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Post subject: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 2:16 pm
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... a problem I'm having with this Strat Ultra. As I was playing, I switched to position 2 and noticed that there was no sound. Then I tried position 1 and no sound there either. Positions 3, 4 and 5 all work as normally. Last time I pulled the pickguard, I noticed that all the solder connections looked good...

What do think? Bad 5-way?

Here are some more pics:

Image

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 2:33 pm
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With the middle pickup working on position 3 I'd expect that to work (middle pickup) on position 2 as well.
Sounds like a faulty 5 way switch to me.


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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:41 pm
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That makes sense - the thought never occurred to me! Thanks! Either that or a joint that's gone cold.

I'm open for suggestions on what make and model of 5-way switch to get.

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:55 pm
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If the solder joint was poor then you'd have no output on the middle position either.
The CRL and Oak selectors seem to get the best comments out on the internet with regard to reliability.


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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:13 pm
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Many thanks for your help and advise! :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:58 am
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Last year all of a sudden the neck pickup on my Ultra went quiet, the others pups were ok. I took the pickuard off and had a look at the soldering and they looked okay. Still I added some new solder to the ones were the neck pup was connected but to no avail. Took the guitar to the shop were I usually go to see if the pup was dead. The guy redid every soldering just to check and the neck pup came alive again. He was quite surprised as for him too the soldering looked good. So I think you might check that first, even if you don't see anything fishy at first glance.


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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 4:03 am
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I had planned to do just that to start with. I worked for Heathkit for 11 years so I've done tons of soldering in my life. I'll just hit each connection again to see if it will work. as mentioned earlier though, the idea that 3 works, and 1 and 2 don't, would seem to point 4to a bad switch.

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:51 am
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Strataholic wrote:
the idea that 3 works, and 1 and 2 don't, would seem to point 4to a bad switch.

I don't have the Ultra wiring diagram, but doesn't that also point to signal cut (like bad solder, dead pup...) in the bridge pickup section..?


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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:30 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Strataholic wrote:
the idea that 3 works, and 1 and 2 don't, would seem to point 4to a bad switch.

I don't have the Ultra wiring diagram, but doesn't that also point to signal cut (like bad solder, dead pup...) in the bridge pickup section..?


Interesting yet unknown at this point. I should have a chance to go in tomorrow 8/11.

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:19 pm
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Strataholic wrote:
I had planned to do just that to start with. I worked for Heathkit for 11 years so I've done tons of soldering in my life. I'll just hit each connection again to see if it will work. as mentioned earlier though, the idea that 3 works, and 1 and 2 don't, would seem to point 4to a bad switch.

Wow Heathkit! thats a blast from the past, I did my first A/C D/C study from them, I even had two R/C systems from them(one was an escape, lol)


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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:53 pm
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Eroot64 wrote:
Strataholic wrote:
I had planned to do just that to start with. I worked for Heathkit for 11 years so I've done tons of soldering in my life. I'll just hit each connection again to see if it will work. as mentioned earlier though, the idea that 3 works, and 1 and 2 don't, would seem to point 4to a bad switch.

Wow Heathkit! thats a blast from the past, I did my first A/C D/C study from them, I even had two R/C systems from them(one was an escape, lol)


I was with them for 11 years and it was a total panic! I never had so much fun!!!

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:24 am
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I must be losing it because now everything is working OK... :oops:

I wonder is the wiring is correct however.

This is the way it is setup:

Volume controls volume however quiet at 1 and 10 and hum at 7 ???????????????

Tone 1 controls switch positions 5 and 4, and tone 2 controls switch positions 3 and 2. 1 is wide open.

Additionally, tone 2 controls switch positions 4, 3 and 2.

Does this sound like the correct wiring?

It seems that tone 2 is duplicating tone 1 and adding position 2. ?????

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:36 pm
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Yep don't forget that the second tone controls the mid pickup which is active in pos 4, 3 and 2 ...
there is always confusion as to which is position 1 e.g. is it the neck or bridge normally 5 is considered the neck and 1 the bridge.
No volume at 10 though sounds like you still have an issue somewhere possibly a crook pot but not definitively, this would require fault finding and a process of elimination. Check the switch as well.
For switch faults I always look carefully at the switch terminals e.g are they getting separated over time and does the wiper contact them as it goes thru.
If there are gouges in the wiper contact you should be able to see them and this would indicate time for a replacement. :D


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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 6:50 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
Yep don't forget that the second tone controls the mid pickup which is active in pos 4, 3 and 2 ...
there is always confusion as to which is position 1 e.g. is it the neck or bridge normally 5 is considered the neck and 1 the bridge.
No volume at 10 though sounds like you still have an issue somewhere possibly a crook pot but not definitively, this would require fault finding and a process of elimination. Check the switch as well.
For switch faults I always look carefully at the switch terminals e.g are they getting separated over time and does the wiper contact them as it goes thru.
If there are gouges in the wiper contact you should be able to see them and this would indicate time for a replacement. :D


Thanks for that advise.

I should have been more succinct. By quiet, I meant no hum. Sorry

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Post subject: Re: Help me diagnose...
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 2:38 am
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Ok I geddit.
Yeah I had a friends strat that was like that.
Replaced the pot. ... no improvement.
Still ..... never rule anything out :D


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