Is there a way to test a 5 way switch?

[guitkrazy]

I replaced the neck & middle pickups on my stratocaster on friday and the first 2 positions (neck & nk/mid) are dead. I figured the neck lead wire was to short and broke connection on the selector lug. I pulled the pickguard off this morning and surprisinly the wires were all still connected. I then tested the neck pickup and the lead to the selector all good. I am really baffled. My selector is the closed newer style switch. Is there a way to test the actual switch? Any help is always appreciated!

[Denyle_Guitars]

Check for continuity between contacts using a DMM (digital multi-meter).

[VaughnC]

The first thing I'd do is test the pickup coils with an ohm meter to make sure they are not open. Most Strat pickups will read between 5k to 8k ohms.

If the pickup coils are ok, to test the switch itself I'd use an ohm meter to check for continuity from the associated switch terminal and the output jack contact...which should read very close to 0 ohms (short circuit) when the switch is set to that particular position with the volume control up full.

[guitkrazy]

THanks! I think I got it- Must've been a bad connection on the lug? Resoldered and Getting signal now.:bonk

[guitkrazy]

Well I resoldered and checked my guitar out last night and while the pickups are all there, now the selctor is noisey a scratchy! It is a closed one- could it be that the heat from the soldering iron damaged the selector? looks like I am going to have to take her apart again:bonk

[whiteop]

Well I resoldered and checked my guitar out last night and while the pickups are all there, now the selctor is noisey a scratchy! It is a closed one- could it be that the heat from the soldering iron damaged the selector? looks like I am going to have to take her apart again:bonk


You might have dropped some solder pieces down in the selector switch contacts...just turn the pickguard over and shake it out while working the switch. Use some contact cleaner (from Radio Shack) if you need to. Shouldn't be hard to fix. It's pretty hard to damage a selector switch with normal usage.