MIJ fretless Fender J Bass - electrics question

[Jerry_B]

I recently acquired one of these (late 1980s version) for £150, and it's doesn't seem to have been all that well looked after. I've not owned a Fender bass before so I'm not sure whether to keep some of the original hardware or replace some odds and ends.

When I opened it up, most of the wiring had fallen off of the electrics. Alot of the brass plating underneath the pickups is mottled - I guess from exposure to damp. I resoldered the wiring and brass earthing strip, but there still seems to be some issues.

The pickups seem to work but don't seem to be firing on all cylinders in terms of volume. They also have some black mottling, again I think this is from exposure to damp conditions. Also, the tone control doesn't work and in general there is alot of noise and clicking.

Am I right in thinking that this may all be salvagable by installing new pots, or does it sound like the pickups are also past their prime?

[pacojas]

replace everything and be done! if money is tight just start with POT CLEANER and replace if necessary. gl.

[bassmanrocke]

If you are getting output from both pickups it is likely that a simple rewire(replace pots and cap)should do the job. It is also possible that the pots can be salvaged by spraying them out thoroughly with contact cleaner. Additionally, if the volume is decreased when both pickups are turned up you may have them out of phase. The pickups should have reverse polarity/reverse wind to become humcancelling when used together, if they end up out of phase they affectively cancel each other creating less volume and a hollow tone. If this is the case reverse the leads on one or the other pickup. Good luck with your Jazz.

[Jerry_B]

Thanks chaps! I think I'll give the pots some attention and see what happens. If they've suffered from damp I guess they may need replacing, but I wasn't sure.

bassmanrocke - what do you mean by 'reversing' the leads?