Cleaning Contacts

[stubby]

I've recently started getting some static/noise on the PUP selector switch of my 360/6. It sounds like the contacts on the switch need cleaning - it's staticky if you jiggle the selector switch though it's fine once you have it into any of its three settings. I can't recall any detailed discussion about contact maintenance on this forum. Is this a regular maintenance kind of thing you do or just as needed? Do you need to use a certain contact cleaner? I seem to recall somebody saying that these cleaners can be very bad for Rick's conversion varnish? What do you use and do you have a certain procedure for doing this?

By the way, I just Scratch-X'ed and Zymol'ed my BBR for the first time the other day. Gotta chime in with all the other testimonials sprinkled throughout the forum. Wow! I kind of felt guilty touching it after.

[paologregorio]

I use De Oxit-make sure it says that it's safe for plastics. If you're concerned about adverse effects on the finish, you could remove the pick guard, turn it over and cover the rest of the guitar with a rag or towel before spraying.

[jingle_jangle]

Switch contacts...yeah, take off the guard.

Go to your nearest hardware store and buy a sheet of the finest Wet-or-Dry sandpaper they've got. This will usually be #600, which is fine.

Cut a strip 1/4" wide by about 4" long, and fold it half to make a piece 1/4" wide by 2", with the abrasives on the outside.

Now, put it between any pair of switch contacts, and p-u-l-l it through slowly. Let the spring tension of the contacts do the work. It will take three or four passes; then, cut and fold another strip and repeat for each pair of contacts. Clean as new. If you've got a can of compressed air, you can give 'em a shot of this post-cleaning to blow away any dust. Not critical, but helps a bit more.

[stubby]

Thanks Paul. I'll try this. I like the non-chemical nature of the treatment.