Troubleshooting help

[AniML]

I have a strat copy (G&L). When I switch to the bridge position, I get no sound. In the other positions, it is fine 90% of the time, but sometimes will intermittantly go dead for a few seconds and then continue working. Seems to me that it might be a bad connection or a short somewhere.

What is the best way to troubleshoot something like this?

What are common causes?

Thanx

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Troubleshooting help

It's bound to be a short.

Basically, I'd start with the connections to the dead pickup. Check each one, make sure that the solder is good. It might not hurt to just heat each connection to make sure its good.

 

[Artie]

Re: Troubleshooting help

One common problem is that you sometimes have a bare ground wire floating around inside the same cavity with a selector switch that has exposed "hot" terminals. If they touch, even a little, you'll get cut-outs. Try to make sure that no un-insulated wire gets close to hot points, like the 3-way/5-way selector or the output jack.

 

[AniML]

Re: Troubleshooting help

Thanks guys. It's been a while since i've used a soldering iron. How hot of an iron do I need for something like this? I'd assume one of relatively low wattage? Also, what kind of solder if it looks like the connections need to be freshened up?