Fix Guitar Toggle Switch Problems - Easy Repair for Les Paul Style Toggle Not Working

[@johngreenlund4497]

I wasn't at all sure this simple fix would work, but 5 minutes later, my guitar works again! Thanks so much!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

That's great, I'm glad it worked!

[@onecorpsestandsagain4315]

I’ll be trying this in the next couple of days. Thank you!!

[@philip8899]

This was exactly my problem. Guitar was sounding right in no time. Thanks!!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Glad it worked, thanks Philip!

[@maxmccormack1713]

You lost me at the soldering iron due to my lack of a soldering iron BUT I unscrewed the toggle switch and wiggled it around and that solved my problem! I just got a Sire Larry Carlton L7 and fixed that hiccup thanks to your video.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks Max. Sometimes that's all it takes. I just had a similar experience with my Les Paul. The soldering iron wasn't even heated up yet, and just removing the little round cover plate seemed to "fix" whatever was loose or screwy. The toggle has worked fine ever since.

[@fr3ak1shh]

Ha sounds like the L7's have this issue. Also having issues with my L7, thanks for sharing your results. Update: for me, I just had to spray a little Deoxit Fader lube on the contact points. Now it's not cutting out, and there's less scratchiness when switching pickup positions. Sweet! Hopefully it never cuts out when I'm gigging 😂

[@MEVIN_RULES]

I got same case as yours with my Sire L7. is it normal? the guitar is 3 day old since i bought from the store.

[@fr3ak1shh]

@MEVIN_RULES I would tell them about the problem and return it if you can.

[@chronic_the_ghost]

Just got a new guitar where the neck pickup cut out after 1 day of using it. Used this video as a guide and it worked so well! I’ve never soldered anything before and figured there was like a 1% chance it would work and it actually did lol. Thank you!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

That's awesome, I'm glad the fix worked for you! Yea, what we might take 5 minutes to solder as carefully as possible, the guitar factory guys are spending about 2 seconds on because they have to crank out a thousand of 'em.

[@ShadowHartMusic]

Great video man, I have the same ESP LTD and the bridge pickup was cutting out completely. Thanks!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Thanks! I'm glad it helped ya

[@SlideDogsMusic-rw3zk]

Thanks for a very clear easy to follow video. I’ll try it on my Memphis LP.

[@SK4304_]

The issue with mine is that the bridge sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. If I’m on the middle pickup and the bridge isn’t working, the middle won’t pick it up the slightest bit. A few weeks ago I sent it back for repair (I didn’t know active pickups needed batteries, the battery had just ran out and I sent it back for that 🤣) That time, both pickups weren’t working, but the battery fixed it obviously. I feel like maybe whilst testing it they may have soldered it back up badly?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Oh geez, that's a bummer. I suppose it's also possible that the shipping back and forth could have jostled an already-weak connection loose. Do you know that they actually took anything apart or un-soldered anything, considering it was just a battery?

[@martinschmidt1356]

Do you maybe know where I could buy that particular switch for replacement, please? I mean, all of those that I found online were just nickel (sometimes named as chrome, but turned out that the colour was nickel), then golden and black. But this guitar has its own cool style, where this "cold" chrome is important visually.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Hi Martin. I'm not sure exactly. You might try contacting ESP to see if they will sell you the exact replacement part for the ESP LTD ED-256 guitar.

[@emach07]

Dang! All these years I've been pickin' prying, and gouging my covers off. never even thought of using a suction cup! This video was great even if that was the only thing in it 😂 thanks a bunch!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Ha, I'm glad that was a helpful tip! I know I got sick of picking and prying and I happened to have a little suction cup on my desk years back.

[@JustinVachon]

My neck pickup isn't working in the middle position but works when the switch is up. Is this the problem?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

I think it's still a very strong possibility that this is the problem. It's all about those solder joints.

[@13druber]

Mine is the switch itself. The metal legs arent touching. Damn Fender 😂😂 Good job on the fix. Please wipe your tip of your solder iron with a wet sponge then tin it and wipe again. Itll last forever 😊

[@davidcampagnola4738]

Thanks friend

[@george-st-george]

great work...i will try it!!

