Precision bass getting a distorted sound after pickup install/ rewire

[DylanD]

I've just installed a Lawrence p-46 and a wiring kit with 250k pots. When playing harder, there is an overdriven distortion. I've moved the pickups below what I've read as being typical heights, but its still happening.
I had a similar issue with a jazz bass that I rewired that I never resolved.
Is it possible that I just suck at soldering?
All controls function, output seems about normal.
I'm at a loss. Thanks for any responses from people that know more than myself about electronics

Here is a picture

 

[LoveThatBass]

If you are overheating pots they can be damaged

 

[DylanD]

That is possible... I had to desolder at some point. How sensitive are the pots? I didn't feel like I applied heat excessively, but I don't have much experience

 

[Laurent]

What head/amp do you use, these pickups are very hot (meaning lots of output)?

 

[DylanD]

I use an Eden 2 10 combo. The gain clipping light was not coming on.
Are you saying that the p46 has a higher output than other pickups and would maybe require more clearance from the string than what may seem normal?

 

[Crater]

The soldering looks fine. It's all but impossible for a passive circuit to "overdrive" - have you eliminated your amp from this equation? In other words, you get this distortion on ANY bass amp at ANY gain setting? The only way I can think of that you can get distortion from a passive circuit is if a poor connection is acting as a diode.

I had a similar issue with a jazz bass that I rewired that I never resolved.

Again, this points to your AMP being the problem. Find another amp to test your basses with, or find another bass to test your amp.

 

[LoveThatBass]

The soldering looks fine. It's all but impossible for a passive circuit to "overdrive" - have you eliminated your amp from this equation? In other words, you get this distortion on ANY bass amp at ANY gain setting? The only way I can think of that you can get distortion from a passive circuit is if a poor connection is acting as a diode.

Again, this points to your AMP being the problem. Find another amp to test your basses with, or find another bass to test your amp.

You are correct. What I was referring to was not overdriving but distorted sound. If the pot's wiper is barely making contact with the the carbon trace it can sound distorted. Just one of a few things that might be wrong.

 

[DylanD]

Ok. I couldn't get the bad sound out of my other amp with the p bass, but I also couldn't get any bad sounds through the first amp trying two other basses.
So now I'm even more confused...something isn't getting along between the p bass and the Eden.

 

[Laurent]

I use an Eden 2 10 combo. The gain clipping light was not coming on.
Are you saying that the p46 has a higher output than other pickups and would maybe require more clearance from the string than what may seem normal?

Yes that's exactly right. Try lowering the gain to see if the tone cleans up.

 

[DylanD]

I have to put the gain extremely low to make a difference. Even then, it doesn't go away completely. I just don't get why I only have the issue with this bass thru the Eden

 

[Will_White]

I have to put the gain extremely low to make a difference. Even then, it doesn't go away completely. I just don't get why I only have the issue with this bass thru the Eden

Does lowering the volume on bass do anything?

 

[DylanD]

Does lowering the volume on bass do anything?

It's clean at 50% or so. Turning the gain back up on the amp to compensate brings back the crunch, so it seems like an amp issue, but again, only with this bass

 

[Will_White]

It's clean at 50% or so. Turning the gain back up on the amp to compensate brings back the crunch, so it seems like an amp issue, but again, only with this bass

What about turning the volume up on the amp? Also do any particular notes make it better or worse?

 

[DylanD]

Problem solved!...though I'm still not sure what the cause was.
I decided to do a shielding job and change the capacitor to the value recommended by bill Lawrence for his pickups.
This time, I followed a different wiring diagram (one that seems to be more commonly used). The diagram I used before, I gathered It's how they used to wire 50s style p basses....Don't know why it made a difference, but it is now totally clean and quiet!