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Hi, I just have a simple question about a neck pickup for a tele that went
dead a while back. Considering the bridge position p/u works, and the
bridge/neck position works, it would mean that the 3-way has gone bad,
right? I don't really know how to test the electronics outside of re-wiring,
then restringing.   

well, you deduction is on the right track ... I see this all the time in blade switches, and even in the LP type too.

Most likely in the middle SW position, you are only getting one PU .. easy to test though - take a coin or something metal, and tap on each PU with the SW in this position - are the taps loud thru the amp from both PUs ?? - if not, then its highly likely that the neck PU is pooched, or at least a wire is off somewhere ... or the PU and the SW are bad

If the PU works in the middle SW postion, then the SW is the culprit. But seeing as its a blade type SW - I doubt this will be the case, seeing as the blade makes contact with the same input tab in both the middle and neck positions - its either all or nothing IMO.

to test the PU for sure, unsolder it and conect it directly to a cable into the amp, then tap on it ... sound - anything, nothing ??? this wil tell you if its pooched.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

thanks late for the reply. I actually replaced the switch, now all positions
work; however, neck and middle pos. sound identical now. Could this be
due to using my scrap 18 ga.(which is considerably thicker) wire to bridge
between the tabs?   I may just have an acute ear...

Personally I didn't think your ears were cute at all. 

I don't think the gauge of the wire would make any difference when used as a jumper.  Make sure the switch you got is the same as the old one.  All of those blade switches are not exactly the same, or at least that's what I recall from rewiring some of my son's guitars in the past.  But it has been  some years since I have done it.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Do pickups really die? It's just wire wrappped around magnets. Do magnets die? Wire looses connection somewhere near the termination? I hate it when the pickup doesn't read anything on my meter, take it off the guitar and it's starts working again because I fooled with it! Clinton