I'm having another sense of humour failure with my Les Paul. This will be the third switch its had since I bought it in 2010 - the original was shonky from the box.
Its got a Switchcraft one in there (that replaced another Switchcraft one) and its cutting out when you flip to the neck pickup. Multiple flicking brings it back only for it to crackle/crap out - its usual modus operandi. I've tried rebending the leaves - the issue returns. I also leave it in the middle position when not in use (I think that was advice from here) and I'm not exactly heavy handed with it, plus I don't use it as a kill switch etc...
My SG doesn't do this. So why the fuck is the Les Paul such a PITA? And can anyone recommend a replacement switch that won't crap out, please?
Never Ever Bloody Anything Ever.
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It sounds like yours may have a bit of dirt or corrosion in the contact points - try cleaning between them with a piece of very fine sandpaper, some Servisol (you've probably tried that), or (you'll love me for this )...
WD-40 .
I haven't ever come across a Switchcraft that needs replacing for this reason. A few where the toggle has broken off, and one or two because the leaves are so mangled by repeated attempts to get them to press together harder that it's just too difficult to get them to work right again, but not one that has ever had an incurable contact problem when it's otherwise sound.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I'm just fed up with having to do this and wondered if there were any better quality switches out there that I hadn't heard of...
Oh, someone might be able to help on this one! Sorry to jump on the thread!
My Les Paul Tribute 2017 is almost perfect, the only thing that annoys me is that the middle position has to be selected VERY carefully...slightly towards to bridge pickup and it will select that, even though it is is actually still in the middle.
It is not a big deal, but anything I can do to deal with it simply?
In in my experience - the long frame switch is better quality. The short frame switch generally feels looser whereas the long frame is more rigid. The leaves bend easier and go out of position easily too.
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In fact, I think the one that's in there was even supplied in Gibson branded packaging... maybe that's the problem! ;-)
Intermittent functionality is almost invariably due to contamination, corrosion or condensation. As ICBM says, clean the contacting faces of the sprung leaf contacts.
Flip the switch to part one pair of contacts. Spray into the gap. Flip the switch to part the other pair of contacts. Spray into the other gap. Waggle the switch to spread the contact cleaner lubricant where it needs to go.
In extremis, it is possible to dismantle the switch entirely.
On the other hand, my SG (which is six years older, has been gigged far more and has had a much harder life) has never needed *ANY* maintenance on the switch. I guarantee that I can pick it off the wall (it hangs next to the Les Paul) and it'll be perfect. I can almost guarantee that the Les Paul will be intermittent - it has been since moment one.
Why?
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The original in my not-to-be-mine-for-much-longer 54 year old 335 still works perfectly....
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