Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

[KnotheadII]

I have set up Metcalf's Strat configuration found on the tech tips site
http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/spr99.shtml

I have no sound at all on the #2 & #4 switch positions?

what could be wrong? One each of those positions, it is using the Vintage rails in combination with another one of the pickups. if the VRs were bad, I would think i would at least get the sound of one of the other pickups.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Artie]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Boy . . . thats a weird schematic. The first question is: you do have the proper Mega-switch, right?

 

[KnotheadII]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Boy . . . thats a weird schematic. The first question is: you do have the proper Mega-switch, right?

Yes, I got the right switch. the S-style megaswitch.

I am open to going back to a more typical confirguatuion still using the S-Megaswitch. I thought this would be an interesting idea, but without being able to contact Metcalf, now i'm stuck

I'll take any help. Thanks

 

[Artie]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

There's a couple potential problems here that I see. The switch mentioned on the SD tech tips site, is called a "Schaller" Mega-switch, and the schematic shows 7 terminals.

The Stew-Mac S-style Megaswitch says its for standard Strat wiring, and has 8 terminals. Although, the photo shows only seven. (You don't count the ground lug.)

So, I'm not positive you have the proper switch. I'm looking over that schematic now, to see if you can do that wiring scheme with a standard 5-way. (Which is what your S-switch is.)

I'll be back.

 

[Artie]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Ok, so far, the whole thing is pretty simple, using a standard 5-way, except for one thing.

Having the 59 split while in the middle position. All the other combo's are more or less, standard 5-way.

I'll look at it some more, and see what I come up with.

 

[Artie]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Edit: The following write-up works, but not as described. I'm leaving the post intact for thread continuity purposes only.

I just can't post the diagram 'til I get home. (About 7 hours.)

Its simple.

Edit: I'll try to describe it, in the mean time.

A standard Strat 5-way has two independent switches. Each one has a "common" and three terminals. So, you ground the green and bare of all three pups. The Cool Rails and 59 are 4-wire, the Vintage rails is 2-wire. You short the red and white wire of the Cool Rails together and tape them off.

I'm going to call the 3 terminals of one switch 1a, 2a, and 3a, and the other will be 1b, 2b, and 3b.

The Cool Rails hot wire, (black), goes to 1a.
The Vintage Rails hot wire goes to 2a. (Not sure of the color on a VR.)

The 59 hot wire, (black), goes to 3b. (Note the "b"!)
The 59 red/white combo goes to 2b.

The two commons go together and out to the volume control.

Thats it. Film at eleven.

Artie

 

[KnotheadII]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Ok, so far, the whole thing is pretty simple, using a standard 5-way, except for one thing.

Having the 59 split while in the middle position. All the other combo's are more or less, standard 5-way.

I'll look at it some more, and see what I come up with.

thanks for your help on this. I doi have a chart that shows what the different switch positions do with the Megaswitch i have, but I am a newbie and don't know how to translate that. Let me know if any of that info would help. I would like to continue to use this Megaswitch if possible.

You have been great in yourt willingness to help.

 

[Artie]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Using the Megaswitch won't be a problem at all. You just have to wait 'til I get home to post the diagram.

 

[KnotheadII]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Thanks for your help. I'm not sure how the 1a, 2a, 2b translates into the 1-7 of the switch, but I assume that will be clear once you are able to show me a diagram later today.

I'm calling StewMac, though. I looked in the box and the instructions are for an E-switch. That's not what I ordered. Let me find out what I have before I dig too deep.

 

[KnotheadII]

Did some homework

Did some homework

Artie,

I checked with stewMac and I have the right switch -- it is the Schaller 105S, which stewMac calls the E-Megaswitch (for somne illogical reason).

I talked with their tech and he said if #2 and #4 are dead, it is more likely a dead short or bad wiring involving the Vintage Rail middle p/u -- which is the one at play in the #2 & #4 positions. Worse, of course, is a bad p/u altogether.

I am going to dig through the spagetti and see if i've messed up somewhere.

I'll keep you posted,. you have been a great help.

 

[Artie]

Re: Help ! Dead #2 & #4 switch positions

Yeah . . . I think you're right. As I double check my diagram, the #4 position is still not exactly correct. I'll look over that E-switch diagram.

 

[KnotheadII]

Bad to worse

Bad to worse

WEll, I redid just about everything and still nothing on #2 & 4. Worse, nhow the whole thing is shorted out somehwere so I don't even know where to start.

I'll still appreciate any help on the #2&4 issue, but I guess I have to buy myself a multimeter and relearn basic electronics.