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Spector Legend bass problem: Will not output ANY signal at all

Eric Aquilina

Eric Aquilina

Oct 17, 2021
77
50
Buffalo, NY
www.youtube.com
#1
Having some really unusual issues with my Spector Legend. All of a sudden out of nowhere, it wont output any signal at all. Not even buzzes or pops. I use it yesterday, it's fine. Today, it's not.

Note: I checked the battery, it is fully charged (battery not in pics I am aware of that).
I have sprayed all solder points and wires with contact cleaner.
I checked to see if there was any disconnected wires, or anything loose.

I am genuinely very confused why this is happening. Anyone with any ideas as to what to try to fix this issue, let me know!
Thanks!
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#2
You tested the battery you have, but did you try a different battery? Do the clips on the battery socket still hold secure contact with a battery? Have you tried a different guitar cable, amplifier, speaker? Do the cable, amplifier and speaker work with a different instrument? Is the amp on mute or one of the gain/volume knobs turned down? Are there other components in the signal chain you can bypass? I'm not familiar with the Legend; does it have separate active/passive modes or mute switch? Does the output jack work properly -- that's a common point of failure on many guitars.

Eric Aquilina said:
I have sprayed all solder points and wires with contact cleaner.
Click to expand...
oof. Don't do that, it does nothing for solder points and wires, and makes a nasty mess for the technician who will work on this.
 
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#3
One thing you can try: remove and re-insert the modular plugs on that one board. (It looks like an EMG stack knob EQ to me.) If you're a bit OCD about things, while the connector is off you can 'polish' the exposed pins by gently rubbing them with a pencil eraser. That battery connector is really, really old, I've only seen those on old radios made in 1960s,

Any further troubleshooting will need a volt/ohm meter and someone who knows how to use it, but I suspect the preamp isn't getting power.
 
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Reactions: Brian Patterson
#6
Aloe said:
Second vote for "don't do that"

Okay, you checked the battery. Maybe it's the cable? It happens.
Click to expand...
I have isolated that the problem is the bass. I checked many cables (and those cables work with other instruments) and my amp is fine and works with other instruments. Right now all I really think I can try is just replacing the battery terminal with a new one, if that doesn't work I'll replace the output jack, if that doesn't work I don't know what to do. Replace the whole preamp I guess.
 
#7
That battery snap is looking a little ragged but put a meter on it at the jack. Sometimes a jack can spin a little in its route and touch and ground out. Pop the 1/4 plug in and make sure no terminals are touching the body.
 
#9
Eric Aquilina said:
Problem Fixed by the way: I replaced the battery terminal and the output jack, not sure what was causing the issue but it works now!
Click to expand...
I'd guess the battery terminal but replacing the jack is a solid precaution on active basses that get used a lot, so I've found. I once fried a preamp accidentally, replaced everything but the output jack, and got no sound till I replaced it as well.
 

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