'59 cutting out mysteriously

[eric22rr]

Several years ago I installed (by myself) a '59 in the neck position of my GLP Studio. Recently, it has been cutting out: Suddenly the output will be drastically reduced. You can still hear the output, but only very slightly. I have removed and checked the switch and all other wire connections -- everything looks solid. I removed the pickup, inspected the wiring that goes to it, and the problem continues.

I have found that if I strum the strings extremely hard and just bang out a chord as intensely as I can (so hard that some of the strings brush up against the PUP), the output comes back to normal. It's almost the equivalent of giving your old VCR a got whack when it isn't working. Except in this case, it's a big, huge strum.

I'm wondering if sometimes the pickup gets "stuck" (whatever that might mean), and just requires a huge boost in the EM field (the sudden, intense movement of 6 strings) around the pickup?

Any ideas of why this is happening and how I can fix it?

 

[backinit]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

I have had that happen with a bad volume pot.

 

[cortmarshall]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

loose wire from one of the coils?

 

[eric22rr]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

loose wire from one of the coils?

Sorry -- you responded faster than I could edit the post. I checked all of the wiring, and it's all good.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

Have you check the amp and the cord. This strumming thing makes me think .....

 

[jeremy]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

is this a gibson style three way switch? ive seen this happen with those. some contact cleaner usually does the trick.

 

[Kam]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

Yup, this exact same thing is happening to me at the minute too. I was convinced I'd messed up the Custom that was in the bridge when I swapped magnets in it so I swapped it out for a '59 and the same thing was happening with that too. I replaced the volume and tone pots so really the only thing that it could be (for me) is the three-way switch. I'd check that out first if I was you.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

Several years ago I installed (by myself) a '59 in the neck position of my GLP Studio. Recently, it has been cutting out: Suddenly the output will be drastically reduced. You can still hear the output, but only very slightly. I have removed and checked the switch and all other wire connections -- everything looks solid. I removed the pickup, inspected the wiring that goes to it, and the problem continues.

I have found that if I strum the strings extremely hard and just bang out a chord as intensely as I can (so hard that some of the strings brush up against the PUP), the output comes back to normal. It's almost the equivalent of giving your old VCR a got whack when it isn't working. Except in this case, it's a big, huge strum.

I'm wondering if sometimes the pickup gets "stuck" (whatever that might mean), and just requires a huge boost in the EM field (the sudden, intense movement of 6 strings) around the pickup?

Any ideas of why this is happening and how I can fix it?

Sounds more like an intermittent short in the coil or the hookup wire. I had this happen to a 59b about 10 years ago.

 

[eric22rr]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

Have you check the amp and the cord. This strumming thing makes me think .....

Yes. The cable has been working just fine all along. Not to mention the fact that the bridge pup has been working totally normally.

 

[eric22rr]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

is this a gibson style three way switch? ive seen this happen with those. some contact cleaner usually does the trick.

I did a visual inspection of the switch but didn't see anything obvious (I checked it in different positions/moving it to make sure contact was made). But obviously, I can't exactly see the surfaces... I'll see if that works. Maybe just replace the switch altogether. As long as it isn't too expensive

 

[jeremy]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

when it cuts out, jiggle the switch and see if it makes a difference. if it doesnt then its probably not the switch

 

[eric22rr]

Re: '59 cutting out mysteriously

when it cuts out, jiggle the switch and see if it makes a difference. if it doesnt then its probably not the switch

I tried that -- doesn't make a difference. Based on what everyone has said, it sounds like it's probably the pickup. I still think it's really strange that slamming away at the strings is what pulls the volume back up to the normal level!