Any clue what's wrong with my bass?

Da LadY In Red · #1 10-14-2007, 10:35 PM

So I bought a Johnson P bass a few years ago for $65 with a bag... Anyways, I ended up treating it like a $65 bass (including my bandmates being idiots and chucking it around like it was a battle axe) and now I actually want to play it since it's a P bass and my other bass is a Sterling.

Here's the dilemma. All the wiring seems to be good between the pots and the pick-ups (nothing loose or broken) but when plugged in, it makes lots of noise but doesn't work. No audible clue that the pick-ups are picking up anything.

So what's going on? Is it possible to kill a pot? I don't know too much about electronics, so does anybody have a clue?

Thanks!

modwickman2020 · #2 10-15-2007, 06:29 AM

Try taking a look at the jack....

ElectrAcoustic · #3 10-15-2007, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modwickman2020

Try taking a look at the jack....

+1, that always seems to be the 1st thing that goes.

lowb1970 · #4 10-15-2007, 06:35 AM

It could be one of two things:
1) You need a new jack and you'll be good to go.
2) You may have already tried this, but a new cord could solve the problem.

It is possible to kill a pot, and from your descritption of the treatment this bass has received it could be that also. Try the above 2 first and then my best advice would be to redeem yourself and show the bass some love by taking it to a trained repair person who can get it working properly...its the least you could do...;-)

Da LadY In Red · #5 10-15-2007, 01:31 PM

Yeah, I know I got what was coming... I got a new Fender MIM neck and possibly some Quarter Pounders to make amends.

I'll try the new jack. Thanks for the help though!

kyral210 · #6 10-15-2007, 03:35 PM

Old kit, and cheap old kit especially tends to have crap inside of it. I got a £50 Squire P-Bass of ebay that was a piece of junk! The wiring was like a child had done it, cheap as you like kit and a tone dead pickup.

The solution

Select (by EMG) P-Bass pickup = £20
New pots = £5
Orange drop 0.047 uF capacitor = £0.80
Getting a smooth and responsive sound from a piece of junk = Priceless

I know you may think dam, that's half of that bass's value, but it really transformed the sound into a real P-Bass tone! Ok, its not as good as a custom shop Fender, but its a very good cheap one.

Below is me playing it at 'The Underworld' in London:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LbBGqIF80nQ

(sorry for the UK currency, but hey, im English)

RonChase · #7 08-28-2008, 02:53 PM

take the pick guard off while bass is plugged into a small amp very small have volume down to where you can hear it.I assume it will hum as it always does.Touch each connection and listen to if hum stops I suspect maybe a cracked solder joint which is why everything appeared good if this dont work you can fix or replaceuse it for a trade it sounds like its not cost effective to fix.Or find a junk bass like a P-bass these are the most common copies of bass out there and take the pickguard out in tact it should fit your bass good luck and always remember smash some one in the bands guitar next time and see how they like it then you can mail me the wreckage