Vintage Mustang - No Output From D/G Side

whyseye · #1 12-24-2010, 12:21 PM

Hey Guys - pretty newbish question here.
I have a 76 Mustang that has always had lower output on the D/G half of the pickup than the E/A side. At first I thought that I was imagining it, but lately it seems that it's not picking up at all. I've just picked it backup after an extended lovefest with the Allen Woody Rumblekat, and it's pretty glaringly obvious that's something is truly amiss.
I don't want to harm the bass by diving into it with nothing but ignorance and confidence as my guide, but by the same token, I'm not adverse to a little carefully guided self-help if a quick and simple DIY fix will save a pricey trip to the bass hospital.
I've never pulled a loaded pickguard before, and I don't know what I'd be looking for in terms of visual clues to the source of the problem. I'm not sqeamish about taking things apart, and am pretty meticulous about proper reassembly, but I really hesitate to potentially devalue a beautiful, and to my knowledge, totally stock instrument?
Am I in over my head? And if so, who would you recommend in the Los Angeles area for this kind of work?

Billy3000 · #2 12-24-2010, 10:53 PM

It is possible that the wire between the E/A side and the D/G side got disconnected somehow. This happened to the SD 1/4 Pound p bass pickup when I used to have it in my old epiphone p bass copy. Check that. If that's the problem just solder it back in place and it should work again. If that's not it then there might be something wrong with the coils on that side.

whyseye · #3 12-25-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy3000

It is possible that the wire between the E/A side and the D/G side got disconnected somehow. This happened to the SD 1/4 Pound p bass pickup when I used to have it in my old epiphone p bass copy. Check that. If that's the problem just solder it back in place and it should work again. If that's not it then there might be something wrong with the coils on that side.

Thanks, Billy! That was kind of the picture of the problem that I had in my head, but wasn't sure if that was realistic.
I'm also a little concerned about disconnecting, or pinching, a ground wire. I'll do a little looking around for schematics before I start pulling things apart, and see if I can visualize and target the potential problem areas before it's all opened up.
Anyone else have ideas, suggestions, experience, etc.?

whyseye · #4 12-25-2010, 10:10 AM

Also, if it is a coil problem, what are my options?
Is that repairable, or will I need to replace the pickup altogether? And if replacement is needed, what would be the best choice, either to keep the bass as stock as possible for potential resale someday (after I'm cold and dead), or to optimize the sound as a player's instrument?
So many questions - my newb is showing.

Foamy · #5 12-25-2010, 10:10 AM

Dude, it's just screws.... Take off the strings, remove the screws and flip it over. Despite how much we rub 'em, there are no magic Geenies in our basses. If the problem is was was "guessed", then it'll be very obvious from visual inspection.

whyseye · #6 12-25-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

Dude, it's just screws.... Take off the strings, remove the screws and flip it over. Despite how much we rub 'em, there are no magic Geenies in our basses. If the problem is was was "guessed", then it'll be very obvious from visual inspection.

Damn!! I totally paid extra for the magic Geenie option. Now I AM pissed!!

I know, it's just stuff. But years working in the camera biz has shown me how dangerous a little assumption can be - and how expensive cleaning up after it can be.
But I'm not a complete nimrod, so I should be okay. There's no shutter for me to put a finger through, right?

Foamy · #7 12-25-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyseye

Damn!! I totally paid extra for the magic Geenie option. Now I AM pissed!!

I know, it's just stuff. But years working in the camera biz has shown me how dangerous a little assumption can be - and how expensive cleaning up after it can be.
But I'm not a complete nimrod, so I should be okay. There's no shutter for me to put a finger through, right?

Right! I trained at Mamiya back in the day to repair various RB models and lenses. Nothing like that at all in the bass.
Good luck!

whyseye · #8 01-21-2011, 06:42 PM

Update to the story...
I stopped by the little mom and pop store where I originally bought the bass several years ago. The owner is little eccentric, but has been a okay guy to deal with in my few dealings with him. The guy who does the setups there is a really good guy, who was a good customer of mine when I worked in a mom and pop camera store back in the day.
I mentioned to the owner the situation that I've been having, that the one pickup has always been weak, and has recently cut out altogether. I also take full responsibility for not bringing it back immediately when I figured it out, because a lot of time had passed by then, and used gear can't be warrantied forever, and I haven't been able to play much due to some back issues.
However, I recently bought a new black PG to replace the white one, and figured that as long as it was apart, I could get the black one that I've always wanted loaded up when it was put back together.
I asked what he'd charge to (have my friend) do that, and he quoted $40-50, including troubleshooting the pup problem. He said that if the pickup was actually dead, he could pop in another set from another used bass in his stock (an odd headless with Mustang pups in a custom cover over a big rout).
Does that sound reasonable to you all? Sounds fair to me, but I'm curious what you might think.
I'd ask to keep the old pickups and pickguard, just in case I ever needed to sell it down the line (not if I can help it - ever).