ASAT Bass microphonic pickups?

[tragicmagic]

My G&L ASAT bass tends to squeel, even when I have the amp setup clean (not overdriven) but at medium-high volume. Something is definitely microphonic... If I tap on the body, or a control knob, and even the straplocks, you can hear it through the amp.

Is it safe to get the stock pickups wax potted? Anything else I should get done (i.e. get the cavity shielded) since it's going to be at the shop anyway?

[flash99]

If it's still under warranty, you can probably get new pickups for it for free. FYI - L2000's and ASAT basses do tend to feed back at high volumes in series mode but you have to be pretty close to the amp (and trying for feedback) for that to happen. Can anyone guess who plays loud?

[tragicmagic]

Thanks for the response, flash99.

I am the original owner - lifetime warranty on the G&L's right? It's a little over 3 years old.

I also coax feedback on purpose sometimes (part of why I got the semihollow version) but with this bass it seems that it gets a microphonic squeel rather than that acoustic/musical one. Which kind of feedback were you referring to, when in series mode?

[Templar]

Food for thought.....

I've had the same problem on several G&L's, including an ASAT semi that squealed like a banshee.

It was just the pickup mounting springs. They were undamped from the factory, so I fixed 'em myself with little foam rubbers stuffed into the springs. Problem solved in 10 minutes, then it sounded killer.

I don't know why some G&L's are more prone to the spring thing than others, but that ASAT semi of mine was totally unplayable before I fixed it, and the best one (of three) afterwards.

You might want to try that before initiating a warranty claim, it just may be the cure.

[Atomik Rooster]

Originally Posted by Templar

Food for thought.....

I've had the same problem on several G&L's, including an ASAT semi that squealed like a banshee.

It was just the pickup mounting springs. They were undamped from the factory, so I fixed 'em myself with little foam rubbers stuffed into the springs. Problem solved in 10 minutes, then it sounded killer. . . .

Don't know if you're still around, but thank you for that. Mine has had a resonant ring on the neck pickup since I got it and it never occurred to me that it was the springs. I did as you suggested and it's as quiet as can be now.

[Chef]

Yessir, I had a JB2 like dat, and Templar's fix, well, fixed it.

[whacker]

Nothing like a thread revival, but I just had to put in here that I recently got a used L2500, and I didn't know what was going on when I played it, especially when slapping. It was like there was a shadow instrument playing along with me, and ringing after I muted my strings. I finally tapped the pickups with a small screwdriver and the bridge p/u was like, E, and the neck p/u was an F#! I haven't had the opportunity to yank out the pickups and damp them, but it sure was nice to run across Templar's bit of advice, and I shall be trying this soon.

Any description of how the springs are situated? One under each end, or two? And just put something inside or around/through them to dampen? Can do!

[Templar]

Inside them, just poke some soft foam rubber down into the springs. Easy as pie.

[nottswarwick]

to revive this, I would like to thank all who showed me the light - this thread has made my bass great again.

Cheers

Chris

[vettfingers]

I just wanted to say thanks for this info!!. I found it doing a search. I have a L2500 Custom that i bought new in 1998. Ever since I got it I have had a squeel problem that nobody could seem to address. I did this simple fix and I can use use this again on all my gigs. Before, I could only use it on low volume, small venue gigs. Thanks again.

[Miles Smiles]

Cool, I'll try that on my squeely F-100, maybe it helps.

Never had that problem on my L-2000 or any of the other G&L guitars I own.