Jazz bass tone doesn't work on full volume.

[WilliamSandoval]

When both of my pickups are at full volume, the tone doesn't work at all. What's the problem?

[RBX4]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

When both of my pickups are at full volume, the tone doesn't work at all. What's the problem?

Install EMG JVX Pups in it, problem solved, lol!

[WilliamSandoval]

If any pickup is on full volume, the tone doesn't work. It's not just when both are on full.

[FunkMetalBass]

Did you buy the bass used or were you trying to mod something?

Pull off the control plate and look to see that your wiring looks like this:

[line6man]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Did you buy the bass used or were you trying to mod something?

Pull off the control plate and look to see that your wiring looks like this:

They totally stole that from Seymour Duncan!

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by line6man

They totally stole that from Seymour Duncan!

Haha, I know. I had to double-take when I saw the logo in the bottom left.

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Did you buy the bass used or were you trying to mod something?

Pull off the control plate and look to see that your wiring looks like this:

Yep. Exactly the same. I have that diagram saved in my phone!

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

Yep. Exactly the same. I have that diagram saved in my phone!

Are any of the solder joints particularly messy and possibly connecting two lugs or wires that shouldn't be connected?

[Problemchild]

Originally Posted by line6man

They totally stole that from Seymour Duncan!

Rented !





PC

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Are any of the solder joints particularly messy and possibly connecting two lugs or wires that shouldn't be connected?

The lug on the neck volume pot that is supposed to be soldered to the big round part (forgot the name) has solder on the entire lug. The loop part and the stem part which is connecting the entire lug to the round part. I'm not sure if that would affect anything, but that's all I can see.

I'll get pics up in a few minutes.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by line6man

They totally stole that from Seymour Duncan!

Totally. Buzzard needs to heed that copyright notice.

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

The lug on the neck volume pot that is supposed to be soldered to the big round part (forgot the name) has solder on the entire lug. The loop part and the stem part which is connecting the entire lug to the round part. I'm not sure if that would affect anything, but that's all I can see.

I'll get pics up in a few minutes.

That shouldn't hurt anything unless it is touching one of the other posts or another wire.

[WilliamSandoval]

Volume, Volume



Volume, Volume



Volume, Tone



Tone, Jack


Volume, Tone


Ground

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

Ground

That looks like a mess. Make sure when you put the control plate back in that that ground lug isn't touching any other wires or contacts. That could cause problems. Do you have the same problem with the tone if you plug it in with the control plate out like this?

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by Showdown

That looks like a mess. Make sure when you put the control plate back in that that ground lug isn't touching any other wires or contacts. That could cause problems. Do you have the same problem with the tone if you plug it in with the control plate out like this?

I was going to re-solder this and screw the ground lug into the side of the cavity, but the problem still occurs when the plate is out.

[SGD Lutherie]

Do you have a ground wire going from the back of the pots to the ground lug on the output jack?

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Do you have a ground wire going from the back of the pots to the ground lug on the output jack?

There is a wire that goes from the ground lug of the jack to the back of the tone pot. Should I add wires for all three pots so they would be grounded to the jack? Then what would the ground wire from the bridge do?

I'm not an electronics expert...

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

There is a wire that goes from the ground lug of the jack to the back of the tone pot. Should I add wires for all three pots so they would be grounded to the jack? Then what would the ground wire from the bridge do?

I'm not an electronics expert...

You should have all three pots grounded to each other and then to the jack. They don't do that because its sitting on metal, and they can save some wire and soldering time.

But the metal can get oxidized and you are relying on a mechanical connection. If a pot loosens up, you lose the ground connection.

All the wire to the bridge does is to ground your strings to help reduce noise. It's not a ground, it's going to ground.

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

You should have all three pots grounded to each other and then to the jack. They don't do that because its sitting on metal, and they can save some wire and soldering time.

But the metal can get oxidized and you are relying on a mechanical connection. If a pot loosens up, you lose the ground connection.

All the wire to the bridge does is to ground your strings to help reduce noise. It's not a ground, it's going to ground.

So the black and white wires that are connected to each pot are for volume, right?

So I should solder another set of wires from Pot -> Pot -> Pot -> ground lug on jack?

[WilliamSandoval]

When both volumes are on 10, the tone pot doesn't change anything from 3-10. From 2-0, it just makes it sound "narrow".

When the volumes are on anything under 10, the tone pot works completely.