Electronics 2000

I have two toggle switches.

4P3T 3 position toggles.
one is on off on while the other is on on on.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.

The only difference here is the internal selector of the on/off pattern.

They are both the same size and terminals for connecting. I need to replace the on on on switch due to the fact the toggle has broken, so if I dismantle the toggle end of the other (on off on) switch and swap them, (stuff allowing) I should be able to "repair the original" toggle switch.

Just for the heck of it, this is the pickup selector switch of an Ovation Deacon guitar's FET Pre-amp. The original (on on on) switch is soldered on to a circuit board within the guitar and is on 15mm connector legs.

However, the original switch was a total write-off and parts jingling everywhere and it needs to be rebuilt. do I need to put the rocker section together in a certain way (other than carefully) to achieve the on on on or is that down to the finished wiring?

i'M BRAVE.

i JUST gutted a brand new, 4p3t switch to find they are exactly the same inside.

I took off the metal housing with its lever and cambs and switched them over to the old switch.

have a look at the photos.

New switch (£20) in red with guts out and in the switch mounted on the PCB.

Works!



Before anyone says Oooh! What about resistances and what-not, all I have done is replace the lever mechanics, not the switching mechanism. All variables remain as was and as is!

Guess all I have to do now is un-botch the mess the so called "Gibson Guitar Tech" made of the scratch plate widening the hole through which the switch gear protruded.

Where's my epoxy resin gone.

1 more step. re-fit new power leads. Yep, the Ovation Deacon (and Breadwinner) guitars operate on 18V dc (2 x pp3) loaded into the back of the body. generally last 2-3000 hours but ......

Lets crock clip this all together to the pickups and see if this baby works!

Getting back to you soon.

The reason I'm doing this is because

I saw this guitar on ebay for $1600
I offered 600 and was countered at 800. I re-countered with $650 and got it.
It is supposed to have been revamped by a Gibson guitar tech.

Apparently, this guitar didn't work due to corrosion from old batteries and the toggle was not replaceable.

WD Music can supply the switch at £20 and the mod is a simple repair job.

Not a sign of corrosion damage anywhere so I put 2 and 2 together, the seller didn't like the sound this old 70's machine made so they took short-cuts on a collector's piece.

I'm replacing the power leads as a caution step and then we'll be ready to go.

I sincerely hope all Ovation Deacon and Breadwinner guitar fans with broken original switches find this and see the light.

On closer inspection of the PCB, a few spots were tinned due to rot. (This old guitar is 40 years old) I connected it to the pickups and presto. This baby works and with all of the original Ovation Deacon / Breadwinner sounds.

It just a shame the biggots who got hold of this rare beauty butchered it the way they did but all the same, she's as good as new now, for a 40 year old guitar!

It is very interesting work and hopefully will be very good project.
Thanks!!!!!!!

It all worked out fine. I now have an original Ovation Deacon in full working order. Next project coming soon. Breadwinner with fret board coming off. Where's my wife's new iron?