One pickup position just died

[guitarman001]

So only a little maintenance needed but on my orange cu24 ( < 1 year old) today at practice the guitar went quiet on me in one pickup position! I opened it up before and blew any dust out. That worked for a week but it popped up again today.

Going to use some contact cleaner ... And maybe resolder connection if needed. I'll have to read up on guitar electronics (I work in electronics so shouldn't be too tough). Wondered if I should contact PRS but will try out the normal avenues first.

Anybody experienced similar before?

 

[ADP]

Check that there are no bare wires touching. I've had the same thing happen on a DGT where the metal shielding on the pickup leads were crossing in the cavity and producing strange sounds, volume drops and tone control issues.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I've had a connection drop out on a 513 (which is an entirely different beast inside), but not (yet) on a Custom 24. I agree with the advice to look for a short as well as a disconnect.

 

[Huggy Love]

When a switch or a jack gets wonky it's best just to replace it from my experience. Could be a connection, or the part could be wearing out, or faulty, but if you get it repaired/replaced by PTC, a pro, or yourself (if you want to master guitar repair enough do it right) is a clean slate and better than trying to breath life into old parts that are easily replaceable, a fairly simple operation. Hope this helps.

 

[guitarman001]

Had a look and never saw bare wires etc.
Going to try contact cleaner first.
There's not much in there, to be honest - can't imagine it would be that difficult to fix if I had to.
Just perplexed as to what it could be. There's no crackling or anything. Sometimes the sound just comes back on!!
It's 14 months old... wonder if I could get a free switch off PRS if I asked.

 

[ADP]

Check the switch in that position. Are the contacts touching? Is there a cold solder joint? Is there any sign of dirt or dust? As you say, it's not very complicated in there and should be easy enough to sort out.

I doubt if PRS would send you a free switch.

 

[guitarman001]

Couldn't see anything. I need to get some contact cleaner first.
I mailed PRS and they said since it's within the first two years of warranty, I could send it to them and they'd fix it... BUT I'm not keen shipping my pride and joy which might get dented when I can maybe fix it myself.
I also assume I'd have to pay for shipping which wouldn't be cheap?

 

[vchizzle]

You usually need to pay shipping to PRS. Yeah, it's a little pricey to ship for a repair that costs less than the shipping. I'd try re-soldering the wires to that pickup position, then replace the whole switch if that doesn't work.

 

[guitarman001]

OK update...
I tried the cleaner about a week ago and only just picked it up again.


I was using an old lead but I'm sure it's not the lead... I think... (for one because I got the problem at rehearsal using my good leads). In any case, this time it was the NECK pickup (not the neck-mid position like last time) that had the problem. It cut in and out a few times and then it was fine for the remaining hour.



I'm now not sure whether to just keep playing this one as much as possible until I can recreate this "error" again... Not sure if I should take this to the rehearsal (new singer) tomorrow.


Here's a reply I got from PRS Europe regarding this:


All the schematics are here:
http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics.html
There are 3 or 4 for the Custom 24 so keep looking till you find the right one.
It’s all pretty straightforward stuff but it’s hard to pin down when it’s intermittent; that is the only switch position where the bridge pickup is engaged in single coil mode so the first place I would look is in the signal path of the bridge pickup red (tap) wire. It could be a dry joint on the switch or possibly a mechanical issue like 2 contacts not touching firmly. Alternatively it could be a problem with the internal wiring of the pickup itself; if you can get it to go wrong again you should work out which pickup(s) is/are affected by tapping the pole pieces with something metal as this could help to narrow it down. Another possibility (if you are experiencing almost total volume loss) is that a stray earth cable strand is shorting out the signal so check that this couldn’t be happening too.
Good luck and keep me posted!

 

[shinksma]

I just posted in the List of PRS Pickup Specs in reply to your post there, but to continue here is best:

Yes, the pickups will be very close, but may not be as identical as measured in the second table on Page 1. Variations can and do occur. However, you have a much larger variation, which leads me to believe you have a stray/bare wire/strand grounding out either partially or totally.

I would do a few things to isolate:

1. Make sure it isn't the cable you are using. Because I've had cables fail "out of the blue", so just because it worked yestserday and you didn't "do anything" overnight, it might have just finally broken.

2. Test the resistance while pulling and pushing on the wiring - helps to have two sets of hands (I suggest you get someone's help rather than waiting to evolve a second pair... ) If you have a loose strand or bare piece of wire, it should present itself at this point.

3. Measure the resistance right at the pickups. if you can, disconnect/de-solder them first. Then you can wring out the remaining wiring point-to-point if the pickups measure good.

My guess is you have a bad/contaminated blade switch, since the problem has shifted and seems to be position-sensitive.

I do find the resistance measurement for the neck-mid position to be awfully low, and the rest don't look "right" either except the Neck by itself.

 

[Boogie]

Just buy a spare switch and try it out. Honestly, if you've ruled out shorts and solder connections, there's too much trouble involved with fully testing a blade switch. I'd do it with a Volt-ohm meter, but not everyone has one. Good luck!

 

[guitarman001]

Thanks guys.
I did try everything mentioned there (other than installing a new switch).
It's now in the shop's hands and they'll send to PRS if need be.

 

[guitarman001]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the guitar back from the tech and it's been fine for a month.
And now.... the sound DIES when I select neck-mid.
The tech cleaned the electronics and re-soldered joints.
I'm going to have to get it sent to PRS Europe for a fix.
It'd better be insured for damage during transit as it's my prize guitar.

I'm absolutely gutted and VERY disappointed, I have to admit. I suspect it's a pickup issue windings).
VERY disappointed

 

[AP515]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the guitar back from the tech and it's been fine for a month.
And now.... the sound DIES when I select neck-mid.
The tech cleaned the electronics and re-soldered joints.
I'm going to have to get it sent to PRS Europe for a fix.
It'd better be insured for damage during transit as it's my prize guitar.

I'm absolutely gutted and VERY disappointed, I have to admit. I suspect it's a pickup issue windings).
VERY disappointed

Bummer dude. Still I don't think it's the pups. Probably the switch.

 

[guitarman001]

Well the guitar store's tech has had it checked out.
I did tell him it was intermittent.
I'm sending off to PRS.
Total bummer incase anything goes wrong (shipping damage, or I get it back and it's not the same etc)

 

[guitarman001]

UPDATE:

The tech got on the phone to PRS Europe and they are going to send him a replacement pickup.


He gave them the serial number of the guitar so I REALLY hope they send the right one because 57/08s aren't for normal sale and I don't know how to verify that what is getting put in will be a 57/08 or not........ I mean seriously, how are you meant to double check that? I'd be gutted if they put a vintage bass or something in there by mistake. There's no easy way to check, right?

 

[Boogie]

Give them a chance to fix your problem. I've never been disappointed in PRS' support or service. And, to be honest, they're probably more concerned about fixing the issue than you are. :biggrin:

 

[Dusty Chalk]

UPDATE:

The tech got on the phone to PRS Europe and they are going to send him a replacement pickup.


He gave them the serial number of the guitar so I REALLY hope they send the right one because 57/08s aren't for normal sale and I don't know how to verify that what is getting put in will be a 57/08 or not........ I mean seriously, how are you meant to double check that? I'd be gutted if they put a vintage bass or something in there by mistake. There's no easy way to check, right?

As Boogie said, they should be fine. But if you want to pre-emptively prevent problems, have the tech measure the DC resistance before installing them.