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Post subject: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:29 am
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Hi,

I have a Strat Plus from 1989, three gold lace sensors and TBX.
Recently both Tones are less brilliant, especially the Neck tone.
I have sprayed the 5 switch selector with special electric contacts cleaner I bought at my guitar shop and the crackle noise when switching positions went away.
The Neck Tone (the one closer to the Volume Knob) does not affect position 5 and 4 at all (Neck and Neck + Middle) while TBX does not affect 'too much' positions 1+2+3 (Bridge,Bridge+Middle,Middle) and the overall sound is less brilliant.

Should I spray the TBX and Neck Tone?
Is it time to have some of the electronics replaced? (26 years are passed..)

Thanks for any answer and suggestion you might provide.
Best Regards
Paolo


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:13 am
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If you use good contact cleaner with lubricant ( many of them are cheap and will not do the job ) you are able to clean all your pots and contacts .
No need to replace electronics like pots and switch if nobody mod them and / or break them

which brand did you buy ?
Did your guitar have any mods ?

You should know how to use contact cleaner and where to spray . Turn pots shaft at least 10 times for a good clean up , same for switch .


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:39 am
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stratele52 wrote:
If you use good contact cleaner with lubricant ( many of them are cheap and will not do the job ) you are able to clean all your pots and contacts .
No need to replace electronics like pots and switch if nobody mod them and / or break them

which brand did you buy ?
Did your guitar have any mods ?

Thanks!!!
My Guitar has no mods at all. I have to check the brand. I'll post some pictures later when I'll be home.

So far so good, happy that possibly no electronics replacement is needed. I have always thought that Pickups loose their 'original vibe' along the years that's why I thought that this applies to electronics like switches and tones.

Best Regards
Paolo

You should know how to use contact cleaner and where to spray . Turn pots shaft at least 10 times for a good clean up , same for switch .


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:41 pm
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StratPlus811 wrote:
[ I have always thought that Pickups loose their 'original vibe' along the years that's why

[/quote]

Never heard about that . Any link ?

I can't say if your electronics are good or not , a qualified tech can test it . But it is not because it more than 20 years old you need new pots and switch.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 11:57 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
StratPlus811 wrote:
[ I have always thought that Pickups loose their 'original vibe' along the years that's why



Never heard about that . Any link ?

I can't say if your electronics are good or not , a qualified tech can test it . But it is not because it more than 20 years old you need new pots and switch.[/quote]

No links. It's a word of mouth thing I guess... I am not a pro so maybe I was victim of those legends..
I think it's dust, grease and all can happen in 26 years. This weekend it's gonna be 'Miss Strat Clinic'... :-)
Change the strings, open the pickguard and spray all controls. Leave it there sometime and reassemble.

Best Regards
Paolo


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 6:05 am
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stratele52 wrote:
If you use good contact cleaner with lubricant ( many of them are cheap and will not do the job ) you are able to clean all your pots and contacts .
No need to replace electronics like pots and switch if nobody mod them and / or break them

which brand did you buy ?
Did your guitar have any mods ?

You should know how to use contact cleaner and where to spray . Turn pots shaft at least 10 times for a good clean up , same for switch .


Regarding the mods, no mods.

I have brought two cleaners actually.

1. is CRC Contact Cleaner : http://www.leroymerlin.it/catalogo/oliatori%2C-lubrificanti-e-sbloccanti/pulitore-spray-contact-cleaner-200-ml-30730511-p?trkp=NHx8cGFnZXx8MXx8cXVlcnl8fENSQ3x8b3JpZ1Bvc3x8MzJ8fHBvc3x8Nnx8

2. Perfect Universal Degreaser, bought from my usual Guitar Shop: http://panda-bg.com/en/product/Universal-Degreaser-PERFECTS-200ml-/471922/

To me they seem equal...any thoughts?

Best Regards
Thx,
Paolo


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:55 am
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I don't know these stuff , never heard about them.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:06 am
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StratPlus811 wrote:
CRC Contact Cleaner
Perfect Universal Degreaser
any thoughts?

The CRC is about similar to PRF (my favorite brand) 6-68; it cleans and evaporates completely. Spray inside the pot, turn it (0-10-0...) as many times as you have patience to :wink:
If you want to lube the pot, PRF 7-78 or similar would be the product.

That "Degreaser" I don't know.


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:36 pm
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jmattis wrote:
StratPlus811 wrote:
CRC Contact Cleaner
Perfect Universal Degreaser
any thoughts?

The CRC is about similar to PRF (my favorite brand) 6-68; it cleans and evaporates completely. Spray inside the pot, turn it (0-10-0...) as many times as you have patience to :wink:
If you want to lube the pot, PRF 7-78 or similar would be the product.

That "Degreaser" I don't know.



Thanks.
I have tested my guitar today with my Fender 65 Studio (same age as my guitar) and frankly the tone seems muddy. Tomorrow I will also change the strings and retry, after some CRC cleaning. I will open the bay under the pickguard so that I can spray with ease.

Best Regards
Paolo


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:45 pm
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StratPlus811 wrote:
[ . Tomorrow I will also change the strings and retry, after some CRC cleaning. I will open the bay under the pickguard so that I can spray with ease.

Best Regards
Paolo



If you did not spray from under the pickgard you don't do the job . You can't clean pots from the knob side .


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:53 pm
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Hi there I would go for a switch replacement first.
Check all the wiring of course and eliminate any bad connections in your case particularly the one across the switch.
Bad switches can produce some funny effects.
Visually inspect the switch and look for wear. It often appears as a groove in the gold wiper or splayed contacts.
It almost sounds like the tone selector side of the switch is not connecting.
It can be a process of elimination.
Failing that could be the cap.
It is unlikely two tone pots would go.
Hope that helps and yes I have heard of the ageing process of pickups but doubtfull in this case. :D


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 8:53 pm
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How long has it been since you changed strings? That may be at least part of the tone problem. Dead strings will make a guitar sound very dull.

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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 1:36 am
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Drew365 wrote:
How long has it been since you changed strings? That may be at least part of the tone problem. Dead strings will make a guitar sound very dull.



+1 first thing to do if stings are old .


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Post subject: Re: Strat Plus Tone
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 5:21 pm
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Yep sure of course.
I should have said go for the switch first after eliminating the obvious and cleaning the switch and pots.
A multimeter and a bit of knowledge would sort it if it were electronic. :D


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