Ken Smith Bass Pickup Problem

HarryFord · #1 12-05-2010, 06:24 PM

Hey all, I have a Ken Smith BSR5JMW purchased new in 1998 and I have a problem with the neck pickup that cuts out. It was originally made for Ken Smith by Bill Lawrence. I am trying to find a repair/rewinding/replacement for it. Ken Smith no longer has the original ones and the replacement they offer doesn't even sound close to the original. Anyone have one of that vintage or recommend a good company to fix mine ? I may try Lindy Fralin for repair but am open to suggestions. Thanks !!

walterw · #2 12-05-2010, 09:02 PM

are you sure it's the pickup and not something downstream like the pan pot?

HarryFord · #3 12-06-2010, 06:37 AM

Yeah, I am sure, I press on the pickup and it cuts out and I replaced the pickup and the bass works fine. I just don't like the sound of the new pickup at all.

SGD Lutherie · #4 12-06-2010, 06:46 AM

Can you actually get into the original pickup? I know Ken's current pickups (which are made by Kent Armstrong) are cast in epoxy. Most of the Bill Lawrence pickups I have seen are too.

If you can't get into the pickup, you can't repair it.

How does the wire come out of the pickup?

HarryFord · #5 12-06-2010, 07:10 AM

The pickup does slip out of the black case it is in and there are two small solder poles on the bottom of the pickup.

SGD Lutherie · #6 12-06-2010, 07:18 AM

OK, then it shouldn't be to difficult to fix.