2003 MIM Jazz Bass - Neck PU problem.

[edgerunner]

I mentioned this over the Amps forum in the Budget Boutique Carvin LS1503 thread - but thought I really ought to post the question here.

My son's bass seems to have a problem with the neck pu. When I turn the bridge p/u all the way down and turn the neck p/u all the way up - there is VERY little sound coming through. If I crank the amp up more, keep the bridge pu off, and turn the Tone knob all the way off - the volume drops way down, turn the tone all the way up - it comes up BUT - the overall volume is WAY lower than the bridge pu. If I hit the strings really hard - the neck pu sounds distorted (crackly noisy distorted).

I have the control cavity opened up and it seems to be wired correctly (as compared to the schematic off the Fender site). I though I was going to find a loose solder connection but it all looks clean and solid.

Does this sound like a bad pu or a bad pot or some other issue?

I was thinking about replacing the stock pu's anyway at some point with the DiMarzio DP123s, but my son is recording a demo on Monday and I'd like to get this straightened up before then if possible. He can always just avoid the neck pu for now.

Any ideas? Also, I saw it mentioned on another thread somewhere that you can change the stock 250k pots for 500k pots. What effect would that have? Why would one want to do that?

Thanks for any quick advice you can offer.

Cheers!
Chuck

[greenboy]

Hoi edgerunner,

See my reply in the Boutique 3-way 115 and 215 on a budget: Part II thread.