Jedi Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 Hey guys, I've got a problem. My main guitar, my mexican fender strat with the Tex Specials is snap, crackling, and popping like a mother. This problem has happened before and my guitar tech took the pick ups out and sprayed the wires or something. Now it's doing it again, and pissing me off like crazy. I was wondering if anybody else had this problem, and how did you remedy it. Thanks in advance. Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog951 Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 Is it doing it in all pickup positions? Can you move certain components around (like the output jack) and make the crackling get worse? If you wanna, bring it over and I'll take a look at it... None more black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 If you are sure it's the guitar (not the cables, effects, or amp) I would check the following: First remove the pickup cover, turn it over and visually check for any obvious connection problems such as partially attached or broken wires. Then check for bad soder connections within the guitar's wiring: start at the guitar's output jack, check the 5 way pick up switch, then the volume and tone pots. Also, remove the tremolo cover and ensure that ground wire connecting to the trem spring retainer is properly connected/sodered in place. I suspect that if your tech sprayed something, it was most likely the volume and tone pots and the 5 way switch as these components are moving parts which can get dirty or worn out and result in bad connections and noise. He probably used an electronic tuning cleaner. From a poping noises, I would suspect a bad connection either at the soder joint or within the pots or 5 way switch. As it is obviously recurring, I would find the offending component(s) and replace them this time. Pots are not expensive (This weekend I bought a replacement 250K Tone pot for my Strat and it costed $5). I believe you can also get a replacement 5-way Fender switch for under $10. If you still don't find the problem from above, you can move on to the pickups. I have never run into pickup problems and I would suspect from the design of a pickup that they generally either work or they don't (i.e. they are static in design with no moving parts to wear out). You may want to also send a memo to Myles Rose of our site who I affectionately refer to as the Amp Man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted April 9, 2002 Author Share Posted April 9, 2002 Thanks guys, The problem use to only happen with the Neck pick-up, now all of them sound like I'm on AM Radio. The connector jack is a little loose but I really don't think that's the problem. Like I said, I use to play the bridge pick up with no problem. I've got to get this thing back in order. This is my main sweetheart. Lancer I'm going to print out your post and thanks for the info. Rog I might have to take you up on that offer. I know Germantown is some ways from Forestville but I'll do what I got to to fix my baby. You can e-mail your shop's address to me-dblackjedi@hotmail.com. Thanks again brothers, Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog951 Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Originally posted by dblackjedi: Rog I might have to take you up on that offer. I know Germantown is some ways from Forestville but I'll do what I got to to fix my baby. You can e-mail your shop's address to me-dblackjedi@hotmail.com.Hey Jedi, I don't have a shop (although my girlfriend might argue that point) and I'm far from being an expert, but I've gotten to the point where I can usually figure out what's wrong with the electrical portion of most guitars. Like Lancer said, it's about 90% likely that it's one of your electro-mechanical components (my 1st guess would be the 5-position switch). If your tech guy sprayed something and it got better for a while, it's almost gotta be one of the moving parts...dirty contacts. You should try jiggling on the switch and cranking all the knobs around one by one (while you keep the guitar still) to see if any of the crackling, etc, gets worse (or better). You might be able to narrow down the possibilities that way. I live in Germantown but I work way over in Columbia (which I think is lots closer to you). Maybe I could swing by after work some day if it's not too far. Isn't Forrestville somewhere around Annapolis? If so, I head to the eastern shore pretty regularly to see my folks. I really need to look at a map one of these days! Yeah Terps! None more black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 OK! STOP! DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE! It's too far gone. Just pack the darned thing up and send it to me. I'll be happy to take really good care of it. Send me an email & I'll send my shipping address. Heck, I'll even pay the shipping... Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Originally posted by daklander: OK! STOP! DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE! It's too far gone. Just pack the darned thing up and send it to me. I'll be happy to take really good care of it. Send me an email & I'll send my shipping address. Heck, I'll even pay the shipping...Good ol' dakky - what a fuckin' legend you rock man Nolly "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 dblackjedi, Let us know what the problem is when you finally get it figured out and fixed - it may save us some future headaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin F Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 does the noise get worse when you move the pickup selector switch from one position to the other. I have an old guitar that does this when that switch is 'dirty' I use tuner cleaner to clean it out and then it is fine for the next few months. Check the tone pots too. