I've got a 2010 MusicMan Silhouette Special. Very into this guitar.
The wiring is different than most in order to allow the silent circuit to work. It requires a 5 way superswitch in order to activate:
1) bridge
2) 1/2 bridge and middle
3) 1/2 bridge and neck
4) middle and neck
5) neck
I had a tech swap out the pickups it came with. The original owner had disabled the silent circuit and was using a standard 5 way with noiseless pickups.
I'm used to a Strat standard 5 way and have gotten a system of flicking the switch down pretty well. When I first brought the Silo home from the shop I was flicking from the 5 to the 2 position and hit a dead spot between the 3 and 2 position instead. No sound. I called the tech and he said that superswitches are more fragile than standards. Offered to either repair or replace the new one (Stu-Mac). At cost.
I tried to modify my technique and had some success. I didn't hit it often...but when I did, it sucked.
Called Ernie Ball/MusicMan. They said they'd never heard of that problem and it might be because I'm using an aftermarket switch. So I ordered and received one of theirs. I know the first tech I went to is good, but tried another this time.
He installed the new switch and said the old switch had been correctly wired but was defective. Showed me where there was a "loose" area.
I took it home and, two days later: same problem.
Sent an email, asking about the fragility issue, saying that I've had the same 5 way standard switch in my Strat for a decade with no issues. He said it's possible that I might be hitting it too hard (didn't weigh in on the fragility issue) but it also might be another defective switch.
Long story short: Anybody have a similar experience with a superswitch? Are they more fragile than a standard? If so, I'm seriously considering wiring the guitar standard and living with the hum.
G.A.S. = "Git a Sound"
Comments
Most likely one of the contacts is not touching a pin, I would open it up and see if you can bend the offending pin back or use another part of the switch to double up the connection (4 sets of terminals)
Explain what you mean when you say dead spot?
It's not there, even if I try to position for it, on my Strat's standard 5 position.
https://www.schaller-electronic.com/hp534785/Schaller-Megaswitches.htm
If so, I'm pretty sure that one of my techs told me it won't engage the silent circuit for some reason. Not sure. I'll send your link to him, now. Thanks.
Whatever. I love the weight and feel of the guitar so it's a keeper, regardless. I just sent that link normula1 provided to my tech. See if that'll do the trick. We'll see.
"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
Yeah...that's what I had a feeling about. It's just the nature of the beast.
So it'll be a question of whether I want to alter my technique on this particular guitar (use less of the fast toggle changes and be more deliberate) in order to avoid the inevitable or just get a different 5 way.
Do you know, ICBM, if this alternative is any better than a superswitch?
https://www.schaller-electronic.com/hp534785/Schaller-Megaswitches.htm
Thanks for the info.
"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
PCB lever switches are always vulnerable to strain damage from sideways movement of the toggle.
Leo Fender first adopted the CRL switch primarily because - being military surplus - it was available cheaply and in bulk. Originally intended for field radios, these switches could fairly be described as combat tested.
In my opinion, anything that can survive a battlefield has half a chance of withstanding the abuse that it will receive from a Rock guitarist.
Interesting development, here: I'm bringing the guitar in tomorrow, but decided to check to make sure I'm not tripping and, waddya know: there's now a very faint sound coming out in that "dead spot". Sounds like a cheap imitation of that cloudy jazz tone that Kenny Burrell is well known for. But, compared to the volume at the regular 5 spots, it's miniscule. AKA: it ain't useable!
I love my LP and the ability to set separate volumes for the pickups is a great feature. Customkits, a member here, chimed in on a post of mine, showing an S style build he'd recently done with that feature. Really nice ax.