Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have recently been having a problem with the switch on my '66 335. In the middle position I often lose the neck pickup and the guitar plays as if the switch were in the down position, or bridge pickup. By tapping on the pickguard or switch, and mumbling explitives, the second pickup will kick in. I did some exploratory surgery, which I am completely unqualified to do, and saw nothing amiss, but perhaps some slightly frayed wiring. I rubbed my fingers around some of the stuff inside and closed it up. Now it works fine, but for how long I do not know. The switch appeared to be functioning correctly and the contacts looked fine. Any ideas? P.S. And no, Roger McGuinn, I will not just play with the switch down all of the time!! (LOL) Thanks. -- Jeff.

Buy a cheap electronic multimeter, test the pots and switch with the "complete circuit" mode on the multimeter yourself, and never take it to a guitar tech again! Guitar electronics are amazingly simple, and there is never any real need to pay big bucks to get them looked at. I'm sure there would be some books on the subject, but as you've already looked inside the control cavity, you will have seen there is nothing to it. You may have well fixed it permanently, simply by removing the grit, or it may need to be resoldered. Switches can be cleaned with a toothbrush, pots with a spray (from an electronic store), and resoldering is fairly easy too. The only reason to take it to a tech, is if the pickup is the problem, as these cannot be done without some expertise.

Any recommendations on a brand of spray? Where do I spray? Thanks a bunch. You're right -- everything looks pretty simple, but I wasn't sure if something was wearing out or not.

This is a typical Switchcraft switch problem ...you do not need spray at all .

Part one;
You need a piece of wet/dry sandpaper -at least 400 or 600 grit .

You could get a piece of scrap ...that will do the trick .Fold a section of it in half and open the contacts on the treble side .Close the contacts ...ie ,flip the switch to the bass pickup .With the sandpaper between the contacts ,pull the sand paper through .This will remove the tarnish on the contacts.

Do this for the bass side as well.

Part two - tightening up the leaves of the switch .

Flick the bat of the switch down --the bridge pickup position .Turn the pickguard upside down and take your thumb and press the leaves of the bass side to the center of the switch .Don't press TOO hard ,but don't be wimpy either .

Now flick the bat of the switch to the up position ,ie -the neck position.
Do the same thing to that side ...press to the center of the switch .

Now check to make sure that the leaves contact where they should .All pairs should contact in the center .
Up only the bottom two should contact

Down only the top should contact .

This procedure will tighten up the bat (that is the thingy that you flick on the outside of the pickguard to change pickups)

These two problems arise over time with ALL Switchcraft selector switches .This is nothing to be alarmed at .They know about it.

Thanks. I'm on it like a cheap suit. (I think that's the saying).

If you have troubles figuring out what I mean ,email me and I'll send you a photo .