Pickup Issue

[Jmkrull]

Not sure if this is the right place for this or not, so I apologize if it's not.

I got this Gretsch that the neck pickup keeps cutting out. It'll play fine sometimes, other times it's quiet but still audible, and other times it's silent. It reads on the meter. Bridge pickup works well and reliably.

I replaced all the pots and caps just because the ones before were old, scratchy (used guitar) and wanted to change the cap to P-I-O. I didn't replace the switch, but I did disassemble it, sanded the contacts a bit, washed it, and put it back together.

I guess I'm at a loss now. Don't really want to order a new pickup. Do I have a bad switch (do those even go bad?), or is it the pickup? 

[GibsonGM]

9 times out of 10, that will be a bad switch, in my experience, JM.   I'd beat on the sw., see if you can make it cut out and back in - it should be able to tell you something.    Other possibility, hanging wire strands making shorts, or cold solder joints = bad connection....wouldn't write off the pup yet!

You may  need to remove the pup wires and test resistance across it while you move the wires...could be something there, but I'd do that after ruling out the other things.  Including the jack connections!!     

[Jmkrull]

9 times out of 10, that will be a bad switch, in my experience, JM.   I'd beat on the sw., see if you can make it cut out and back in - it should be able to tell you something.    Other possibility, hanging wire strands making shorts, or cold solder joints = bad connection....wouldn't write off the pup yet!

You may  need to remove the pup wires and test resistance across it while you move the wires...could be something there, but I'd do that after ruling out the other things.  Including the jack connections!!   

Cool, I'll give it a try. Thanks for the reply

[amptramp]

Once you get into electronics, you need contact cleaner.  It just goes with the territory.  Just make sure it is non-flammable - there are some that contain hexane that is flammable and will destroy rubber.  Use it on switch contacts and cycle the switch a few times.

[Jmkrull]

9 times out of 10, that will be a bad switch, in my experience, JM.   I'd beat on the sw., see if you can make it cut out and back in - it should be able to tell you something.    Other possibility, hanging wire strands making shorts, or cold solder joints = bad connection....wouldn't write off the pup yet!

You may  need to remove the pup wires and test resistance across it while you move the wires...could be something there, but I'd do that after ruling out the other things.  Including the jack connections!!   

Swapped out the switch. Worked. Thank you!