5 way switch cacking sound?

[cem]

Hello fellas.
I have a tiny problem with the 5 way switch and i would like to know if this is fixable. As you may or may not know, i have Carlos Sanz's wiring installed in my strat.
guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/8447/parallel-series-stratocaster-easy-sounds

I get a cracking sound in between positions 3 and 4. It occurs when i switch positions while playing but its silent if i am not playing. It is not a dead zone though. And it happens in between 5 and 4 as well but it's not as loud as 3 and 4.

The cracking problem goes away if i add the neck via push-pull since the 3rd and 4th positions doesn't change the pickups in this case(neck+middle on both positions). So there is nothing wrong with the 5 way switch. The problem is caused by the wiring.

Is this fixable? If yes, how?

[newey]

Nov 22, 2020 12:38:34 GMT -5 cem said:

The cracking problem goes away if i add the neck via push-pull since the 3rd and 4th positions doesn't change the pickups in this case(neck+middle on both positions).

But:

it happens in between 5 and 4 as well but it's not as loud as 3 and 4.

means that you cannot necessarily conclude that:

there is nothing wrong with the 5 way switch

That's not to say that the problem might not be in the wiring- it might indeed be. But I don't think you can rule out the switch itself just yet. You could try hitting the switch with some contact cleaner, if it's not a sealed-body style switch, easy enough to do once you have access to it.

Does this happen when you're in series mode, parallel mode, or both??

[cem]

It happens on both modes. But on series it sounds a bit different. When going from one pickup to two it makes a popping sound, especially when going from 3 to either 4 or 2. Going from 5 to 4 or 1 to 2 makes a weaker pop. But as i said, this sounds and feels a bit different, more like a popping sound rather than a cracking sound.

[reTrEaD]

Nov 22, 2020 12:38:34 GMT -5 cem said:

guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/8447/parallel-series-stratocaster-easy-sounds

I noticed a mention of switching noise in that thread. Are you using the optional 10 Meg resistors?

[cem]

Nov 23, 2020 11:15:09 GMT -5 reTrEaD said:

Nov 22, 2020 12:38:34 GMT -5 cem said:

guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/8447/parallel-series-stratocaster-easy-sounds

I noticed a mention of switching noise in that thread. Are you using the optional 10 Meg resistors?

Yes i am using them.

[cem]

Bump

[cem]

Bump

[newey]

cem-

Sorry no one has gotten back to you on this, but this is, frankly, a head-scratcher

Nov 22, 2020 12:38:34 GMT -5 cem said:

I get a cracking sound in between positions 3 and 4. It occurs when i switch positions while playing but its silent if i am not playing.

So, as I understand you, when you are playing (a chord, whatever, strings are vibrating) and you then switch between3 and 4 (and to a lesser extent between 4 and 5), you hear a "crackle". However, with the guitar plugged in and "on", there is no crackle with the switching if the strings are not vibrating?

My only guess here is this. Since everything works, it's probably not a wiring issue. I suspect either dirty contacts in the switch or a fault of some sort in there. Other than that, I have no idea.