Jazz Bass Neck Pup problem

Stingray5 · #1 02-15-2008, 04:01 PM

Hoping someone might have some insight on this - I have a jazz bass and the neck pup 'pops' when tapped on - it's the same sound as that pickup 'clack' when the string touches an exposed pole piece.

If I just tap on the plastic part of the pickup (anywhere on it for that matter) it produces this really loud popping sound. So it has nothing to do with string contact.

It's a new problem as it definitely wasn't happening before.

the bridge pickup is not affected.

The oddest part is that in troubleshooting this problem, I took another (good) jazz pup from another bass and also put different pots in, and it Still happens!

So of course now I'm stumped. My only other thoughts would be grounding, but there is an intact ground wire from under the bridge to the tone pot, and there are no other signs of grounding issues (no hiss or buzz). But then grounding would be the only thing left..?

Anyone have any ideas or ran into something like this? It's affecting my playing because I can't really slap on the E string too hard or it triggers this popping (no matter how low the pickup is)..

meev992 · #2 02-15-2008, 04:48 PM

bump for OP

joeyl · #3 02-15-2008, 08:21 PM

quit tapping the pickup

try the same pickup but remove the pickguard and see if it makes a difference, me thinks it could be static build up

Stingray5 · #4 02-15-2008, 08:53 PM

thanks guys for the bump and the reply..

the pickguard is currently off while I work on this and no change. Also I took the strings off and still the same thing.

There's no shielding to speak of here, so not sure if that would be a factor? But that wouldn't explain why it's only the neck pickup.

I'm really perplexed here. I've been playing bass for 20 years and this is the first time I've had a problem that I just can't figure out..

meev992 · #5 02-15-2008, 09:03 PM

your bass is haunted, you need the help of a priest.

bump