Problems with Strat.. Help!

Hey guys,

I've been having some problems with my MIM Reverse Headstock Strat. Simply put, my neck pickup doesn't produce any sound on 5th position when it's selected on the 5 way switch. On the 4th position, it sounds normal. Here's a video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk8-af8nneY

I've gone through great lengths to take pictures of how it looks like under the pickguard. Mind you, this is the first time I've ever done any fiddling with my guitars other than aesthetic upgrades, so I'm not very knowledgable about the technicalities of guitars. With that said, I do know part names and a basic understanding of whats under the hood of a guitar.. just not the physics behind it.

In anycase, the pictures are here:

http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a101/cnanime2000005/strat%20help/

I've consulted a co worker of mine who is knowledgeable with guitars and from first glance he told me either the pickup is dead or it might be a wiring issue. I just hope its a wiring issue... I don't know how to do readings for the output of the pickups or what not so hopefully it won't require that much technicality..

Help!

Update:

Hey guys, so new update.

I hate to beat around the bush and it sounded like it was for sure that it was a problem with the switch.

So I took the strat into the repair shop to get it replaced.. its a simple $20 job the tech said. I'm like fine.. since I don't know how to solder stuff together nor do I have any tools. The tech said he'd check up on it just in case. So three days later, he calls me back saying my neck pickup is dead. I'm like.. 'what gives?'.

So I don't know what to do right now. I was pretty sure that it was a switch problem since I could still hear resonance when tapping the neck pickup. It was still active in any other position other than 5th. So the guitar is in shop now and I don't have access to it. He gave me three options:

1) to take the guitar back
2) to order a new pickup thru the store and get it replaced (heh, yeah right)
3) bring in all the necessary materials and just pay for labour (most likely option if pickup is the case)

so... what do I do :(?

Well, since half the board is going to say it anyway, let me be the first!

Get a Tele.:mrgreen:

When did the problem start? Did you do anything that might have initiated the problem or did it just start doing it on its own?

Try this: with the guitar plugged into your amp, put the switch in position 4. Tap on each pickup. You should hear it through the amp on each pickup. If the neck pickup is dead you won't hear anything from it in either position. That'll give us an idea of where to start.

I have 2 tele's actually that I'm very proud of owning.

A Fender TC-90 (don't know if this one counts) and a MIM 69" Thinline Tele Special (the one with flames!).

The problem started on its own.. I treat my guitars with utmost care so I would never do anything to make it cause problems.

And to follow up, I've done what you've said. On the 4th switch, i can hear feedback from the amp when i tap on each pickup.. including the neck. On the 5th switch.. nothing at all (from no pickups).

Could it be the switch?

I have 2 tele's actually that I'm very proud of owning.

A Fender TC-90 (don't know if this one counts) and a MIM 69" Thinline Tele Special (the one with flames!).

The problem started on its own.. I treat my guitars with utmost care so I would never do anything to make it cause problems.

And to follow up, I've done what you've said. On the 4th switch, i can hear feedback from the amp when i tap on each pickup.. including the neck. On the 5th switch.. nothing at all (from no pickups).

Could it be the switch?

if you can hear the neck pickup when you tap it on the 4th pos., then there is a good chance your switch is poop, or!!! maybe there is a short.

if you have a ohmmeter, check the continuity between the lag on the switch in 5th position and ground. maybe a wire has come in contact with it, or one has fallen off. if you get zero or open, then you have a problem.

you can always measure the pickup too.

if fyou don't have these tools, or have no idea what I'm talking about, you might want too go to a tech or buy a knowledgeable buddy a beer.

if you were near Trenton Ontario, i would look at if for you.

g.

Yep! Since both pickups are working at position 4, the switch is going to have to shoulder the blame. Could just be a piece of gunk worked its way in there. Might just need a good cleaning.

OK, now, you've gone and done it! You have to post some pics of your Teles (and your Strat as well) especially the flamed one. Those are so cool. I'm not a huge fan of flames, but I'd love to get ahold of one of those.

My guess would be the switch. Is the guitar still under warranty???

If you want to get into it, a basic multimeter (ohmmeter) is really cheap. Probably worth the investment just for checking batteries and such.

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.

I'll get that switch looked at first thing now that I have confidence what the problem most likely is.

As for the ohmmeter, it would be a worthless investment on my part because I wouldn't know how to use it (with guitars!)!:smile:

This ones for you Merlin:

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/3674/p1030632es1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2726/p1030645ud6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/9468/p1030639pe3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And the trio in action!

Nice family. Love that Tele. Probably should have bought one of those instead of the Esquire. Not that I don't love my Esquire, just that those flamed Thinlines were a limited run.

I have a jazzy and tc-90 that I was talking about as well, but yeah I always wanted a 69' thinline. The flames did it for me though.. I loved the design.

THanks for the help everyone.

Is that the woodgrain showing through the flames? I've never seen those. Nice!

I think it's the switch as well.

I'll but the strat from you if you don't want it anymore :]

I've seen this many times in NEW switches. Most of the time the lug that corresponds to the neck pickup in the 5th position isn't quite making contact with the swiper. I've found many people have this problem. Any way if you can find the correct one, you should be able to move the switch to another position and carefully bend that lug down so that it will make contact with the swiper. Not sure if this is your problem but if so, you have an easy fix.

