Right, the preCBS sunburst.
When I am playing solo type stuff, I tend to have a heavy right hand but I use my pad of hand behind my thumb to mute the bass side of the strings.
A weird thing is happening- occasionally, if I press the bottom E string against the pole piece of the neck or bridge pup accidentally, the whole guitar earths out and goes silent- well actually it crackles a bit too. I can't reach the middle pup pole pieces as I set the middle pup lower.
It is not specific to the active pick up either- it'll cut out whichever pickup I'm using and whichever one I press it against.
I took it apart, spray the various things worth spraying with Servisol I got blue tac and cleaned any errant wire wool filings out of the pickups, but it still happens.
I also check the jack polarity- it's correct.
The earth is also on the trem claw. All wiring seemed correct.
What is happening?
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Comments
Corrosion on the pickup wiring allowing the pole pieces to come in contact with the live side of the wiring. String then grounds the circuit, acting as a mute.
I've just used bluetac to get as much off as I could. I really don't want to rewind the neck pup- it's stunning.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Only if some of the insulating enamel has come off the pickup wire anyway, so no, that's doubtful. On a guitar that age, more likely just general wear and tear, sweat and beer.
No doubt Ash will be along shortly to advise!
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Lazy git.
I'd suggest it's bridge pickup that needs a rewind, as that's the one that is causing the muting. I would also guess it's the one that's most likely to have suffered corrosion, given it's the one nearest the players sweaty hands, normally.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Jazz it up with something sparkly, it's only an old guitar.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
That's why I was surprised you even had clear varnish.