Epiphone Jack Casady—Strange Pickup Issue

[Bar Band Bassman]

Try new strings, as has been mentioned.

 

[mellowgerman]

Thanks. I’ll take a look at the springs.

The main reason that came to mind is that I've had exactly that vibrating spring issue with a Casady pickup.

 

[MdC64]

I’d like to thank everyone for the help. I really appreciate it. Tapping around the body of the bass close to and on the pickguard area while plucking is affecting the sound like when tapping the pickup. I removed the pickguard but will continue to troubleshoot.
I also unscrewed the pickup again and messed around with the pickup height springs/screws.
It could be a couple of things making the D act up but am glad that the pickup is not malfunctioning.
Those of you that mentioned that it can’t be the pup—thank you.
I thought it strange as well that the D was distorting when unplugged. I failed to tap along other areas and immediately thought it was the pup.

I believe that I have all the help to get me in the right direction and eventually get the bass sounding as it should.

 

[KidAmnesia]

I’d like to thank everyone for the help. I really appreciate it. Tapping around the body of the bass close to and on the pickguard area while plucking is affecting the sound like when tapping the pickup. I removed the pickguard but will continue to troubleshoot.
I also unscrewed the pickup again and messed around with the pickup height springs/screws.
It could be a couple of things making the D act up but am glad that the pickup is not malfunctioning.
Those of you that mentioned that it can’t be the pup—thank you.
I thought it strange as well that the D was distorting when unplugged. I failed to tap along other areas and immediately thought it was the pup.

I believe that I have all the help to get me in the right direction and the bass working as it should.

Mods please close this discussion.
Thank you.

It would be nice if it's left open and you tell us here when you find the cause and solve the issue. Might be helpfull to someone else with a similar problem.

 

[micguy]

Pickups don't distort on only 1 string. You have a mechanical buzz - something is vibrating against something else, and it may be around the pickups - that spring issue mentioned here or something similar.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This might be a lengthy description of the issue.
I purchased the bass new in September and it’s been great. No problems.
I have been playing the bass all last week and on Friday evening I picked it up and started playing unplugged.
The D string suddenly has a distortion sound—mostly open string and frets 1-5, but is also heard on other frets when plucking over the pickup and between pickup and bridge. Just the D string.
No distortion sound when plugged in, plucking close to the neck and when bass is on its back.
I tapped on G side of pickup while plucking string and the distortion turns to clean. If the string sounds clean, when tapping on pup, the sound turns to distorted. Keep in mind that the bass is unplugged during this trippy behavior.
Pickup height has been fine but I raised and lowered with no change.
I have the hard case and the bass hasn’t been banged or anything like that.
Epiphone has a lifetime warranty so I’m hesitant to take things apart right now. Plus I’m not too sure what to look for.
I’d also have to go through the process of returning, etc. which is a bummer.
I use a little overdrive when playing live and plugged in but it’s weird hearing it unplugged.
All other electronics on the bass work fine.
Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Could it be the string itself?

 

[MdC64]

Could it be the string itself?

I changed the string a couple times but no change. Thanks.

 

[MdC64]

It would be nice if it's left open and you tell us here when you find the cause and solve the issue. Might be helpfull to someone else with a similar problem.

You are correct. I deleted my request to end the discussion.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I changed the string a couple times but no change. Thanks.

I see that now.
Sorry for the rehash.
That spring thing sounds like a possibility.

Another thing, the bridge on those don't have springs on the string adjusters but can loosen. Check to see if they are tight.

 

[MdC64]

I see that now.
Sorry for the rehash.
That spring thing sounds like a possibly.

No problem. I appreciate the suggestion. I’m still working on it…I’m glad that the distorted string sound doesn’t come through the amp and can still jam the JC.

 

[MdC64]

The main reason that came to mind is that I've had exactly that vibrating spring issue with a Casady pickup.

Well, I thought I solved the issue yesterday afternoon. Took off pickguard, unscrewed pickup and raised/lowered the springs, looked them over before reinstalling and all looked fine. The D vibration was gone but appeared again this afternoon.
What did you do to your pup springs to fix the issue?
Thanks.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Well, I thought I solved the issue yesterday afternoon. Took off pickguard, unscrewed pickup and raised/lowered the springs, looked them over before reinstalling and all looked fine. The D vibration was gone but appeared again this afternoon.
What did you do to your pup springs to fix the issue?
Thanks.

