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Pickup Selector Sits Too Deep /Chewing Up Tip?

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yeltneb

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2016
Messages
40
Hi!

I have a Les Paul Traditional with a switchcraft pickup selector which I instaleed a few years ago.

Problem I have is that due to the thickness of the cap, the switch sits a few milimetres too deep. This means that when I select the Neck / Bridge pickup the switchtip hits the locknut and over time this gradually damages the tip (i've been through 2-3 of them for this reason).
w4Sm14


I've tried to find switches with a longer thread but i'm not sure any are avaiible. Any ideas anyone?

Picture here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/188697720@N03/shares/w4Sm14

w4Sm14
Cheers!

Andrew
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,665
Out of curiosity why did you swap out the selector switch ? I know this will sound stupid but why not return the stock selector switch to your instrument .
 
metropolis

metropolis

Active member
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
406
Just to add to that it should have been a Switchcraft originally, right? Unless you have a shorter one there shouldn't be many types of switch, as the tip screw isn't a part which changes length as far as I understand. I would check the nut and switch are the same to rule out any dimension differences, otherwise it'll be how it's fitted that's stopping it sitting correctly.
 
Y

yeltneb

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2016
Messages
40
El Gringo said:
Out of curiosity why did you swap out the selector switch ? I know this will sound stupid but why not return the stock selector switch to your instrument .
Click to expand...

Good question! Truth is that I did it a few years ago and I can't actually rememer why. I also discarded the old one for some reason. Guess it must have been glitchy
 
Y

yeltneb

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2016
Messages
40
metropolis said:
Just to add to that it should have been a Switchcraft originally, right? Unless you have a shorter one there shouldn't be many types of switch, as the tip screw isn't a part which changes length as far as I understand. I would check the nut and switch are the same to rule out any dimension differences, otherwise it'll be how it's fitted that's stopping it sitting correctly.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for coming back to me. It's not the tip screw that's too short it's the screw on the switch shaft. I've checked it a few times and it seems to be installed properly. Its just as though the cap is a bit thick? It's possible the old one had the same problem and I never noticed it as the 'new' one has been in a lot longer. The only thing I can think of is removing wood from the cap from the inside of the cavity but that seems really extreme
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,665
yeltneb said:
Good question! Truth is that I did it a few years ago and I can't actually rememer why. I also discarded the old one for some reason. Guess it must have been glitchy
Click to expand...

I certainly know the feeling as to how I threw out parts decades ago that I wish I had kept .
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,665
yeltneb said:
Hey thanks for coming back to me. It's not the tip screw that's too short it's the screw on the switch shaft. I've checked it a few times and it seems to be installed properly. Its just as though the cap is a bit thick? It's possible the old one had the same problem and I never noticed it as the 'new' one has been in a lot longer. The only thing I can think of is removing wood from the cap from the inside of the cavity but that seems really extreme
Click to expand...

That I would not do , I would buy a new assembly for the selector switch and start from scratch . Also buy Gibson and return it to stock and you should be fine with no issues . I can also assure you that you would most certainly regret removing wood after the fact .
 
A

Arnold M.

Active member
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Messages
296
I have the exact same problem with my Les Paul, simply remove the switch and take the wood surface down say .030" for example where the switch contacts the body, I did it with mine and now the switch sits at the perfect height ..
 
P

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
675
El Gringo said:
I would buy a new assembly for the selector switch and start from scratch . Also buy Gibson and return it to stock and you should be fine with no issues.
Click to expand...

Switchcraft switches are standard fitment. It already is stock.
 
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