Everything works, except for coil split

[MichelIV]

I swapped in a set of DiMarzio Breed pickups into a two-pickup, five-way (GEA5) switch-equipped guitar last night. Used a Dimarzio-supplied wiring diagram. Everything works EXCEPT for position #4 which coil splits them both. I double checked the wiring and even swapped out a pot with no luck. Sounds good in the other switch positions but I can't seem to figure out why the #4 position isn't working. Any ideas?

Diagram:

[LostInRockFormations]

What do you mean by not working ?

seems to me it should sound the same as position 5,
so its probably not a big deal that it doesnt work anyway.

My guess is it could be a dodgy switch,

Have you tried poking the wires while the guitar is plugged in ?
this can be a good way to detect loose joints.
If you are worried about electric shock you can alway use a chopstick.

[s6stringmadness]

I ran into the same problem. It happened to be the switch that was the problem. I tried a brand new switch that LOOKED just like the Ibanez switch,but the internals of the switch were different.You have to ABSOLUTEY use the Ibanez switch used in the split 5 wiring or it won't work.

[MichelIV]

It's a genuine Cor-Tek switch that I bought from Rich. I'll poke around a bit. The Alpha 5-way is identical btw...same terminal mapping and everything. I had one in my S5470 and it worked just fine until I decided to throw a hum-cancelling single coil in the middle position.

I can go through all the positions and I get sound. In #4, coil split mode (if you look at diagram, fourth from left in pickup diagram at bottom of wiring diagram), there's nothing. No sound, no buzz, nothing. As if the guitar isn't plugged in. I rewired it twice and then checked everything again. Honestly, I probably wouldn't even use that position but it'd be nice to have just in case it does sound good with the Breed pickups.

I'll poke around and see if anything changes. I just use my iPhone and one of the adapters for tuning/testing. Not a whole lot of amperage running around in that loop.

[silverctr]

I don't know what your solder skills are like, but make sure you don't have any drips between terminals. The previous owner of my RG2EX2 was super sloppy with the solder and I had the same problem. After going through a decent length of desolder braid, problem solved. I also used the same wiring diagram (but with SD colors), so I know it works.

[MichelIV]

Yeah that was going to be one of the things I was going to look at as I heard someone else (maybe you?) had dripped solder on the inside of the 5-way. I was pretty careful though. Still worth a look. I've got the guitar with me here at work, shooting proper photos.

[LonePhantom]

I think you've got the wrong Cortek switch. Sounds like its the standard strat config. I've had the same issue with a standard strat style 5 way. You need the 3PS1SC5 model. If you have it make sure you haven't accidentally installed everything back to front.

[MichelIV]

Ah crap. I got it from Rich. I blame him

[LonePhantom]

ok then.