How's that bridge pup sound like that?

As for the ohmmeter, it would be a worthless investment on my part because I wouldn't know how to use it (with guitars!)!:smile:


Here's a Strat troubleshooting guide that makes use of an ohmmeter:
http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/electrical/trouble/strat.php

I grabbed a multimeter from Crappy Tire for $15 on sale.

Hey guys, so new update.

I hate to beat around the bush and it sounded like it was for sure that it was a problem with the switch.

So I took the strat into the repair shop to get it replaced.. its a simple $20 job the tech said. I'm like fine.. since I don't know how to solder stuff together nor do I have any tools. The tech said he'd check up on it just in case. So three days later, he calls me back saying my neck pickup is dead. I'm like.. 'what gives?'.

So I don't know what to do right now. I was pretty sure that it was a switch problem since I could still hear resonance when tapping the neck pickup. It was still active in any other position other than 5th. So the guitar is in shop now and I don't have access to it. He gave me three options:

1) to take the guitar back
2) to order a new pickup thru the store and get it replaced (heh, yeah right)
3) bring in all the necessary materials and just pay for labour (most likely option if pickup is the case)

so... what do I do :(?

I think it's the switch as well.

I'll but the strat from you if you don't want it anymore :]

I was thinking of selling it to get some $$ for a american deluxe strat but after it hit me sometime later that the sole reason why I got the guitar was to get closer to Jimi. Voodoo's were out of the question since they barely show up on ebay and theyre too pricey. So the mexican alternative was the way to go. It plays great too. You can snatch one on ebay for like $400 flat. The ones I've seen lately only come in black but the neck is soooo nice.. plays great.

I take there is no warrantee. Ok, it's $10 for a switch or $10-100 for a pickup. I'll bet you have a friend that knows how to solder. You want to sell it over a $10 repair?

I take there is no warrantee. Ok, it's $10 for a switch or $10-100 for a pickup. I'll bet you have a friend that knows how to solder. You want to sell it over a $10 repair?

I’m not selling my guitar for a $10 fix. I’m not selling my guitar at all. I said that if I were to sell it, it would be funding another purchase.. an american deluxe strat. I also don't have any friends who know how to solder... which sucks. If there is any forum member that reads this and resides in toronto, won't you be able to lend a forum brother a hand!

In anycase, the question of concern here isn’t that but what to do with the repair guy… help!

Soldering isn't rocket science and soldering irons are pretty inexpensive.
A quick Google search turned up these.


http://www.google.com/search?q=How+to+solder&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBF

I’m not selling my guitar for a $10 fix. I’m not selling my guitar at all. I said that if I were to sell it, it would be funding another purchase.. an american deluxe strat. I also don't have any friends who know how to solder... which sucks. If there is any forum member that reads this and resides in toronto, won't you be able to lend a forum brother a hand!

In anycase, the question of concern here isn’t that but what to do with the repair guy… help!

After reading your posts I was severely disappointed to see you took it to a shop.

If I understood this correctly, you tapped on the pup and it worked?
If so your tech is givin you the business...go pick the guitar up and do the job yourself.
If you can remove a pickguard you can solder a switch!
With the right precautions, you cant really screw it up.

The way I see it, you did all the trouble shooting already, AND youve recieved excellent advice on how to repair it and replacing it is only like 5 small solders away.
If the pickup is actually toast, youve got time to find what you really want and a better deal.
If youre going to continue to play guitar, to keep that one, or buy others in the future....your situation is a great one to learn how to solder.

After reading your posts I was severely disappointed to see you took it to a shop.

If I understood this correctly, you tapped on the pup and it worked?
If so your tech is givin you the business...go pick the guitar up and do the job yourself.
If you can remove a pickguard you can solder a switch!
With the right precautions, you cant really screw it up.

The way I see it, you did all the trouble shooting already, AND youve recieved excellent advice on how to repair it and replacing it is only like 5 small solders away.
If the pickup is actually toast, youve got time to find what you really want and a better deal.
If youre going to continue to play guitar, to keep that one, or buy others in the future....your situation is a great one to learn how to solder.

I think if anything its lack of courage and knowledge. I don't know the physics behind a guitar nor do I understand how to read schematics and am afraid that if I do something wrong, then it'll make my situation worse. Given my position and something that seemed rather inexpensive at the time.. I don't think the choice I made at the time was wrong.

But I guess one has to learn. I'd rather have a test object to play around with... and not actually one of my more prized possessions to do this on, mind you.

i agree with shortbus, first things first, this repair guy is giving you the runaround, i say go pick up your guitar and find a new guitar guy to go to for any future fixes who won't rip you off. as far as fixing your switch issue, go buy a $15 soldering iron and some solder and learn! it's really not hard at all (even if its the first time you've ever tried) and its a very very useful thing to know how to do, you'll be able to do all your own maintenance on your guitars instead of paying some tech $20 to do it every time. take this opportunity to learn while you have a reason to!