NGD - with some frustrations and considerations

[FuzzyAce]

Nice axe Spawn! Should be a simple fix though so don't worry too much. Still sucks since it's new though.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Looks very good. Have you got a multi meter?

Get your meter and test the switches and the continuity to ground going through that resister. If you have a wire with clips on each end handy, (cough, cough, roach clips) bypass those resisters and see if it does anything when you play it. Going straight to ground bypassing the resistor path should be very audible in the difference with out a jumper. If no difference in sound, you can always see if the pad across from the current ground works.

Soldering looks good and rarely, resisters can be bad out of the box. If the ground is not secure it cant split.
This is my understanding but I have never worked on a PRS. Anyone with more experience feel free to correct me

If you have a local PRS dealer, they may test/fix it for you obviously.

This is a dumb question but which mode of the multimeter would I want to be using to test stuff?

 

[Byrdman]

This is a dumb question but which mode of the multimeter would I want to be using to test stuff?

Continuity - so when you touch the probes to each other, they beep

 

[Byrdman]

This is a dumb question but which mode of the multimeter would I want to be using to test stuff?

Also if this is your switch pad with wires soldered to 3 & 5 as in your pictures:

1 2
3 4
5 6

Test 3 to 5 and flip the switch if you do/do not get beeps when you activate the switch to test it. If no beebs in either direction, its an open connection. Then see if you get one going from 3 to 6 when you flip the switch. If you do you can make a jumper 5 to 6. I believe that will test connections and the switches, but if anyone has a correction feel free to chime in.

 

[Eagle]

Continuity - so when you touch the probes to each other, they beep

this.

 

[la szum]

Awesome! The best of this place is when we all try to help a Brother out
in a pinch and offer up some needed guidance and support.

 

[spawnofthesith]

This guitar looks fantastic! Should hopefully be an easy fix for you. AMS should do you right at this level of $. These wood library models are sexy af!

Thnks JT

This ones not actually not a wood library! in fact a pretty standard example of the "lower grade" tops the S2s usually get

 

[spawnofthesith]

Also if this is your switch pad with wires soldered to 3 & 5 as in your pictures:

1 2
3 4
5 6

Test 3 to 5 and flip the switch if you do/do not get beeps when you activate the switch to test it. If no beebs in either direction, its an open connection. Then see if you get one going from 3 to 6 when you flip the switch. If you do you can make a jumper 5 to 6. I believe that will test connections and the switches, but if anyone has a correction feel free to chime in.

Ok so with the switch in “single coil mode” (where it’s stuck) there is continuity between 3 and 5. Switched the other way no continuity. None from 3 to 6 either, but there is continuity from 3 to 1 if that means anything?

Does that mean I could do a jumper from 3 to 1? If so What would I use to jump? Just some solder coil soldered at each terminal ?

 

[spawnofthesith]

I’m a manic lunatic… at this very moment I’m going for the exchange….. I’ll get a top selection too when in stock. maybe I’ll get an even prettier one. Guitar is re-entombed in its shipping boxes. This is too much BS for a guitar of this price. Hopefully un-tainted NGD in a couple weeks

 

[Warmart]

I’m a manic lunatic… at this very moment I’m going for the exchange….. I’ll get a top selection too when in stock. maybe I’ll get an even prettier one. Guitar is re-entombed in its shipping boxes. This is too much BS for a guitar of this price. Hopefully un-tainted NGD in a couple weeks

Nothing manic in your actions. I would be pretty peaved if I couldn't use the bridge HB of a brand new guitar.

 

[Byrdman]

I’m a manic lunatic… at this very moment I’m going for the exchange….. I’ll get a top selection too when in stock. maybe I’ll get an even prettier one. Guitar is re-entombed in its shipping boxes. This is too much BS for a guitar of this price. Hopefully un-tainted NGD in a couple weeks

I would feel the same way and send it back as well if I did not have a local option to get it fixed under warranty. From what you mentioned above, it seems like the switch is working. My next suspect would be that resistor to ground and then would have to follow back the signal chain to the PU, which could be the issue too. Too much for that level of guitar when you just want to play, so I get it. Good luck with the new one when it comes in!

