Electronics must hate me.

[McThumpenstein]

Queue the backstory:
I have two basses, they have both been in their hard cases for a number of years. I recently dusted them off, cleaned them, gave them new strings, and set them up. However, each h as its own unique set of electrical problems that I was hoping you could help me with.

1. 1992 Peavey Foundation: This one appears to have a short in the jack somewhere. If you plug it in, it makes a hellacious static noise until you settle it in just the right place. I tried adjusting the tang that the plug engages when you plug it in, but no dice. I don't see any loose wires or anything. If worse comes to worse, I have long considered putting some new hardware in it, but it is a cheap bass.

2. 1994 Carvin LB76: This bass has active electronics. I did remember to take the battery out before I stored it, thankfully. When turning the dial for the rear pickup, or sometimes the volume, all sound goes out until I either turn it back, or turn it way up. I'm assuming there's something screwing with the pot, but while I'll happily tear into the wiring in a car or motorcycle, I'm scared to hurt my bass...why is that?

thanks in advance.
E

[rhino333]

For #1, did you try another cord? Dumb question maybe but had to be asked.

For #2, I recommend starting with tuner (drum) cleaner and lube. My P-Bass was doing that recently. As soon as I hit it with the cleaner and lube, she was fine. Seeing as it was sitting, it couldn't hurt it anyways. Radio Shack has the stuff for under $10.

[McThumpenstein]

Originally Posted by rhino333

For #1, did you try another cord? Dumb question maybe but had to be asked.

For #2, I recommend starting with tuner (drum) cleaner and lube. My P-Bass was doing that recently. As soon as I hit it with the cleaner and lube, she was fine. Seeing as it was sitting, it couldn't hurt it anyways. Radio Shack has the stuff for under $10.

1. Not a dumb question at all, but coming from the Computer industry, the first thing I did was swap out the cable...then swap it out again. No dice.

2. I will check it out. I need to go to the Shack anyway to pick up some parts for another wiring project I need to do.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

[Stealth]

#1 might be the ground and signal wire touching somewhere, or if it's shielded, one of the wires might intermittently contact the shield.
#2 is probably a bad pot.

[SGD Lutherie]

Neither of them are brand new, and electro-mechanical devices wear out. Jacks go bad all the time, especially the flush mount panel or barrel jacks.

Pots will get scratchy from oxidation, especially if they have been sitting for a long time without being rotated.

All these things are fairly easy to fix however.

[McThumpenstein]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Neither of them are brand new, and electro-mechanical devices wear out. Jacks go bad all the time, especially the flush mount panel or barrel jacks.

Pots will get scratchy from oxidation, especially if they have been sitting for a long time without being rotated.

All these things are fairly easy to fix however.

That is good news. I don't think the wife would buy the "I need to take off this knob and put a whole new bass under it" story.

[McThumpenstein]

Originally Posted by Stealth

#1 might be the ground and signal wire touching somewhere, or if it's shielded, one of the wires might intermittently contact the shield.
#2 is probably a bad pot.

I don't think it's shielded, I think the Foundation is/was pretty low-shelf, so I'm not expecting miracles. Especially after what I put it through way back when.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by McThumpenstein

I don't think the wife would buy the "I need to take off this knob and put a whole new bass under it" story.

Sig'd.

As for the jack, try just bending the large prong in. It's possible that the tip isn't making full connection with the cable.

If you need to go the new electronics route, it's a $10 fix and requires only de-soldering and then re-soldering 6 wires. Quick and painless.

[McThumpenstein]

I'm honored you took my drool-soaked ramblings for your sig.

i will try to pull to cover soon. if not tonight, it will be this weekend. If I follow, you mean that I should just re-solder the original wires back in place, or just replace them with a similar gauge?

[mech]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Pots will get scratchy from oxidation, especially if they have been sitting for a long time without being rotated.

Jacks will also build up a layer of oxidation on the tip and sleeve connections. I'd try the cleaner on the jack and plug the cord in a dozen or so times before I replaced it. The Foundation was at price point when new but is a great USA instrument. With a proper set up you will have a great sounding, playing bass.

mech

[McThumpenstein]

Originally Posted by mech

Jacks will also build up a layer of oxidation on the tip and sleeve connections. I'd try the cleaner on the jack and plug the cord in a dozen or so times before I replaced it. The Foundation was at price point when new but is a great USA instrument. With a proper set up you will have a great sounding, playing bass.

mech

I will add that to the list of things to check.
I know in college I knew guys with music man and Ernie Ball basses, and as nice as they were, my Peavey could always get the job done just as well.

My Carvin was a great deal too, and it always impresses me the great sounds I can get out of it.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by McThumpenstein

Queue the backstory:
I have two basses, they have both been in their hard cases for a number of years. I recently dusted them off, cleaned them, gave them new strings, and set them up. However, each h as its own unique set of electrical problems that I was hoping you could help me with.

1. 1992 Peavey Foundation: This one appears to have a short in the jack somewhere. If you plug it in, it makes a hellacious static noise until you settle it in just the right place. I tried adjusting the tang that the plug engages when you plug it in, but no dice. I don't see any loose wires or anything. If worse comes to worse, I have long considered putting some new hardware in it, but it is a cheap bass.

2. 1994 Carvin LB76: This bass has active electronics. I did remember to take the battery out before I stored it, thankfully. When turning the dial for the rear pickup, or sometimes the volume, all sound goes out until I either turn it back, or turn it way up. I'm assuming there's something screwing with the pot, but while I'll happily tear into the wiring in a car or motorcycle, I'm scared to hurt my bass...why is that?

thanks in advance.
E

Two simple or possibly semi-simple problems. It's typical for Jacks to lose tension on the tang when older. You have covered that with a tang-bend, however. Make sure the jack is mounted tight as that is the OTHER signal connection.

Since you bent the tang I assume it's a standard jack and the ultimate fix is a new jack. It may have a short in the crimped jack parts. Make sure you get a Switchcraft jack when you replace it. Cheap import jacks tend to loose tang tension over time and a switchcraft jack will tend to keep the tension much better. Always a good investment. Soldering will be required.

The pot thing is also typical. They develop corrosion and crud just sitting. The quick fix is a spray can of De-Oxit "D" (NOT "gold") from radio shack. Poof the pot and rotate it around to see if it gets fixed. If not you'll have to buy a new pot and install it. Soldering again required.

Good luck.

[McThumpenstein]

Thank you all for the great replies. I will hopefully have an update soon.

[McThumpenstein]

Dusting this thread off.
I finally sacked up and purchased a new jack. 5 bucks and quite possibly the world's worst soldering job later and she sings like a rather large woman with a stuttering problem. The tone is clear as a bell, the stuttering is from my lack of talent. I have to turn the onboard volume way down, so I'm assuming the signal is getting through much clearer now.
Thank you for helping me revive my old friend!!