Fender MIM Jazz (fretless) passive pickups stopped working. Cause? Fix?

You can test the pickups with a multi-meter. You should see anything from around 6k to 15k resistance between the wires coming from the pickup. You'll need to disconnect the pickups from the pots first. If you get infinite resistance through the pickup then the wire of the coil is broken somewhere inside the pickup and it is toast. Someone may know what resistance you should expect from these particular pups.

 

you're gonna have to trouble shoot step by step with a multimeter or take it to a shop.

as stated above, a basic continuity test can be done by detaching each pick-up from it's pots and using your multimeter. set your resistance level to 20~25K and probe. typical resistance level should be around 7K or so. if the meter flatlines, look at the input/output lead solder points and verify that they are whole. it isn't often that coils short out internally unless there is a break in the wires insulation from abrasion or other damage causing a short -but it's real hard to find. at that level it's less trouble to just replace the pick-up.

if the pickups pass muster, then take the investigation to the pots and move your through to the jack. if nothing has been diccovered then take it to a shop.

fwiw, be real careful taking the covers on and off. the input and output leads down there attached to the pick-up base plate are super fragile and break easily as they are around .003 in diameter.

 

A short can also cause no output. Plug a lead cord into the jack. At the other end of the cord, use a multimeter to read the resistance between the tip and the ring of the plug. If it’s zero( or close) there’s a short somewhere. Check for strads of wire touching where they shouldn’t or something touching a control contact that shouldn’t.

 

Check the output jack for corrosion. It happens to any bass not used for awhile. just open up the control cavity and use some emery paper on the output jack where the barrel and the tip contact the jack. It is often the problem.

 

I would probably go Dimarzio Area

 

That’s super weird. I can sort of understand one pickup stopping working if somehow the coil wire got broken. But both pickups dying seems a pretty long shot coincidence. I hope the replacements work out better for you.

 

You are about to receive ~5000 responses recommending every brand and model of pickup ever made. I won't be one of them: I'll just suggest that you think of this as an opportunity to treat yourself to some good ones.

 

Traditionally Jazz pickups are single coil. When soloed you will always have a little hum. Good shielding with copper tape can reduce it to a minimal level but won’t eliminate it completely. You would need a hum cancelling set to completely eliminate the hum when soloing pickups. There are lots of good options out there.

 

Would that be pickups that only let you play songs about peace and love?

 

Ha! Good catch on my typo. Corrected.