 

[Eagle]

I would feel the same way and send it back as well if I did not have a local option to get it fixed under warranty. From what you mentioned above, it seems like the switch is working. My next suspect would be that resistor to ground and then would have to follow back the signal chain to the PU, which could be the issue too. Too much for that level of guitar when you just want to play, so I get it. Good luck with the new one when it comes in!

Don’t request a different guitar for a nothing thing like this particularly if the rest is great. Imagine sending it back and receiving one that has no faults but the guitar is worse for the sake of a nothing fix.
I see this often, people send back an exceptional instrument for a minor issue and the replacement is way worse but no actual fault.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Do what you feel is best, Spawn. When you spend real $ on a guitar, you should expect basic things to work out of the box. Now Eagle does have a point if it's some otherwise flawless example that plays to perfection. But I'd say if you already have it packed up; you have moved on and are just ready for that swap.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Don’t request a different guitar for a nothing thing like this particularly if the rest is great. Imagine sending it back and receiving one that has no faults but the guitar is worse for the sake of a nothing fix.
I see this often, people send back an exceptional instrument for a minor issue and the replacement is way worse but no actual fault.

Eh, if the replacement is a dog then shame on PRS and it was never meant to be lol.

If I was a competent tech like Andy Eagle of course I wouldn't send it back. However, I'm not

There's really not a ton of good options in the scenario

a. attempt to continue troubleshooting and fix it myself? Not happening and I don't need to be doing sloppy solder work of my own in a brand new guitar of this price point
b. have it fixed locally. This is what I was really pushing for before, but AMS is insistent on not paying for it as it would void the PRS warranty. So I could eat the cost, lose the warranty, and still be playing a waiting game because the techs on my roster that are -good- are not the same as the techs that are -fast-
c. send it to PRS for warranty repair. Automated response when I contacted them was that it might be up to 10 days before they even respond and I've been trying to collect some data on what turn around time could be. This could drag the whole fiasco out for over a month. pass.
d. go with the exchange. Still a bit of waiting. maybe the replacement is a dog, but I trust PRS being fairly consistent to go this route

 

[FuzzyAce]

All this time pondering, I already would have swapped pickups and refretted with super jumbo frets by now.









jk spawn.

 

[spawnofthesith]

It's occurred to me that I haven't tried deoxit on the switch..... maybe one last ditch effort is in order....

#flipflop

 

[itchyfingers]

If it was a Gibson, I would agree with Eagle, but PRS consistency would have me feeling pretty good about the free replacement in a couple weeks. Congrats on the new guitar SoS, it is a stunning piece, and now you can join a Goose tribute band!

 

[spawnofthesith]

If it was a Gibson, I would agree with Eagle, but PRS consistency would have me feeling pretty good about the free replacement in a couple weeks. Congrats on the new guitar SoS, it is a stunning piece, and now you can join a Goose tribute band!

I'm going to test the deoxit on my lunch break in about an hour here, but failing that yeah I think I'm just gonna roll with the exchange. I thought the pickup selector failed on my vela when I first got it, but deoxit saved the day then. Of course that was a used instrument not one that was built a month ago lol

 

[unix-guy]

AMS got back to me, doesn't sound like they're going for a partial refund. They said it would be best to do an exchange as a local repair would void PRS warranty..

They said they're getting two more purple ones in stock on the 28th, and that I can continue playing this one til then and then exchange it for a new one when theyre back in stock

Sounds like you already initiated communication with PRS, but I'd definitely suggest talking to them directly first.

 

[Byrdman]

c. send it to PRS for warranty repair. Automated response when I contacted them was that it might be up to 10 days before they even respond and I've been trying to collect some data on what turn around time could be. This could drag the whole fiasco out for over a month. pass.
d. go with the exchange. Still a bit of waiting. maybe the replacement is a dog, but I trust PRS being fairly consistent to go this route

IMO, that's bullshit! It shouldnt take 10 days to get back to you on a warranty repair. This aint a $150 Jay Turser. Come on PRS, do better!

Also IMO, when someone buys a $2500 guitar, they should receive a personal phone call from someone a few days after to make sure everything is good.

D is your best choice here IMO.