Okay, here's one guitar-setup-related I can't figure out ...

[Jeff R]

In preparation for the overhaul on my 48th Street Custom ESP strat, I have a new three-way traditional-construction strat/tele style blade switch to integrate into the wiring harness.

Every time I get one of these things new, without fail, they are as stiff as shit to move. The two-pickup strat styles I've had over the years with a three way blade switch in the traditional strat position left welts on my right hand because they also were tight as shit, plus I tend to pop the switch hard in "unleash the f*cking fury" moments." I want the switch to behave like a screen door on an old ranch house - loose as shit from being banged around, but it still works just fine mechanically.

Before I screw it up or break it, is there a way to loosen this switch up before I install it in and wire the guitar?

[carfish7]

I'd say "unleash the f*cking fury" for a while and see if it loosens up a bit........

Mebbe some lube as well?

[murkat]

the lever may be binding on the plastic/ pick guard orifice that the switch goes thru.

ream out the plastic with a jewelers file.

If it is the switch all by itself...

depends on the manufacturer of the switch...

A carling or switchcraft can be made a lil looser....

see how much tension is on the spring...

sometimes removing the spring helps.

sometimes removing the spring, taking a torch to it, putting back on, helps.

sometimes taking, modding the indent roller a lil bit can also make it smoother.

[Jeff R]

It's the switch itself that's tight for my tastes. I spec'd the Musikraft body with a rear-loaded strat blade rout in the traditional position, and I opened up their rout in the wood a tad very gently using one of Vonnie's emery boards (!). The body's hole is perfect now.

Looking at the switch now, it doesn't have a spring. I think it was packaged AllParts but I don't recall ... it's been sitting unwrapped and unused, NOS, in my box for ages. It's got the two rows of four ears and it's relatively exposed (guts are encased but open on the edges, one side metal, one side that beige fiberboard plastic'ey stuff), it's not one of those enclosed black box switches like Ibanez uses.

I may just sit around this week and switch it repeatedly while I watch TV. The way an old screen door turns into "that" feel is by being banged around repetitively for a while.

After I typed all that, I just traced part numbers on the Internet, Jay. It's an Oaks Grigsby three-way according to manufacturer numbers..

[murkat]

then you will have to loosen up the center pinion some how...