Squier Jazz VM 'Duncan Designed' pickups question . .

[Kiwi on Bass]

The bridge pickup on my Squier Jazz VM is so quiet I can barely hear it, but the neck pickup is loud and clear . . . I have checked all the wiring against a fender Jazz wiring diagram and had to re do all the groundwires solder joints ( the factory wiring was appauling) and the input plug was not even grounded at all!
I tested the pickups resistance, both were 7.2K ohms.
I tested the tone and volume pots (250K), all were close to the mark and operated smoothly, I replaced the bridge pickup's volume pot with a DiMarzio 250K anyway, just to be sure.
I know I have it wired and soldered correctly . . but the bridge pickup has minimal output . . . anyone have any ideas on a possible cause?
Could the pickup be faulty even with the correct resistance on the wire coil?
I appreciate any help or ideas on this problem, thanks, Kiwi.

 

[LoveThatBass]

View attachment 4119474 View attachment 4119478 View attachment 4119473 The bridge pickup on my Squier Jazz VM is so quiet I can barely hear it, but the neck pickup is loud and clear . . . I have checked all the wiring against a fender Jazz wiring diagram and had to re do all the groundwires solder joints ( the factory wiring was appauling) and the input plug was not even grounded at all!
I tested the pickups resistance, both were 7.2K ohms.
I tested the tone and volume pots (250K), all were close to the mark and operated smoothly, I replaced the bridge pickup's volume pot with a DiMarzio 250K anyway, just to be sure.
I know I have it wired and soldered correctly . . but the bridge pickup has minimal output . . . anyone have any ideas on a possible cause?
Could the pickup be faulty even with the correct resistance on the wire coil?
I appreciate any help or ideas on this problem, thanks, Kiwi.

So when you tested the bridge volume pot you ohm’d between the center wire lug and the outer wire lug withe red wire and rotated both ways? With it at full clockwise (10) it should read ~zero ohms Also this is not the problem but a comment. The ground connection between the bridge and neck volume pots at the neck pot is crappy looking. I suspect the bridge volume pot is damaged due to over heating with soldering iron.

 

[Kiwi on Bass]

So when you tested the bridge volume pot you ohm’d between the center wire lug and the outer wire lug withe red wire and rotated both ways? With it at full clockwise (10) it should read ~zero ohms Also this is not the problem but a comment. The ground connection between the bridge and neck volume pots at the neck pot is crappy looking. I suspect the bridge volume pot is damaged due to over heating with soldering iron.

Thanks for your reply.
I have tested the pots as you advised, and also watched several YouTube vids on testing pickups a pots, and wiring diagrams, all checked out ok.
I think I’ll desolder every connection and start over, testing everything again.
Thanks again, I’ll post up my findings.
Kiwi.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Thanks for your reply.
I have tested the pots as you advised, and also watched several YouTube vids on testing pickups a pots, and wiring diagrams, all checked out ok.
I think I’ll desolder every connection and start over, testing everything again.
Thanks again, I’ll post up my findings.
Kiwi.

Good idea, test each component after you remove wires. Be careful not to overheat. Uses clamping surgical pliers( hemostats) or alligator clip on the wire terminal before desolder and soldering. When removing and soldering wires on back of pot cases I use 80-100 iron to quickly heat solder so you get on and off quickly. Leaving iron on case too long will overheat and damage the pot. On wire terminals us 25-30watts .

 

[Kiwi on Bass]

Good idea, test each component after you remove wires. Be careful not to overheat. Uses clamping surgical pliers( hemostats) or alligator clip on the wire terminal before desolder and soldering. When removing and soldering wires on back of pot cases I use 80-100 iron to quickly heat solder so you get on and off quickly. Leaving iron on case too long will overheat and damage the pot. On wire terminals us 25-30watts .

Thanks for the info re heat and wattage when soldering.
I'm an automotive tech and have no experience with electronics repairs, done lots of auto electrical work but that's in a different sphere from fine electronics such as this.
So why use hemostats or alligator clips when de soldering?
As a heat sink?
I was seriously deciding whether to buy a complete volume/tone/input plate and be done with it . .
tradeMe.title
but it's $145 and I'm trying to keep the costs down at the minute.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Check the pickup height...