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Question about my new bass - technical

A

anaconda

Jan 31, 2008
15
0
#1
Hi guys - not sure if this is the right forum or now, but what the hell.

I just bought a bass off ebay (Fender MIM Deluxe P-Bass Special, with passive electronics). I got it for $350 including a Fender hard case, and its in great condition; it looks like it was hardly used.

However, when I play it now, when I turn the last knob (tone) it crackles alot and the knob feels kind of loose. I tried tightening the screw but it was already tight.

Secondly, when I put the tone and the J-pup up all the way I get some hissing kind of feedback from the amp. I'm kind of a noob (used to play when I was 14 for a couple of years, just started again and I'm 24).

Is there something wrong with the pot? Maybe some loose wires? Thanks guys!
 
#3
Its impossible to diagnose your trouble from your description of the problem, and you are in the wrong forum. However, as a bit of advice, take it to any music store. Any competent or imcompetent (for that matter) tech ought to be able to fix it pretty quickly.
 
#4
king_biscuit said:
Its impossible to diagnose your trouble from your description of the problem, and you are in the wrong forum. However, as a bit of advice, take it to any music store. Any competent or imcompetent (for that matter) tech ought to be able to fix it pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

thanks...i wasnt sure whether to put it here or in the repair forum.

I don't want to spend another $40 or whatever to have a tech do 5 min of work or to clean the pot or something. Thanks anyway. I'm going to clean the pot first and see if that helps.
 
#5
you will get some hiss from the jazz pup alone because its not hum canceling....resolve it...either eq the hell out of the hiss, or get a new pup...otherwise, live with it...


as for crackle when you turn the knob, grab some contact cleaner and spray it into the pot and turn it a little...a really easy fix.

as for the screw being lose, make sure the nut below the pickguard is adjusted right to make sure the 2 nuts clamp around the pickguard.
 
#6
santucci218 said:
you will get some hiss from the jazz pup alone because its not hum canceling....resolve it...either eq the hell out of the hiss, or get a new pup...otherwise, live with it...


as for crackle when you turn the knob, grab some contact cleaner and spray it into the pot and turn it a little...a really easy fix.

as for the screw being lose, make sure the nut below the pickguard is adjusted right to make sure the 2 nuts clamp around the pickguard.
Click to expand...

awesome, thanks...I think the hiss was actually because I was playing around with different sounds and I tried putting the treble really high on the amp. That, with the j-pup and tone all the way up I think caused the hiss.

I'm getting the contact cleaner tomorrow. From what I understand, I dont have to take the knob off at all? Just spray the cleaner inside in the little opening and turn the knob?
 
#8
santucci218 said:
you will get some hiss from the jazz pup alone because its not hum canceling....resolve it...either eq the hell out of the hiss, or get a new pup...otherwise, live with it...


as for crackle when you turn the knob, grab some contact cleaner and spray it into the pot and turn it a little...a really easy fix.

as for the screw being lose, make sure the nut below the pickguard is adjusted right to make sure the 2 nuts clamp around the pickguard.
Click to expand...

yes.
 
#9
anaconda said:
thanks...i wasnt sure whether to put it here or in the repair forum.

I don't want to spend another $40 or whatever to have a tech do 5 min of work or to clean the pot or something. Thanks anyway. I'm going to clean the pot first and see if that helps.
Click to expand...


I really doubt a tech would charge you $40.00 to look at the bass and you diagnose the problem -- even if the pot is sprayed in the process. The fact that the pot is loose could mean a bad pot, or perhaps the nut which holds the pot to the bass is loose. Regarding the cleaner, just spray a little into the back of the pot -- in the opening over the terminals -- and turn the knob back and forth a few times. Make sure you use real electrical contact cleaner and not something like WD40.
 
#10
anaconda said:
awesome, thanks...I think the hiss was actually because I was playing around with different sounds and I tried putting the treble really high on the amp. That, with the j-pup and tone all the way up I think caused the hiss.

I'm getting the contact cleaner tomorrow. From what I understand, I dont have to take the knob off at all? Just spray the cleaner inside in the little opening and turn the knob?
Click to expand...

Any time I can help man, let me know.

As for the EQing thing...if you like a lot of treble for your sound, than keep youur treble at 50% and turn the other EQ channels down. Professional sound guys try to first negate other channels, than boost the one they want to hear. To boost 1 channel also boosts the noise that goes with that channel.

That much is true, but than some people get crazy and try not to boost any of their channels, and thats not right either. What im saying is, play around. Figure out what you need and what you don't. It's all just long long process of you looking for that sound. Good luck finding it!
 
#11
Hey guys...thanks for all the help so far. I cleaned the pot, and it did help a good amount, although it still crackles a little -especially if I turn it while playing a note.

Also, its still loose. I can pull it out a little even with the screw tightened 100%.

The other ones are tight and dont move like this one. Does that mean its from the inside?

Thanks again.
 

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