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Take the pickguard off and connect the guitar to the amp. Set the switch to the neck position and turn the volume and tone up full. Touch the terminal where the neck pickup is connected. If it buzzes, the switch is fine and the pickup is dead. If not, it's the other way round.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
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In fact - that will help. Does the middle position give you just the bridge pickup, or both pickups with only the neck position being silent? If you get both pickups it's definitely the switch.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Lol.. good point.... Silly me.. Yes.. probably something at the switch end then...
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
My Youtube page
It's 4 conductor. Gibson colours so white/green together, black separate and red separate. If i'm on the bridge the red buzzes and black does not. On the neck the red buzzes and the black buzzes but not as loud.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
This is what it looks like on the switch. The black is attached in the same way as the bridge and that works fine. (I agree in advance, it's an overly complicated switch).
The neck pickup is the green/white on the left side and black & red on the right.
It's not an overly complicated switch, but the way it's used is - switching the black wires is completely unnecessary and just introduces this possibility. I would connect both pickup black wires directly to ground - just move them to the middle terminals if it's easier. The switching will still work correctly.
For what it's worth I would also connect both red wires to the unused terminals next to them as well as the ones they are now - that will also improve reliability.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Which pins do you suggest the reds are moved to - move both to the empty ones on the outside row or just the neck?
You could do the same on the green/white wires but it would make no useful difference since it would just guarantee each pickup would be split when it's not in use .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Very quick with the switch forward (should be neck), loud in the middle and loud on the bridge.
This is how it is currently wired:
Based on this wiring diagram:
http://www.dimarzio.com/sites/default/files/diagrams/2h1v1t_1ep1111web.pdf
I think the fault is in the black wire half of the switch. Move both black wires to the middle terminals where the thick black wire is connected. If you did that - or connected them directly to another ground - then the fault might be in the pickup after all.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
How does a pickup even fail - I guess it's most likely a connection on the pickup?
With old pickups, usually corrosion, especially on things like Fender pickups where the coil is wound directly onto the metal magnets, or old Hofners where the wire insulation itself chemically degrades, producing an acid with attacks the winding wire.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
If you want to be sure, try a quick test which will confirm if it's the pickup or the switch - swap the red wires and the green/whites so the switch works backwards. If the neck pickup is still dead (with the switch now in the bridge position) it's the pickup.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein