The middle pickup (SCN) on my 57 Hotrod has become intermittent. It doesn't really cut out when I'm playing in that position. But doesn't always work when I switch to it. It could be the switch, it could be the hook up wire (Fender always leave loads on there). It could be the pickup.
I haven't had it apart and taken a look.
It's not really a issue. I've a spare SCN and a spare switch.

Here's what I want the opinion on. The guitar is under warranty. Return or repair?

I'm more than capable of repairing it, but want to know what you'se lot out there would do. I know what I'll be doing.

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No no and no

I would give it to them, you never know what could happen when you start dicking around. I've induced faults while troubleshooting before

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Well, I'm sure you could repair it.....BUT....there's always that small chance that
something could hiccup and that might void your warranty.

So, I think I'd use the warranty. YMMV?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Frankly, I think that pickup's terminal on the 5 way is bottoming out against the shielding paint of the body directly below it.

As I've said many times before, if you even look at any of Fender's Noiseless series stacked HBs the wrong way, they fall apart. So, if my first paragraph is accurate, you're safe. If you find that it is the pickup itself, return the guitar.

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You dig?

Nick...for me it would depend on how much time the warranty has and how easy it would be to get the store to fix it under warranty....if there's not much time left or it would be more trouble than it's worth,fix it.

I would repair it when its time to change the strings Im sure you would do a better job of it than someone else and who knows when you,ll get it back.

Hi Nick,I have full faith in your ability to do a fix but if it does prove to be a baffed out part and there's evidence that you were at it they may void the warranty.Some companies are sticklers about having only factory authorized dealers and techs doing any investigations.For that simple fact I'd return it to the dealer for a check out and that way you can save your spare parts for another project.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Whenever I own anything that is still under warranty and is having a failure/issue, I'll take it back to the authorized service center and say, "Here's the main problem; while you're fixing that, will you please give it the once-over and make sure there are no other issues?"
I had a tech find a problem with my car that would have cost me $3500 (which I think is something like 4 quadrillion lira or something) by doing that.
Also, if there's an underlying issue that caused the pup to fail, that will be addressed at no extra cost to you.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

+1

Words of wisdom from our resident pickup "boss".

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Niki, if it is still under warranty that is the choice, because, Fender will use that information.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Let them do it. That way, if it goes wrong again, it's on them to make it right.

P.S. sent out an email to you guys re the meet...corrected address for my friend.

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

Ok so we can safely say that most American guys would send it back for repair under warranty. Yes?

Moving on, can we hear from people from other nations.
(not holding it against you fellows. Just trying to gee up the rest of the world a bit)

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No no and no

Nik,
Open it up and take a look. Could be a bad connection or dust. If you feel confident doing the work yourself, by all means fix it yourself. If you don't feel like messing with it, or spending your own money on it, have the repair team do it. That's what I would do is look at it myself first. Sorry this happens to be another American opinion (lol).

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Knowing the fact that me and tools don't mix well together (infact if you see me with a tool... RUN ) I would take it to nearest dealership, especially if the guitar is still under warranty.

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Deyr fé
Deyja frændr
Deyr sjálfr ið sama
En orðstír
Deyr aldregi
Hveim er sér góðan getr

Return it (and ask the shop for a loaner!). I completely agree with Martian.

I dont doubt for a second you could attempt a perfect repair, but the SCNs are a nightmare. I had the same problem, on one of a virtually brand new Mod Shop set of SCNs. The lead out to terminal wire was too short and under stress. A breeze to sort - unwind one coil and re-solder. Except those damned SCNs are completely sealed.

I'd mislaid my receipt, so my Tech said he'd try and sort it. His view was that if someone could put the pickup together, he could unpick it. So with suitable warnings he tried - and completely failed. The damn thing just fell to bits. One of my Strats is now only 2/3 noisless lol..

Don't mess with 'em. Let Fender foul it up and end up putting on a new p/up.. Thats my advice!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!