3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

[SimonRenaud]

Ok... ill try to keep it simple n clear.

My 3way switch never totally kills both pickups. For exemple, lets say the switch is on the neck position. Everything is working fine. Then i role down to zero the neck volume. The bridge pickup still is sending a very weak signal. Kinda like if it was on 2 or 3 out of 10 on its volume. Same thing happen when the switch is on the bridge position and the volume is all the way down. We can still ear a very weak signal from the neck pickup..

**Set up : HMV humbuckers, 50’s wiring with independent volume. Orange drop cap. Shielded wires.

Does anybody recognized this issue and knows how to solve it ?

Thanks a lot
S..

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: 3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

I believe your problem is the independent volumes. Swap the in & out wires on each pot so the pickup output goes to the end tab rather than the middle, and the output comes from the middle terminal instead of the end. That solved the identical problem on my guitar and on the guitar of the person who posted this exact same question a month or two ago.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

I wire all of my guitars (over 50) with independent volumes and have never had that problem.

And if you think about it, it shouldn't/couldn't. When the switch is on one pup, the other is electrically removed from the circuit...the switch essentially "cuts" the wire from the pup before it can go anywhere. It doesn't matter if the vol pot is wired with dependant, independant, or voodoo wiring, the signal never even gets to the pot.

So I have to ask, what kind of switch is it? Is it a mechanical toggle switch like in a Les Paul? Or is it a circuit board? Is the switch very old/used? Does it have a sloppy soldering job?

If it is a LP type toggle switch, it could be that the thin metal contact strips are not completely disconnecting. That can be fixed by taking the switch out and bending the filaments, or by replacing the switch with a good quality new one.

 

[Artie]

Re: 3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

The only thing I can think of that causes this type of problem is a volume pot that doesn't go all the way down to "ground". Sometimes, a shot of Deoxit can fix this. Or, make sure you have a solid ground on the "ground lug" of the volume pot.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: 3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

Good point! The problem I was referring to should only occur with the switch in the middle position.
Sometimes the plastic tip is a little too thick at the bottom and it keeps the switch from flipping 100% of the way, which can physically cause the switch contacts from totally disengaging when in the neck or bridge position. Try taking off the switch tip and see if that solves it. If so, sand down the tip at the bottom.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

Good point! The problem I was referring to should only occur with the switch in the middle position.
Sometimes the plastic tip is a little too thick at the bottom and it keeps the switch from flipping 100% of the way, which can physically cause the switch contacts from totally disengaging when in the neck or bridge position. Try taking off the switch tip and see if that solves it. If so, sand down the tip at the bottom.

But it doesn't matter whether it is dependent or independent wiring.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

Guys, keep in mind that the OP said this problem occurs when only ONE pup is selected. NOT when the selector switch is in the middle position.

If the selector switch doesn't totally disengage the "off" pup when switched to either neck or bridge position, and if the switch contacts are not totally clean, then what Dave L. said in his last post is a possibility.

As Dave said, take off the switch tip to see if it is limiting the switch travel.

 

[Gtrjunior]

3way Toggle switch problem needs a solve !!!

Let me throw another wrench into the problem.
I have an Ibanez with a 3-way switch. It is a H-S setup. Right now there is no neck pickup installed. When I flip the switch to the neck position I can still hear faint signal.
I ordered a new switch and it has arrived, but I won’t be able to install it until next weekend. The neck pickup I ordered should be delivered tomorrow.

That said, I’m guessing the issue is not in the independent volume setup but rather something in the switch or as mentioned, the signal not 100% reaching ground.
In my Ibby, I have replaced all of the other electronics, so the switch is the final piece of the puzzle. If it fixes the issue, I’ll report back.