Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

[blackbear]

Has anyone ever had a shorted (defective) CRL switch?

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=3s_1v_2t_5w

I have it wired exactly like this Seymour Duncan diagram, but all the pickups are hot in all the switch settings. I just pulled the middle and bridge wires, so only the neck pup is soldered. Middle and bridge are dead, but the neck pup is hot in all five switch positions. This seems to defy physics, because there isn't any contact between the contact point and the sweeper in positions 3-5. Will include photos of neck pup contact with switch in position 5 (so there should be no connection) and the Stage 2 wiring of the volume and tone pots, which appears to be exactly like the SD diagram.

Any help hugely appreciated,
~ Blacky

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

It might not be happening at the switch. The tone pot with the cap doesn't look right. Looks like the legs of the cap are bridging across all the lugs.

Can't see the switch down at the blade level to see if there is solder or something in there. But could be that. All the tabs of the switch look fine otherwise.

You could try removing the jumper connecting both sides of the switch and touch the common to the jack, just to see if that side of the switch is ok. If it is, then it's the tone side of the switch that is messed up.

 

[blackbear]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

It might not be happening at the switch. The tone pot with the cap doesn't look right. Looks like the legs of the cap are bridging across all the lugs.

Can't see the switch down at the blade level to see if there is solder or something in there. But could be that. All the tabs of the switch look fine otherwise.

You could try removing the jumper connecting both sides of the switch and touch the common to the jack, just to see if that side of the switch is ok. If it is, then it's the tone side of the switch that is messed up.

Thanks for responding!

The cap legs are fine, well clear of the other lugs, and the (new) switch doesn't have any errant solder.

What seems weird is the sweeper isn't touching the contact I have the neck pup soldered to when the switch is in the 3-5 positions (as it shouldn't). You can see that in the first photo. In other words, the neck pup shouldn't be part of the circuit, but it still makes noise when I touch a magnet with metal. How can that be?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Are you counting 1 as the rhythm/neck position? The lug I'm seeing it soldered to I normally think of as the 5 / rhythm / neck position - I tend to think of 1 as the bridge position.

The only thing I can think of is your ground is acting like the hot signal, like maybe hot/ground is swapped somewhere in there, possibly at the jack. I've wired the jack backwards before.

 

[blackbear]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Are you counting 1 as the rhythm/neck position? The lug I'm seeing it soldered to I normally think of as the 5 / rhythm / neck position - I tend to think of 1 as the bridge position.

The only thing I can think of is your ground is acting like the hot signal, like maybe hot/ground is swapped somewhere in there, possibly at the jack. I've wired the jack backwards before.

The only problem before I swapped out the YM-50 for the CRL was a noisy/cutting out switch. I haven't touched anything but the switch. Can you see that the sweeper isn't touching the lug the pup is soldered to? The pickup is live on every switch setting. Even if the jack were backwards, that lug should only be in the circuit when the sweeper touches it. There has to be a short in the switch. I can't think of another explanation.

I cut bait and ordered a fresh YM-50.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated,
~ Blacky

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Can't tell from your photo, but it looks like your hot to the tone pot it also grounded.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Also some pretty bulky cold solder joints. You don't need blobs of solder if it flows properly.

 

[blackbear]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Can't tell from your photo, but it looks like your hot to the tone pot it also grounded.

I reinstalled the old (noisy) YM-50 and it works flawlessly. That CRL switch has a hex on it.

 

[blackbear]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Also some pretty bulky cold solder joints. You don't need blobs of solder if it flows properly.

I agree, they're nasty. The joints didn't look like that till about the fifth time I soldered them trying to get the bloody thing to work.

While I have your ear. When I reinstalled the YM-50 I tried jumping two lugs to connect the 5 position/clean Bridge to the middle tone pot. It worked, but then 1 position became a no-tone Neck. I saw a schematic for the CRL to do that, but haven't seen one for the sealed Yamaha/import switch. Suggestions?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

I'm not familiar with the poles of the Yamaha switch so I can't help there. Best thing to do is use a multitestor to check which pole does what (which poles are connected) as the selector is moved through its positions.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

^ yep, +1 on that. You might find the switch has some shorts in there....perhaps a blob of solder dripped into somewhere critical in the first pass.

 

[Artie]

Re: Weird CRL 5-way Switch Problem

Hey Blacky . . . it's not just the soldering, but the gauge of wire you're using is way too big. The torque of the wire on those fragile terminals could be part of the problem. Also, at this point, I'm thinking that switch is toast.

Where are you geographically? Someone here might be willing to clean that all up for you for the cost of shipping.