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~~~ 1998-2001 Danelectro U2; Yellow ~~~
Shop demonstrator
Mint 99% condition

Page 4;
Differences between 1998 first run inferior switch and superior switches thereafter:
~(archived here for folks that might need this info)~
1st run's Inferior switch
Superior switch thereafter
Details of the inferior and superior switches:
Details of the Superior switches without the axle hole:
How to hold pots and switch washers and nuts for a nice scrubbing / cleaning if desired:
THESE CUSTOMER INFORMATION PAGES ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
THE OLD INFERIOR SWITCH:

Here is the dead giveaway; The original / inferior switch has an axle pin drilled through the top mounting sleeve; BUT you cannot see the axle pin hole with the top mounting nut installed (looks just like the backing nut shown here);  You have to remove the top nut to see the pin hole:
THE OLD INFERIOR SWITCH:

The newer superior switch doesn't have the axle / hole:
Let's remove the old inferior switch and see it's guts:
A cheap plastic top mechanism provides detent feel while it's switch shaft's plastic end-nub moves cheap and weak contact points.
Now let's take a look inside the superior replacement switch.

Solid, strong action, good quality, see-saw switching parts:
Both switches go back together rather easily with a little care and caution to not crush something with the pliers.  Vice grips work great because you can dial in very small amounts of travel to help prevent crushing anything. (Like old guitars, old patinaed tools have faithful soul ! ).......
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Unless a person is reasonably knowledgeable about basic electronics, then the information up to this point is all that will be meaningful.  If a first run inferior switch is found it is best for a guitar tech or electronics tech to remove the old switch and replace it with a high quality switch.
Guitar techs will understand the pictures and brief info about the inferior first run switches provided below to show why these switches are considered inferior and prone to malfunction:
--------------------------------------------- oOo ---------------------------------------------
Spring-loaded switch ball-finger:
Contact rocker; Contact nubs facing up here; Center detent is also the center rocking contact:
NOTE:  Danelectro switching scheme does NOT turn pickups on, it turns undesired pickups off by grounding the pickup leads to themself killing any RF antenna effect (hum) the single coil pickup would otherwise have with either pickup lead still in the circuit. In the center switch position no circuit contacts are made thus no pickup is killed and are thus all on.
Internal rocker seat and contact lugs:
External solder / hookup lugs: