Standard 2008 sound problem

vannix · May 14, 2010

Hi guys, I'm new! I recently bought a 2008 Gibson Les Paul Standard heritage cherry , i had an epiphone.

I bought this guitar a week ago at Tomassone, I tested it there and all was ok, I come home and the sound was ok .. I landed it to my teacher, okay, great sound, great neck, perfect action ... at some point when he switched to the neck pickup, the volume dropped suddenly, and the sound felt very little and distorted, as if the sound was not able to go out, when strumming stronger the feeling was just that! Yesterday I experienced the same thing, and after a while she returned normal, then I opened the compartment of the selector, I gave a wild of antioxidant and a sprinkle for contacts, seemed resolved ... i played a lot this morning, then i went upstairs where I have another amp, I opened the case, connected it, ok for 30 seconds then the problem reoccurs, strumming gradually stronger feels its insistence on "free" sound and is back to normal.

And here I am.

what is the problem? What can I do?

Naturally, the guitar is new so they will fix it for me, though i don't live just around the corner from the shop ... maybe this problem can be fixed easily.. i don't know.

thanks in advance

wolverine · May 14, 2010

Odd ,,, I would definately take it back to the dealer and have them check it out if your not happy ,, could be something as simple as a cold solder ,,, wonky pot etc ,,, probably best to let a qualified guy take a look if your totally comfortable messin with the guts !

Good Luck !

Cheers !

BigKahune · May 14, 2010

You did the correct first step - checking the switch contacts.

Odd ' date=',, I would definately take it back to the dealer and have them check it out if your not happy ,, could be something as simple as a cold solder ,,, wonky pot etc ,,, probably best to let a qualified guy take a look if your totally comfortable messin with the guts ...[/quote']

+1

Be sure you don't do anything that will void the warranty.

Next step, roll the volume and tone pots separately to see if they operate correctly through their whole rotations.

If you still have the problem, check the solder points and connections to be sure all connections are solid.

After that, if you've still got the problem, take it back to the shop.

Let us know how it turns out.

vannix · May 14, 2010

Thank you guys, i tested the pots and they are fine!

this problem is strange, now the swtich re-works.. the shop is too far from my house, i need to get the train to go there and it is a bit expensive.. i have a friend that works there, maybe he can carry the replacement and when he brings it to me i can easily solder it, but maybe this will void their warranty..

vannix · May 14, 2010

I talked with the shop, they say that i must bring it to they, and leave there for 5 days of testing (because the problem is not stuck everytime i play the guitar, only sometimes).

BigKahune · May 14, 2010

I'm curious to hear their diagnosis. Let us know when you find out.

Blackie · May 14, 2010

..........make sure the metal shielding wires from the pickups coming into the control cavity are away from anything they can short on............

starfoxhound · May 14, 2010

I've had this exact problem before, in my case (not only once) the problem is the toggle switch. Sometimes it is very used and dirty and I have to clean it. I've never had to replace it, only take it out of the cavity, separe it (remove screws) and use a 500 or 600 sand paper and give the contact points a little sanded. Problem solved. Be sure not to bend the contact points or you'll have to re-bend to make them contact again. I don't think this voids warranty and it's a very unexpensive way to solve the problem... That's my experience, let us know if switch was the problem.

jamman · May 14, 2010

If you work on it , it voids the warranty. I've had similar problems and it turned out to be a broken solder joint. I had taken it to the local Gibson certifed tech. and he told me not to use that jack. ( the guitar is a GOM longhorn, 2 out put jacks on this guitar ) 1 month away form being out of warranty. Well at the end of that month i opened the control cover found the broken solder joint. touched it with an iron and to this day it works fine.

point being ,don't void you warranty, it's a new guitar and you might need other repairs down the road.

vannix · May 22, 2010

They called me, the guitar is ready and fixed, i need to contact them next week to decide how to bring it home.

vannix · June 1, 2010

hi guys I got the guitar.

Now the switch is working in the right way! so no sound problem.

But... they have scratched a bit the guitar near the selector housing, 3 scratches and one sign (like a little circle in the lacquer, maybe the soldering iron? isn't too much evident), these are ok.. the guitar is amazing, and 3 scratches are nothing, she now plays perfectly.

But there is another thing.

Near the junction of the neck with the body, i found like a little bump, you can see it with the direct light , or you can feel it with the fingers, it's a long bump, thin, that follows the neck side junction. I don't remember if it were there before, but i don't think that it was caused by the technicians fix. Can it be a problem? can the finish crack? or it can be only a wood irregularity?

thanks

EDIT

I have some photos, this is the best i can do, is not easy to see here.

http://img715.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dscn0079mc.jpg