schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

EmiAba

EmiAba

Active member
Hi guys
I have a sporadic problem with my Km-6 mark I. It's loaded with Black winter set, a master volume (push pull), a toggle three way switch and it's completely stock (no mod). Sometimes I had a volume drop when I switch from neck pickup to bridge pickup. in the middle position (both pickups in use) I have experienced no problem. A couple of times the bridge pickup was barely audible. In attachment few photos. Do you think it's the switch? Or bad connections?
 

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Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

EmiAba said:
Hi guys
I have a sporadic problem with my Km-6 mark I. It's loaded with Black winter set, a master volume (push pull), a toggle three way switch and it's completely stock (no mod). Sometimes I had a volume drop when I switch from neck pickup to bridge pickup. in the middle position (both pickups in use) I have experienced no problem. A couple of times the bridge pickup was barely audible. In attachment few photos. Do you think it's the switch? Or bad connections?
Click to expand...

In my experience with Schecters (I have three of them), their stock electronics are normally quite cheap and crap out pretty quickly. I'd honestly recommend upgrading not just the pickup selector, but the pot and the jack as well, and you should be golden.
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

bloughlin16 said:
In my experience with Schecters (I have three of them), their stock electronics are normally quite cheap and crap out pretty quickly. I'd honestly recommend upgrading not just the pickup selector, but the pot and the jack as well, and you should be golden.
Click to expand...

Could you be so kind as to tell me the specs of the potentiometers you use?
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

I'm leaning toward the toggle switch. When the bridge pickup doesn't work, if you flip the switch back and forth from neck to bridge, does that fix it?
Other than that, try selecting the bridge pickup and then probing around inside the cavity at the wires to see if you can get the output to come and go.

One final thought. When they start closing in on the $1000 mark for these imports axes, they really ought to have the decency to put a Switchraft toggle in them. Or in the very least, build a toggle switch overseas that approaches the quality of a Switchcraft ...
 
Last edited:
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

Darg1911 said:
I'm leaning toward the toggle switch. When the bridge pickup doesn't work, if you flip the switch back and forth from neck to bridge, does that fix it?
Other than that, try selecting the bridge pickup and then probing around inside the cavity at the wires to see if you can get the output to come and go.
Click to expand...

It's all strange. It seems an hidden failure. the guitar works properly almost for 98% of time I play it. I've visually checked all the connections. They are all ok. I did a continuity check with my multimeter on connections on toggle switch. No fault found. But this morning while messing around to check again the guitar, I inadvertently pushed the volume sideways and I got the problem back. If I roll the volume pot up and down it works properly but sometimes If I move it the output comes and goes. At this point I think the volume pot is about to break

Darg1911 said:
One final thought. When they start closing in on the $1000 mark for these imports axes, they really ought to have the decency to put a Switchraft toggle in them. Or in the very least, build a toggle switch overseas that approaches the quality of a Switchcraft ...
Click to expand...
The guitar is a dream, fantastic neck shape, it looks gorgeous and the black winter set gets the job done whichever is the style I want to play but I paid 1300 euro for this guitar (brand-new) and I agree with you, buying better pots and switchs would have been appropriate
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

EmiAba said:
It's all strange. It seems an hidden failure. the guitar works properly almost for 98% of time I play it. I've visually checked all the connections. They are all ok. I did a continuity check with my multimeter on connections on toggle switch. No fault found. But this morning while messing around to check again the guitar, I inadvertently pushed the volume sideways and I got the problem back. If I roll the volume pot up and down it works properly but sometimes If I move it the output comes and goes. At this point I think the volume pot is about to break


The guitar is a dream, fantastic neck shape, it looks gorgeous and the black winter set gets the job done whichever is the style I want to play but I paid 1300 euro for this guitar (brand-new) and I agree with you, buying better pots and switchs would have been appropriate
Click to expand...

If you can do the soldering, it's pretty much a no brainer just to replace the pot. If that's your number one or a gigging guitar, you may want to replace the toggle switch eventually as well with a Switchcraft. They are about $15. Gets expensive to replace all those cheap toggles if someone has a good number of guitars with them, but for gigging guitars or number 1's, it's probably worth it.
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

My number 1 guitar is the les paul in my avatar. But I take care of all my guitars indistingtly. I M going to buy a new push pull pot and a new Switch. My guitar tech will be happy...
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

You'll have to enlarge the hole, yes. A peg hole reamer is the safest. A regular tapered reamer works fine but can leave the edges a bit ragged. Drill bit is doable (I don't use one) ... be careful.
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

Darg1911 said:
You'll have to enlarge the hole, yes. A peg hole reamer is the safest. A regular tapered reamer works fine but can leave the edges a bit ragged. Drill bit is doable (I don't use one) ... be careful.
Click to expand...

Darg is right. I recommend taking it to a tech/luthier. It's usually the only way to get US-made electronics to fit in an import guitar.
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

EmiAba said:
This is not a good news.
Click to expand...

It's really not a big deal. You just have to enlarge the hole to about 3/8" (9.5mm). Peghole reamer, drill, whatever. Otherwise, just pick up a new Alpha push pull, or other import pot that has a 1/4" bushing. It will drop right in.
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

Running the 3/8" drill bit in reverse and not too fast makes reaming the hole out pretty easy and safe. Just to be sure though I always but some masking tape over and around the hole I am going to be enlarging.
 
Re: schecter KM-6 mark I wiring problem

So at the end I found out an Alpha 500k push pull pot and I replaced the faulty pot. Drilling the top of my guitar was pretty scared. Now all is ok. Thanks
 
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