Is my pickup dying or dead already?

[gavriloP]

Hello, first post here!

I have a strange problem with my Charvel 2B bass, there is probably something broken. It is a P/J bass and its P pickup acts very strangely. Occasionally when I play especially on A or D string and with some force it crackles and dies completely (no sound) but when I just bang strings a lot or turn pots it starts to work again. It seems to happen more often in certain notes and around 7-12 frets. The bridge J pickup works just fine (I mean when I only use it there is no problem). All the wires seem to be ok visually.

If that P pickup is broken I'd like to know is there anything to do apart from buying new?

I have to say this is irritating because it works if I play gently but of course one can't play like that always ;-) I use this bass for DI recording.

-Mikko

[ByF]

That's pretty strange. It almost sounds like a faulty connection somewhere in the wiring, that is affected by playing those notes.

What kind of a battery case does it have? Does it have the snaps or flat metal tabs that contact the battery terminals? I am wondering if it is just a bad connection at the battery. Is there any corrosion or anything on the contacts?

Instead of inspecting the wires visually, you might want to give them a little tug and make sure the solder joints are solid. If the wire comes off when you tug on it, it was a bad solder joint. Don't tug very hard, especially on pickup wires--they are fragile.

It doesn't sound like a problem with the pickup if fiddling with the pots fixes it--it sounds like a problem with the pot, or the wiring going to it. Does it have a pickup balance pot? I would look at that one, and check it with an ohmmeter if you have one. Or squirt some pot cleaner into it.

I dunno, this is strange. But I love a mystery!

Ed

[gavriloP]

Yes, I think I have to start to really check the electronics and maybe even test another pickup (I have one idle shadow P bass pickup). These pickups in my bass are all passive so there's no battery. I thought that the pots are not faulty because sound only cuts out while playing little harder. And I can also bang strings physically to get it back in shape (just like my father "fixed" our TV set back in the day, heh). It really feels like bad connection but I am lost as to how it happens only on certain strings.

And like I wrote that J bass bridge pickup works all the time. Bass has shared volume and tone pots (same pot for both PUs). Third pot "mixes" the PUs.

[woffle]

Had same with a Rick back in 77/78.Solved problem by selling the thing.Slill hurting,
should have fixed the wireing,was enoying and was young and dumb,now I'm just old.
Woffle

[MNAirHead]

I've never had pickups go bad.. wires become disconnected.. plugs become weak.. pots become dirty.

[woffle]

Originally Posted by woffle

Had same with a Rick back in 77/78.Solved problem by selling the thing.Slill hurting,
should have fixed the wireing,was enoying and was young and dumb,now I'm just old.
Woffle

Funny thing is,the guy who got it never once had any problems,had a pro job on neck(made it a fretless).
Dude never plays nowdays,bass hangs on his wall somewhere.
Got this from his ex keyboarder who I see occasionally.
I wanted it back but he's not letting it go,and I'm kinda happy/pleased with the situation.At least he respects it.
Woffle

[gavriloP]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I've never had pickups go bad.. wires become disconnected.. plugs become weak.. pots become dirty.

Hey! This sounds promising! I like the sound of this Jackson pickup (it's not spectacular but works nicely) and don't have money to buy some good stuff.

I can't really sink my teeth into this until tomorrow but we'll see. I hope it's just connection problem.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I've never had pickups go bad.. wires become disconnected.. plugs become weak.. pots become dirty.

+1 Yep.

Check the wires, and maybe the solder connections need to be redone.

If in doubt, take it to someone knowledgeable, and that doesn't mean Guitar Center!