Sometimes a little piece of rubber tubing over the springs can help.

And another thing, the bridge on those don't have springs on the string adjusters but can loosen. Check to see if those screws are tight.

 

[mellowgerman]

Well, I thought I solved the issue yesterday afternoon. Took off pickguard, unscrewed pickup and raised/lowered the springs, looked them over before reinstalling and all looked fine. The D vibration was gone but appeared again this afternoon.
What did you do to your pup springs to fix the issue?
Thanks.

If you have some relatively stiff pickup-mounting foam, or anything of similar consistency (maybe a sponge?) cut a thin strip that sits snuggly in-between the springs and the side of the pickup. Did the trick for me. Alternately, you could always try some stiffer springs that won't be as prone to vibrating. Hopefully that's helpful!

 

[MdC64]

If you have some relatively stiff pickup-mounting foam, or anything of similar consistency (maybe a sponge?) cut a thin strip that sits snuggly in-between the springs and the side of the pickup. Did the trick for me. Alternately, you could always try some stiffer springs that won't be as prone to vibrating. Hopefully that's helpful!

Very helpful. Thanks.
I won’t get to it today, but will update.

 

[MdC64]

Sometimes a little piece of rubber tubing over the springs can help.

And another thing, the bridge on those don't have springs on the string adjusters but can loosen. Check to see if those screws are tight.

View attachment 4998106

Great. Thanks.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

You’re hearing distortion when unplugged?

Then it’s not an electrical issue. I suspect you’re hearing something rattling or buzzing mechanically.

I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this, as well.

If unplugged, I would start by inspecting the saddle. Then, I would look to the string un-winding, somewhere?

 

[MdC64]

I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this, as well.

If unplugged, I would start by inspecting the saddle. Then, I would look to the string un-winding, somewhere?

Saddle is fine and I tried a couple different D strings.
I’m using La Bella LTFs and tried a D from a used GHS Pressure wound and GHS P flats. No change. Thanks.

 

[sunbeast]

The construction of the Casady bass is mostly hollow, which means vibrations can really spread easily across anything touching the body in a way that a solid-body bass would likely dampen to a much greater degree (if you have much experience with acoustic/electric guitars these things are pretty common). The pickup is a likely source, but it could easily be wires touching the top wood inside the bass, or a loose pot or the transformer that is mounted internally. Could be the springs of the pickup, could be the pickup ring, could be part of the bridge (those 3-point bridges are a bunch of loose components held together by tension and only one string buzzing definitely points to a bridge issue), etc. Could also be something in the neck like the truss rod, truss cover, loose part of a tuner, etc. Buzzes like this are annoying and you'll probably figure it out at some point! The pickups is likely not broken if it sounds good plugged in

 

[MdC64]

The construction of the Casady bass is mostly hollow, which means vibrations can really spread easily across anything touching the body in a way that a solid-body bass would likely dampen to a much greater degree (if you have much experience with acoustic/electric guitars these things are pretty common). The pickup is a likely source, but it could easily be wires touching the top wood inside the bass, or a loose pot or the transformer that is mounted internally. Could be the springs of the pickup, could be the pickup ring, could be part of the bridge (those 3-point bridges are a bunch of loose components held together by tension and only one string buzzing definitely points to a bridge issue), etc. Could also be something in the neck like the truss rod, truss cover, loose part of a tuner, etc. Buzzes like this are annoying and you'll probably figure it out at some point! The pickups is likely not broken if it sounds good plugged in

Thanks. I appreciate the help.

 

[MdC64]

Just a little update:
I was about to to take out the pickup to put foam between the pup springs but thought I’d take a look at the bridge one more time.
I loosened the string just a bit, pressed the string behind the saddle, fiddled with the saddle (again) retuned, checked intonation and since Wednesday no more unplugged D distortion.
Strange fix if that was it.
I’ve been jamming the JC since with no reoccurrence…so far. I really like this bass.
I was down to my last bridge troubleshoot attempt.
Previously, I took the sucker apart, taking off the entire bridge, saddles, etc.
The padding of pup springs will wait for now.
Thanks for the help.
Also, since this didn’t end up being a pickup malfunction, (silly of me to think the string could distort unplugged through the pup). I appreciate being able to troubleshoot in this forum with all helpful, straightforward and kind responses.
Have a great weekend all.