B.C Rich Warlock - snap, crackle ....
 

Hi all,

While I don't like to play the "I'm a girl" card too much.... I have to admit with repairs and etc - I'm a typical girl". I know how to plug my bass into the amp and turn the volume up. Fine, I admit it.

So awhile back I got a used B.C. Rich Warlock. It's got a big shatter/crack in the back of it that looks like it may have been dropped, but that was all I noticed and I got it used at a cheap price. Well seemed to play fine for awhile, and then all of a sudden - I notice it doesn't like me using the pick up switch selector or the tone knob. Crackles and buzzes at me, but only for small amounts of time. Didn't make too much of it.

Well tonight I took it to band rehearsal and besides being a huge pain in the .... shoulder and neck from the weight of this head heavy monster.... it starts it's buzz and crackle routine, only now it's occasional cutting out on me, too. Unacceptable.

So now.... I guess my only question is: what do I tell the repairs guy so I sound sort of intelligent.... ? Anyone else have this problem? :help:

Sounds like a loose connection, it's making unstable connections somewhere, which would explain the crackling.

Thanks Nick. I'm so irritated with it right now! Hopefully this isn't a costly issue..... :/

Yeah it definitely sounds like you need your wiring checked, possibly some new pots as well(they're pretty cheap). I'm surprised someone in your band doesn't know basic wiring.

Wiring is easy. I charge my buddies $20+ cost of parts for total re-wires. Takes me about 30 minutes for a strat (3 pots and a 5-way switch).

A shop shouldn't charge you too much to replace the electronics. $50 tops for parts and labor seems reasonable to me. Some places might charge more.

It's likely that the electronics are stock, and stock electronics can be pretty sucky. I replace the wiring in any new guitar i get unless it comes with full size pots and a decent switch.

Thanks a lot everyone, sets my mind at ease more and I will feel a little more intelligent now when I take it in likely later today. :-)

I know practically nothing about basses, but to my surprise I fixed a similar problem by taking my knob off and spraying WD-40 down the spindly bit. Might be worth a try.

Hey Steve, that sounds like a good idea....... :-) Thanks

You ever get this resolved?