switch here, but same principle of operation. You see that black looking part in the middle, that is a kind of plastic cap that sits on the switch stick from the underside and is moving the two contacts left and right. If that black plastic is old and broken or just loose, it might be the problem. You could take the switch out (which is quite a bit of hard work through the f-holes) and rotate it 90 degrees or first try with some silicone or pot cleaner spray through the switch hole, but just a little bit! :matsickma said:
Ralf
Good visual! I think i'll give it a try. My guess is that I'll have to take the master volume pot with it? I just assume that these are wired in tandem as they go up towards the treble side horn.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Yes, have a look here, those pictures should help you.maddox9 said:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=28813
Topfin Airline Tubing (for Aquariums) is your friend to get the pot and switch back in!
Ralf