Futher TRS Switch buggy

[paulman]

My Further wiring harness was replaced back in '09 (thanks Mica!) due to the Volume control having a narrow range of effect.  Everything's been hunky dory for a while, but in the last couple of years an annoying issue has cropped up with the Effects Loop in/out switch.  I say in/out because the switch brings the loop IN and it's just the clean guitar when OUT.

When the loop is IN everything is great.  When it's OUT I have to play with the switch some to get the clean signal to come through clearly.  It sounds like there are some worn connections in the switch, but again it's only when the loop us OUT.   After lightly jiggling the switch the clean guitar will play just fine, until I bring the loop IN and then back OUT.  Then I have to jiggle the switch to get the clean guitar again. 

I've tried to exercise the switch some, but decided it must be a physical connection issue as I use this switch fairly regularly. 

Let me know if there are any suggestions before I contact Mica...hope there is some alternative other than taking out the harness and sending it back again.  I had to sell my Skylark a few years ago and have no backup Alembic.    Thanks all!!

[mica]

This is the same problem (we think it is fungus growth or some other clumping of the lubricant) that we have had with the LED switch. Perhaps the lubrication failure is worse in the LED switch because of the tiny spark producing ozone when the LED current is interrupted, but this spark doesn't happen when the switches are in a signal path, so the switches aren't as big a problem in this application. But you're having a problem, so I need to send you a new switch. You will need to find a local repairman to solder it in for you.

We have changed switch manufacturers over this very problem. The previous manufacturer have moved the manufacturing from the US to Mexico, and then to Costa Rica. New they are going to China and we jumped ship before then, as the price went up each time and the quality has degraded each move. The new maker is in the US and Mexico, and they have been very reliable.

Just email me your shipping details and I'll send you what you need.

[mica]

Got your email today, Roger! Switch is on its way to you via Priority Mail.

[paulman]

Fantastic to hear, I'll be on the lookout for the package.   Thanks very much Mica. 

[5a quilt top]

Darn - I thought this thread would pertain to a horse-drawn conveyance for a TRS switch...

[paulman]

Switch received and installed... and took about 10 minutes of soldering.  Thank you so much it's working perfectly now.  Frankly I would never thought of fungus in the switch as being the issue although fungus, when found internally, can also interrupt normal function of organic thought processes.   

It's a great band name too!  Switch Fungus

Anyway thanks again for the prompt response and part I needed to fix up my Further.

5a, I didn't think of that aspect of "Buggy"!   Too funny. 

[jazzyvee]

I had a problem with the LED switch on my Europa bass and it would take some jiggling before it made a good connection and the light stayed on. I just got used to it. However when I was changing the batteries I decided to turn the switch round as the way i had it sometimes caused it to turn on when putting the bass in my gig bag and thus running the batteries down needlessly. Strange as it sounds turning it round seems to have made the switch work normally. The cables are a bit tighter in the cavity this way maybe that's having some effect.
Will see how that lasts.