Weird pots in my Tribute L2000 ?

[sailri]

I've got a 2003 Tribute L-2000, and have decided to bring it to the local shop to replace the pots. Even after cleaning they are scratchy sounding. Plus I still have the problem where the bass is actually slightly louder in passive mode than with the preamp on, either with or without treble boost.

Cost is actual time it takes, at $45/hour.

And I figured I'd buy the Mighty Mite pots direct from G&L to make sure I'm having the right ones installed. I considered "upgrading" to CTS pots and knobs, but I think I'll hold off.

So even though a few other postings here tell me I'll need two 250k pots and one 1M pot, I go and check to see what's already in my bass.

And I think they've been replaced before. So now I'm thinking maybe my low output with the preamp might be related? Maybe a wiring issue?

Here's what I've got in there now:

Bass Pot - only markings say: "CIM" and the symbol for Omega (upside down horseshoe).
Treble Pot - EPO85 250 A 0533
Volume Pot - A 250K

Also, though each pot has three "prongs" only two are wired on the bass and treble pots. None of the three look like or are marked like the other two.

And I tried calling BBE/ G&L twice but didn't get through to anyone either time, and didn't get a callback.

SO!
1. Can anyone confirm - 2 each of the 250 K and 1 each of the 1M pots?
2. I did a quick search on the EPO85 and it looks to me like its a pot made in March of 2005? And mine's a 2003 so, it was added later. Right?
3. Because I can not get through to sales over the phone - I'll just order online. But I'd also like to get three replacement black screws for the access cover panel on the back. And those parts aren't listed anywere. Any ideas where I can get some that are exact matches, or how I get them from G&L?
4. I know a few folks have mentioned weird things on their Tribs that make them suspect their preamps. I think at this point I'd just like to get the pots from G&L installed by a pro to return things to how they should be - and maybe test the preamp or give me their best judgement on if anything's really wrong.

Of course if I had a dealer in Rhode Island that actually had a new Trib L2K - I could compare the two. But I don't.

Thanks for any guidance,
Bill

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by sailri

And I figured I'd buy the Mighty Mite pots direct from G&L to make sure I'm having the right ones installed. I considered "upgrading" to CTS pots and knobs, but I think I'll hold off.

Going to the CTS pots would also require that you replace the knobs. Not worth the expense, IMO.

So even though a few other postings here tell me I'll need two 250k pots and one 1M pot, I go and check to see what's already in my bass.

And I think they've been replaced before. So now I'm thinking maybe my low output with the preamp might be related? Maybe a wiring issue?

If the wrong pots were used or incorrectly installed, then maybe.

Bass Pot - only markings say: "CIM" and the symbol for Omega (upside down horseshoe).

That's likely a C-1(one)-M. What the C is, I dunno. The 1M means one megohm. The Omega symbol is for ohms.

Treble Pot - EPO85 250 A 0533
Volume Pot - A 250K

Looks like 250K for both, so no worries there.

Also, though each pot has three "prongs" only two are wired on the bass and treble pots. None of the three look like or are marked like the other two.

This is correct. Also, there should be one "leg" of the volume pot grounded, possibly to its own case.

1. Can anyone confirm - 2 each of the 250 K and 1 each of the 1M pots?

Correct!

2. I did a quick search on the EPO85 and it looks to me like its a pot made in March of 2005? And mine's a 2003 so, it was added later. Right?

Probably, but it appears to be the correct value - at least for resistance. It's possible that it has the wrong curve, but that's not a worry for you now.

3. Because I can not get through to sales over the phone - I'll just order online. But I'd also like to get three replacement black screws for the access cover panel on the back. And those parts aren't listed anywere. Any ideas where I can get some that are exact matches, or how I get them from G&L?

Take one of your existing screws and go to a good hardware store.

4. I know a few folks have mentioned weird things on their Tribs that make them suspect their preamps. I think at this point I'd just like to get the pots from G&L installed by a pro to return things to how they should be - and maybe test the preamp or give me their best judgement on if anything's really wrong.

This looks to be a sound plan (you like that? "Sound Plan"). Okay... In all seriousness, it'll get you to a known state and you can diagnose and plan from there.

Of course if I had a dealer in Rhode Island that actually had a new Trib L2K - I could compare the two. But I don't.

Maybe this will help. It's a wiring diagram for a USA L-2000. I usually avoid this for the Tributes, so consider it only in broad terms.

Click the image or link for a PDF suitable for printing.


http://www.bassesbyleo.com/images/g&...ng_diagram.pdf

Ken...

[OtterOnBass]

Have you checked the battery? When mine was dying the active got quiet and distorted at times.

Good luck

[sailri]

Thanks - I sure did. Even with brand new battery, louder in passive.

I'll know more once the pots arrive from G&L and they're installed.

If nothing else I'll be able to have the pots new, the wiring confirmed as still being in the right place, and get a pro's opinion on whether I'm crazy or not.

I'm still loving the sound though.

I'll post the results shortly.

Bill

[sailri]

My 2003 Tribute L-2000 Now is FIXED!

Quick recap:
1. Crunchy sounds would come out of my bass while turning any of the three pots, if the volume was up at all. Cleaning didn't do the trick.
2. Switching the bass into passive (i.e. moving the switch down and away from the pickups) would actually be a little bit louder than either with the preamp or preamp with treble boost. And the difference between those two modes was very minor.
3. Also, using my instructor's setup (plugged into his preamp/amp ) we'd get a little static at times, not necessarily related to the pots being turned. I didn't hear that same thing using my Hartke though, so we thought it might be the preamp not liking the hot MFD pickups.
4. I figure I'll replace the pots with whatever G&L recommends, and have the repair shop check out the preamp switch at the same time. Ordered the Mighty Mite pots and get them the next week.

All is well. The shop owner was slightly leery of using Might Mites based on their past history, but said the ones from G&L were not bad. He said he had CTS ones that wouldn't have required replacing the knobs, so I probably should have gone that way, but they work fine, and quietly.

Using the wiring diagram someone had sent, he found the problems with the switch. Yup, this may have been one of the early Tributes with the switch in backwards, but also there was a wiring issue that he fixed.

I had tested it before bringing it in to him, and sure enough, with no battery at all, the switch only worked all the way up and in (in what would normally be preamp with treble boost).

Quick repair. Total cost at $45/hr was $63 (not including the pots from G&L). I'd recommend Adam again - especially for anyone in Southern New England:
http://www.guitardr.com/index.html

And the static sound went away - my instructor and I both noticed a real improvement in tone. I am happy!

Bill

[sailri]

And thank you Ken and everyone else on this forum!