Hello all...

New to the forums, and new to owning a Fender! Just got a Blacktop Strat with the Floyd Rose on it, was playing fine since the day I got it (Thursday). While practicing today, it seems to have just crapped out. I no longer have tone coming out of my bridge pickup, all of the other positions work, but there is no signal coming from the bridge. Neck still works, but certain combinations with the bridge does not mix. I can get outer coil, but no inner, and no full dual HB's (center). Is this a pickup issue or a switch issue?

Hope someone can shed some light, and thanks in advance!

Welcome.

Chance are, it's the switch. Select the bridge pickup via the switch and then pull up on the entire switch (as if you are trying to pull it off the pickguard). See if the pickup comes back on by doing this. Either way, we'll take it from there.

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You dig?

If your guitar has an S1 (push/pull) switch, then that's likely the problem. Those things are notorious for breaking. Since your guitar is new, I'd recommend taking it back to where you purchased it and let them check it out. Tell them exactly what it is doing. Take the purchase receipt with you, because you may be able to get it fixed under warranty.

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"It's about sound and sound alone. Looks are irrelevant. You can have the best-looking guitar on earth, but if the sound isn't there it is nothing more than a beautiful piece of trash. The sound it makes is the soul of any guitar."

Thanks for the response, guys.

I tried to pull up on the switch as suggested, but still no sound. And this is a standard 5 way with split coil options, so no push pull pots. But in any sense, it is brand new (haven't even had it for a week!) and we have an authorized service center here on island, so it is headed to them this morning! This was an on-line purchase from AMS, so sending it back is really the last resort. We'll see.

Thanks again for the support and will let y'all know what has transpired!

Good luck and yes, keep us posted!

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You dig?

This is what you have to do, if you want to figure it out for yourself. Even if youre going to have someone else do it, its best to isolate the problem youself, then you dont have to pay for bench time for someone else to do it.

Grab a capo first. Put your hands under the strings by the pickups, then loosen all the strings. Put some upward tension on the strings so they dont go everywhere, and put the capo at the first fret so they stay in their respecive nut slots.

Take the neck off the guitar, so you can take the pickguard off.

With the pickguard off now, and the selector switch set for the bridge pickup; start playing with the connections from that pickup.

-first at the switch, because thats usually the first bad spot.

-while you're wiggling the connections, use either a scewdriver, or just use the whammy bar, and tap on the pickup. (obviously the guitar has to be plugged into the amp or you wont hear anything).

-when you start hearing the pop from you tapping on the pickup; you've found where the problem is.

If you're okay with a soldering iron, touch the hot end to the solder, allow it to melt a bit. Let it cool, and tap on the pickup again(without holding the wire) to make sure the connection took.

If you're not handy witha soldering iron; close it up,put the neck back on, tighten it back up. Bring it to the person doing the work, and tell them where the issue is. If you're lucky, you'll get out of there just being charged $15-20 instead of an hour of bench time, which averages about $75.

Good luck

PS; it is the switch. I havent looked in a blacktop, but im sure its a mega switch, which means a lot of connectors.

Thanks for the little tutorial, sir!

I have already taken it in to an authorized repair center here on the island. Everything is under warranty, so free of charge. Guitar hasn't been in my possession for a week yet...it better be covered! Plus, after talking to the tech, and making small talk...you know...buddy him up a bit...He's gonna re-wire the whole thing for nothing after he determines what's wrong with it! Super nice guy & referred to by many of the guitar shops on the island for Fender Guitar work.
Will miss it while it is gone, for sure. But I got other guitars to take up the void...But damn, that strat feels awesome!

First Fender I own, after 29 years of playing. Just was never into the single coil guitars. Always wanted a Dave Murray, or Glenn Tipton type strat, with dual humbucker's. Then they came out with these...then later added in a Floyd...plus the splitting options...a very versatile guitar for the price. And yes, I have opened it up and it indeed is a 5 way super switch! Tons of connectors, jumpers, etc. I have worked on my guitars before, but I have never seen such an insane looking switch like this one! All of my other guitars are 3 ways, this is my first 5 way...I'll let the tech do it.

Thanks again for your help! Will post up pics as soon as I get it back, but I am sure it is a popular one...Titanium Silver with the Floyd and black pick guard. Thinking about putting a chrome pick guard on it. We'll see!