My guitar has gone nuts? Need help!

[Rick67]

So I have a 2008 Epi 1958 Korina Explorer thats acting very badly. It has 2 humbuckers and volume, volume and tone knobs. So here whats happening, if I turn both volumes down I get no sound on either pup. If I turn either of the volumes up I get sound through either pup. SO if I am on the neck pup and I turn either volume up I get sound, if I am on the bridge and turn up either volume I get sound. I looked at the wiring and couldn't see anything obviously wrong. What the heck might have happened?? I can post pics of anything you want if it will help. The guitar is bone stock BTW.

 

[Rick67]

After further testing I discovered that this only occurs on distortion channel. If I use the clean channel the guitar behaves normally?!

 

[Davis Sharp]

Bad switch? Just a guess, although I can't explain how it fits with the clean/distortion info.

 

[Raiyn]

It's out of tone fluid.

Send it to me for proper disposal.

That, and check your cable.

 

[Rick67]

Switch looks good and I tried different cables and still have the problem.

 

[Cam.man67]

If I had to *guess*, that sounds like wires are shorted together somewhere in the body. The clean/distortion channel thing is odd, would you be able to re-test that symptom?

A cable shouldn't do that.

 

[Rick67]

Darn I guess I'll have to rewire the whole thing, I can't think of what else to do?

 

[Raiyn]

Considering we can't see the wiring in the only picture you've provided the best you can expect for answers are going to be guesses.

 

[Rick67]

If I had to *guess*, that sounds like wires are shorted together somewhere in the body. The clean/distortion channel thing is odd, would you be able to re-test that symptom?

A cable shouldn't do that.

Considering we can't see the wiring in the only picture you've provided the best you can expect for answers are going to be guesses.

OK your right so here's some pics. I examined everything very carefully and couldn't find anything wrong?

 

[Rick67]

Here's pics of the 3 way switch, it looks good and appears to be working properly...

 

[Rick67]

SO I sprayed contact cleaner on the 3-way switch and the problem has been fixed!

 

[Cam.man67]

SO I sprayed contact cleaner on the 3-way switch and the problem has been fixed!

That's what I was suspecting, after looking it over.

 

[Raiyn]

SO I sprayed contact cleaner on the 3-way switch and the problem has been fixed!

I do love an easy fix.

 

[LostVenture]

Sound like a great excuse to buy another guitar.
(Just saying what everybody else was thinking.)
Don

 

[Rick67]

I do love an easy fix.

Unfortunately the "fix" was short lived. After I reassembled the guitar the problem came right back. I soldered in a brand new 3-way switch and the problem is still there. I tried other stuff and nothing seems to fix this guitars problem.

SO I decided to do a complete rewire. I have on order CTS pots, .047 orange drop cap, cloth wiring and I got a sweet deal on a used set of Seymour Duncan Distortion (SH-6) with gold covers. I ordered these becuase they are my favorite pups and I wanted to retain the stock look of the guitar. I am going to re-use my new Epi 3-way however, tracking down a switchcraft jack in gold that fits an Explorer proved to be too difficult. Anyway the grand total for the new parts was $136 (including shipping), not too bad IMO. Parts start arriving tomorrow wish me luck

Heres a pic of actual pups I have coming

 

[Paully]

Good luck on your re-wire.

 

[Raiyn]

Unfortunately the "fix" was short lived. After I reassembled the guitar the problem came right back. I soldered in a brand new 3-way switch and the problem is still there. I tried other stuff and nothing seems to fix this guitars problem.

SO I decided to do a complete rewire. I have on order CTS pots, .047 orange drop cap, cloth wiring and I got a sweet deal on a used set of Seymour Duncan Distortion (SH-6) with gold covers. I ordered these becuase they are my favorite pups and I wanted to retain the stock look of the guitar. I am going to re-use my new Epi 3-way however, tracking down a switchcraft jack in gold that fits an Explorer proved to be too difficult. Anyway the grand total for the new parts was $136 (including shipping), not too bad IMO. Parts start arriving tomorrow wish me luck

Heres a pic of actual pups I have coming

Why a .047? That's single coil territory. .022 is more common.

 

[Rick67]

Why a .047? That's single coil territory. .022 is more common.

That’s what the wiring diagram calls for on this guitar, because Explorers only have a single tone knob.

https://docs.google.com/gview?embed...om/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2H_3G_2V_1T.pdf

 

[DPaulCustom]

You might have to open the holes a bit to fit the CTS pots, & if I were you, I'd order a .033, & .022 cap. Even if the diagram 'calls' for .047, you're likely gonna find that to be pretty dark, especially on the neck position.

 

[Rick67]

Well I had a guitar with a Duncan distortion bridge w/.047 once and I absolutely loved it. The patient is prepped and ready for surgery...