[@dumbledoresarmy7569]

I’ve got very low and clean sound from both treble and rhythm position but full sound from the middle. It’s a new epi Les Paul custom guitar. Think the toggle switch is messed up?

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

That's the first thing I'd check, personally. Though if it's brand new, maybe talk to the store or manufacturer about warranty.

[@dumbledoresarmy7569]

@@GreatLakesPrepping I shouldn’t say new. It was a demo model that was discounted because it was the store display. Worked perfectly fine for a day and then the next day it started doing that.

[@dumbledoresarmy7569]

If it’s the switch and I can fix it myself I’ll do it. If I can’t figure it out I’ll ship it back and have them fix it.

[@dumbledoresarmy7569]

@@GreatLakesPrepping I resoldered the wire on the switch and on the volume pot. Problem solved. Thanks for the video!

[@bobbyb7127]

I have a Gibson 135 and it doesn't have a plate on the back where you can access the 3 way switch. I took off the nut on front of the guitar and the switch just fell into body on guitar. LOL, now I got to figure out how to get it out or back on the guitar. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Is that the hollow-body? Oh man, I have never even thought about that. I just looked around a bit, and I see people fashioning all manner of tools and bent coat-hanger wire and whatnot to fish things in and out of those guitars. There really does not appear to be an easy way to do it. I watched a guy replace the toggle switch by letting it fall into the body, then fishing it out through the narrow sound hole so he could work on it...and then doing the opposite to re-install.

[@bobbyb7127]

@@GreatLakesPrepping Yes, its hollow body. I did find today on a Les Paul forum, they were talking about the ES135 3 way toggle switch and some one mentioned taking the neck pickup off to access it and then tie a fishing string to it and pull it out/in. That's what I did and it worked great. I cleaned up the 3 way switch, put it all back together and it appears to be working correctly. So at least now I know how to access the switch fairly easy. Thanks so much for replying and the video..

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

@@bobbyb7127 That's great! Glad it all worked out

[@whiteshadow67]

If you don't know\want to solder spraying some WD40 contact cleaner (for electrical components) will often fix it temporarily or sometimes permanently.

[@fr3ak1shh]

Usually people online recommend an electronic contact cleaner that has a lube in it. So WD40 contact cleaner will probably work, but Deoxit Fader would be a better choice if you had it.

[@IAmWatcher]

LOL that kinda sounds like a riff from Accept, song called Midnight Highway from their Breaker album, must be 10.000 years old hahaha!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Ha, I guess there are some similarities. But I'm just playing some good 'ol AC/DC. The part you're talking about is surely from "Shook Me All Night Long". I also have a small part from "Money Talks" in there.

[@IAmWatcher]

@@GreatLakesPrepping AC/DC... of course they can't be ignored. Was backstage with them back in 1978 when they were playing my hometown, those were the days. Oh and thanks for that fix, I had a Les Paul and a LP/SG with toggle switch issues, it worked for both. They both had the same iffy soldering on the middle connection 🤘😎🤘

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

@@IAmWatcher Glad it solved your problem, thanks!

[@IAmWatcher]

@@GreatLakesPrepping Now I have a pedal with a FFed up footswitch, I'll figure it out. I'll start with taking it out, open it and clean it, if that doesn't work, replace it.🤘😎🤘

[@santhasakklinchana9987]

I've same this ploblem. But i can't

[@jonasdaniel4670]

That's my problem

[@richbc517]

Nice but my heart beat everytime i see u guys not covering part of the guitar 4 solder splash

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

Ha, that's fair. I guess I haven't really ever experienced solder splash.

[@Groovesguitar]

I have the exact same guitar😂 and exact same problem😢

[@MrLuchador]

I know times are tough, but I didn’t think entire letters were losing their jobs in words. RIP L.

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

You'll have to clue me in on what you're talking about here. I've scanned through, and I can't find anyplace I've omitted a letter L.

[@MrLuchador]

@@GreatLakesPrepping “Soda” must be an American thing instead of Solder. Helpful video though!

[@GreatLakesPrepping]

@@MrLuchador Ha, yea we definitely pronounce it "sodder". The L is silent in that word. I've never actually heard it pronounced such that the L is audible.

[@adamphillips6747]

Every ESP I’ve had has horrible electronics work.