Jazzmaster toggle problem

[Azzmaster]

Today after jamming with some friends, I plugged in my CP Jazzmaster and discovered that the toggle switch in the middle position was crackling and distorting like crazy, its so bad the clean tone doesn't even come through at all anymore. I took the pick guard off to take a peek but couldn't see anything wrong with the toggle (to my eyes) any ideas whats causing this?

*EDIT*
It actually only distorts and crackles when I pick harder, is it maybe a wiring problem? Maybe some solder came loose? I don't know how it could be though if both pickups work individually.

[null.fuzz]

Do you leave the toggle in one position for long periods of time? I have this problem with one of my guitars. I've primarily used the neck pickup in that guitar so for the better part of the last 8 years the toggle switch has been in that position. Now when I try to switch to the other settings it behaves oddly most of the time. Switching to the bridge position works, but switching to the middle position sometimes sometimes doesn't engage the neck and I have to toggle back and forth a few times most of the time to actually be able to select the neck position by itself. Since the contacts on these switches are springy metal leaving it in one position other than the middle for a long period of time can actually cause that contact to remain bent when the switch is flipped. I'd suggest that the next time you replace the strings lift up the pickguard and exercise the switch to see if the contacts are working properly.

[chrisjedijane]

Spray a bit of contact cleaner in there and waggle it about a bit, should fix it for you. If that doesn't fix it you'll need a new switch, which isn't a big problem if you have even the most basic of soldering skills.

[Mitchell?]

You can try bending the contacts back in.

[Keegan]

It's a mechanical switch. I highly doubt it isn't something you can fix and that would require a new one.

[Azzmaster]

Thanks for the responses, I've taken a look at it and tried to bend it around but it looks like its touching just fine on its own. I'll try some contact cleaner.

[Azzmaster]

Took a second look at it, wiggled the contacts around, and now she works great. Thanks again.

[solfege]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I just got mine JIM working again from a similar problem with the advice here, especially the part about contact cleaner and pushing the fins on the switch up toward the pickguard just a little so they engage firmly (they had a little play, so I didn't bend them).

Thanks all!