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted April 9, 2002 Author Share Posted April 9, 2002 Thanks again my fellow guitar comrades. Rog, Thanks guy. Forestville is actually closer to D.C. than Annapolis. I won't put you out of your way, tho. What I'll do is take it to one of my guitar techs in the local shops. If they can't fix it, then guess who's coming to dinner. Seriously, thanks Rog, from the heart. Dak, You crazy ol'coot. I'd sooner let go of all of the rest of my guitars than that Strat. My Pops gave it to me, so besides sounding great, it has a lot of sentimental value. I call her my Mexican Lover. Can you feel the obsession?LOL. Kev, At one time it just sounded bad on the neck pickup and switch. Now it's everywhere. Thanx for the tip. Lancer, I definitely will inform you guys on how I got this problem solved. I know firsthand how it feels to have your main weapon down. Plus, a lot folks use Strats around here. Well thanks again, guitar hermanos, Namaste Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Jedi... I agree w/Rog951. Sounds like you got some dirty stuff happening in your guitar. There are really two answers: Have the guts of your baby replaced (switches and pots) and have the wiring checked out or get everything cleaned up by a pro. Either way, the whole process shouldn't cost you too durn much. I use a really good luthier/amp specialist here in Philly if you're interested. He does all the work on my guitars and amps. He even has a website: tp://www.superiorguitar.com/ He's a super guy. Never ever did anything extraneous or overcharged me for anything. Good luck. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog951 Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Originally posted by dblackjedi: Rog, Thanks guy. Forestville is actually closer to D.C. than Annapolis. I won't put you out of your way, tho. What I'll do is take it to one of my guitar techs in the local shops. If they can't fix it, then guess who's coming to dinner. Seriously, thanks Rog, from the heart.No problem Jedi, just gimme a day's notice so I can clean up a little and get us some groceries! I finally looked on a map...looks like you are about as far around the beltway from me as you can get. Kinda somewhere not too far from Andrews AFB or U.S. Air Arena? Anyway, lemme know if you can't get it fixed up in a reasonable amount of time... I think somebody mentioned the possibility of just punting and replacing the whole pickguard assembly. I just did this on my Mexican Strat and it instantly became my favorite guitar...I like it more now than my USA Standard Strat. I put in a pre-wired EMG setup (Dave Gilmour) and I couldn't be happier. Easy to do too...the only down side is $$$. It was over $200. I'm not sure if you have a sentimental attachment to the electronics though, since the guitar was a gift. If not, it's a great upgrade. The Mexi guitars' only real weaknesses compared to the USA-made models are the electronics and, to a lesser degree, the bridge and tuners IMO. None more black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog951 Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Oops. I just went back and read that you already have Texas Specials in there. They should be fine...much nicer than the stockers. Maybe somebody botched the installation? If you've got bad solder joints at the switch, that could cause the kind of problems you're having. Good luck!!! None more black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerumen Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 if it's a mexican strat... just spray some tequila in the pots.. we mexicans are funny that way... tequila and lemon cure everything.. =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog951 Posted April 9, 2002 Share Posted April 9, 2002 Originally posted by cerumen: if it's a mexican strat... just spray some tequila in the pots.. we mexicans are funny that way... tequila and lemon cure everything.. =)Maybe so, but tequila can cause just as many problems as it cures! For example, if you wake up the morning after a tequila binge and you feel a little stubble rub against your leg, do not, I repeat, DO NOT roll over and look at the offending party. Sometimes it's better to NOT know. Just get up and run...even if you're at your own house!!! TRUST ME. None more black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted April 10, 2002 Share Posted April 10, 2002 I read rog951's message which indicated you have Texas Special pups which I surmise were not your stock Mexican pups and were retrofitted. If you have decent soder skills, I would definitely take rog951's advice and resoder the joints that connect the pickup to the 5way switch (i.e. the hot wire of the pup) and check the ground wire pup connections which are most likely sodered to a ball of soder on the back of a pot. For the pup connection on the 5way switch, trace the wires from each pup to the switch and with a sodering gun or iron, along with a soder removing tool (i.e. bulb or syringe type) heat up the soder joing and suck away the old soder which may be a "cold" joint. A cold joint can definitely cause crackling, cutting out, and all sorts of problems. Resoder each joint with new soder. You want to new joint to look wet and shiny, not dull which can be a sign of too much heat. Next move to the ground connections from each pup onto the pot. To remove the old soder spot and resoder, you will probably need a soder gun instead of a sodering pencil as more heat is needed. However, do not over heat the pot as this can ruin it. Heat up the soder just until it is soft. Give us a report out when you're done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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