JTV-89 and JTV-89F 5 Position Switch easy fix for slipping model selections in position 2 and 4, and likely others.

[urlordfu]

I bought a new (to me) JTV-89F from Reverb and thought the switch selector was just dirty.  It was not.  I did order a full replacement for $80 off of fullcompass but just after ordering it I had an idea.   

The issue was that if I had workbench HD up, and switched the 5 position selector, sometimes the models would switch quickly between 3 and 5.  This happened even when switching to position 5, as an example, where it would not register and stayed in Workbench as position 3.  I opened up the guitar back, and removed the switch screws so I could manipulate it while it was connected to workbench still.  I noticed that the issue completely went away when I squeezed the metal housing of the 5 position selector switch.  This is common wear, and likely the spring meant to hold the contacts had just given up, because I know it was clean after spraying with contact cleaner.  It was such a perfect fix to squeeze it, and as soon as I let go, it all went crazy again in Workbench HD.  I fixed it with a single rubber band, putting MILD pressure on the casing.  I don't think of that as permanent because the rubber will eventually deteriorate.  But I do have a 3d printer, and I will eventually design a clip that will be in the same shape of a 3 but so that the top and bottom clip around the case, and the middle part gently pushes middle the case back together.  

By the way, you do have to at least remove the back of the guitar where the switch is and the 2 screws of the switch to put the rubber band on.  But if a clip can be printed, you would only need to take off the back and just clip it on and test. Hopefully this helps someone else.  I still won't have my replacement switch electronics from FullCompass.com for another 3 weeks or so so I guess I will save that in my line-6 bag just in case something else goes wrong with my guitar.  I don't seem to need it today, and I fixed it yesterday and played quite a bit and could not get anything odd to happen in Workbench or by extension the guitar in all the time I have played since placing the rubber band on the casing.  Yay!!!

 

Oh the mid-level but possibly permanent fix would be a zip-tie around the case.  Hard to do without taking the switch out, but if I had a zip tie handy, I would have used it instead.  Same idea, but more permanent.  Hmm, maybe I won't design the clip. LOL.  I didn't try THAT but remember that if you do have this issue and try a zip-tie, I recommend having it plugged in and only tightening enough to fix the issue.  "Don't crush the switch!" is my gentle advice to all.  Also you may need to put 'something' permanent to wedge into the middle of the casing because THAT is where the pressure is most needed.  In my situation, pressure is not needed around the outside, but the center.  I suspect this is going to be the same for anyone with the same switch from the factory.

[urlordfu]

Well, this did work for a while.  But I later had to break into the switch and actually clean it out and play with the wipers to modify their traversal path on the pads.   Not for the feint of heart, but it worked great for me, and does not jump around models any more.   Using a zip-tie to keep it together now, for future easy cleaning.  This is not a standard 5-way blade switch.