CTS Pots / Switchcraft Switches

[wilkinsi]

How long are these supposed to last? I keep losing overdrive, more so in the neck than the bridge on my WR1. I've used Airduster air spray and Servisol contact cleaner, and switching between pups vigorously to clean the contacts. The guitar was built in 2006 and only a couple weeks ago did I start having this issue. Everything looks OK inside the cavity. Am I not cleaning them properly? Why is it that the least used pup starts losing overdrive before the other? I don't wanna put EMG's in. The SH8/SH10 aren't that bad, but would consider putting other in Duncans or possibly getting Dimarzios. This couldn't happen at a worse time. I'm supposed to be buying a new USA Jackson at the end of the month, and most likely won't be able to haggle so I can afford the pup change. Grrr!!!

[DonP]

Do you live in a humid environment?

Do you leave your pickup selector switch in the middle when not playing the guitar?

[wilkinsi]

Not humid (never gets humid in the UK)
I've only been leaving the selector switch in mid position when not in use, after I started getting the problem.

[toejam]

Are you sure it's not your guitar cable? I had the same problem on my Hamer yesterday... turns out it was a bad cable, and wiggling it around a little solved the intermittent problem.

[wilkinsi]

If the problem is 75%+ in the neck and 25% (when it does happen) in the bridge, I don't think it's the cable from the guitar to the GT-8. I'll get another cable, just to be sure...

[toejam]

Yeah, probably is the switch then, but you never know.

[straycat]

There is very little chance its the pots my guess its the switch check your grounds.Could be a bad cable too like TJ says I'd check that too.Check your input jack too you may have a cold solder joint there as well.Solder will oxidize to some degree and cause intermittent problems.
You're not loosing overdrive its just a bad connection in the circuit some where.Check the ground to the spring claw too.
I still have the original pots and switches in most of my USA Jacksons that have been there since the 80's.

[MartinBarre]

Not humid (never gets humid in the UK)

You must be joking.
The first house I bought had mildew on the walls from humidity, and I live in Scotland! Some houses, even in the UK, are just prone to it.

I'd look at your cable before the pickups, as others suggested. Do you have another amp or something you can use to test with?

[straycat]

I think that was some of what they call "dry" humor.

[MartinBarre]

I think that was some of what they call "dry" humor.

I wasn't wetting myself...

[phill_up]

I LOVE troubleshooting! I cant wait to hear the solution.

[StukaJU87]

If you jiggle the toggle switch and the pickup returns to full power, you will have your answer. I have had this happen before.

[Newc]

Same here. One of the tabs on a Switchcraft toggle I have was not making good contact after a while, so I just bent it back in a bit and it's been fine ever since.

[thunderhead]

Just get a new set and swap it. If it dont work sell your guitar to me i'll sort it out

[wilkinsi]

I'll try to get the switch swapped... NO, you can't have my fucking WR1!