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Topic: How Fix or Replace the Push Buttons on 1956 Fender StringMas |
Thomas Cross
From:
Magnolia,Texas, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2013 10:44 am |
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I have a 3 neck 1956 Fender StringMaster with Push Buttons neck change system. They are very undependable and a lot of noise.
What should I do?
tfc |
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John Limbach
From:
Billings, Montana, USA
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Posted 4 Nov 2013 12:49 pm
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Thomas:
I have a D8 with those same pushbuttons. I cleaned mine good with DeOxit, then I make sure to push each one several times a week. This helps to wipe off the oxidation before it builds up. If I don't use (or select) one neck for a long period, it cruds up and has to be cleaned again. Regularly punching the buttons seems to have solved that problem for me. |
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Jim Newberry
From:
Seattle, Upper Left America
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Posted 5 Nov 2013 12:28 pm
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maybe this old thread will help:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=221511
_________________
"The Masher of Touch and Tone"
-1950 Fender Dual Pro 8
-1950's Fender Dual Pro 6
-Clinesmith D8
-Clinesmith 8-string Frypan
-Clinesmith Joaquin
-~1940 National New Yorker
-~1936 Rickenbacher B6
-Homebuilt Amps |
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Butch Pytko
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
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Posted 5 Nov 2013 7:39 pm
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Here's a copy of my post when I was having trouble with the 4 push buttons on my 1957 Stringmaster. I wonder if you're having the same problem with contact plates bent out-of-shape.
Notice the bottom plate is the shorter straight one.
Notice the top plate is longer & straight to a point, then it has that curve.
Odds are with your 3 buttons, you'll have at least one set of contact plates that has the proper shape. If all 3 are messed up, you'll have to use my picture showing the proper shape.
You'll have to take them apart to re-shape the contact plates.
VERY IMPORTANT--when you reassemble the contact plates with the mounting screw, be very careful not to tighten too much. If too tight, it will squeeze the grommet insulators too much & the contact plates will make contact, and NOT open. So, you'll need to find a happy-medium of tightness.
Then, to check if the contact plates are opening & closing properly, push the buttons to get down for ON & up for OFF, use a good magnifying glass to make sure.
I used emery cloth to clean the contact points months ago, and the push buttons are still working just fine. I learned to very carefully open/spread the contact plates, just enough not to bend them, to insert the emery cloth to clean. On a search I found people saying they used liquid cleaner & deoxit type stuff, which should work, too. |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Nov 2013 12:22 am
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True emery (match striker, brown salon boards) is not electronics friendly... DeOxit on a business card works great. If they're really bad, special contact burnishers are available.
One reason these switches don't work well is that there's not much wiping action... switches that wipe the contacts last much longer and stay cleaner.
_________________
Too much junk to list... always getting more. |
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 6 Nov 2013 6:21 am
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Is there a way to substitute, say, toggle switches without drilling or irreversibly altering the guitar?
Of course, one would keep the original push-button mechanism in case the guitar would be sold later. |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Nov 2013 9:51 am
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| Eric Philippsen wrote: |
Is there a way to substitute, say, toggle switches without drilling or irreversibly altering the guitar?
Of course, one would keep the original push-button mechanism in case the guitar would be sold later. |
I think most folks just put toggles... all of Leon McAuliffe's guitars (the ones that had push buttons) were adapted in this way. If it's done right I don't think it affects the value that much... it's much easier to do both necks at once with toggles! Unfortunately the holes must be drilled out for the big bat-style switches... perhaps the new tiny toggles would fit without drilling?
_________________
Too much junk to list... always getting more. |
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Thomas Cross
From:
Magnolia,Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2013 6:17 am Many Thanks
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| Many thanks for your input and info. tfc |
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Jerry Kippola
From:
UP Michigan, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2013 7:56 am
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| Caig Pro Gold |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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