Pickup cuts out on new bass

fruit

Hi, got a bass in from Thomann for Christmas. It's all wonderful except for the volume dial for the front pick-up - It produces no sound whatsoever unless it's close to all the way up full. At this point, the slightest twist in either direction will crackle and then cut the sound out. The dial feels very gritty to turn at that point too.

Now, normally I'd return. But I like how this bass plays feels to play a lot compared to the countless ones I've played around Dublin and I wouldn't get this replaced nearly in time for Christmas, which this guitar is for. The bridge pick-up dial and tone tone dial work perfectly.

I'm hoping somebody here can reassure me that it's probably a matter of re-soldering a wire or cleaning out some dirt inside the dial - rather than giving me the bad news that I'm going to have return it. I know nobody can be 100% without actually seeing the guitar. Cheers.

eoin5

fruit wrote: »

Hi, got a bass in from Thomann for Christmas. It's all wonderful except for the volume dial for the front pick-up - It produces no sound whatsoever unless it's close to all the way up full. At this point, the slightest twist in either direction will crackle and then cut the sound out. The dial feels very gritty to turn at that point too.

Now, normally I'd return. But I like how this bass plays feels to play a lot compared to the countless ones I've played around Dublin and I wouldn't get this replaced nearly in time for Christmas, which this guitar is for. The bridge pick-up dial and tone tone dial work perfectly.

I'm hoping somebody here can reassure me that it's probably a matter of re-soldering a wire or cleaning out some dirt inside the dial - rather than giving me the bad news that I'm going to have return it. I know nobody can be 100% without actually seeing the guitar. Cheers.

The pots probably been damaged but that's no big deal, definitely not worth sending the guitar back.

Its unlikely but check for a broken wire around the pot first. Failing that then you can try a drop of wd40 in the pot to make sure its not dirt that's causing the problem, if that doesn't sort it you can either buy a pot and solder it in if you're handy with a soldering iron or get someone to do it.

fruit

Thanks eoin5, that's the general advice I've been given so I'll go with that. Cheers.

Eoin Madsen

Use contact cleaner if you're trying to clean the pot. WD40 is not a good idea.

rcaz

But it's not Christmas yet...

eoin5

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

Use contact cleaner if you're trying to clean the pot. WD40 is not a good idea.

Dont go wasting money on something thats probably broken, its just to rule out the remote possibility that its not. Fine if you think you might have use for contact cleaner afterwards.

Eoin Madsen

If it's not broken before you put oil in it, it will be broken afterwards.

eoin5

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

If it's not broken before you put oil in it, it will be broken afterwards.

Just thinking economically with money and time here. WD40 is far from ideal but it wont break it. Its about 15% oil atm. It'll shorten the life of the pot and will give some signal degradation but If the op has to spend to buy contact cleaner then he may as well buy a new pot. At least this would get him christmas and a lot longer besides.

If its dirt, wd40 will work and sound fine. If you buy contact cleaner and it doesnt (which is most likely) youve probably wasted your time buying contact cleaner.

Gaspode

Having tried WD40 on a pot many moons ago, I would not recommend it. It messes them up - what was a slightly crackly pot, bacame a disastrously noisy one, and ended up in bin.
From the way you describe it op, it sounds like its a bigger problem than could be sorted out with contact cleaner, but its worth a try for starters

Eoin Madsen

Buying a can of contact cleaner is hardly breaking the bank. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=25340 There's a Maplin on Jervis St. and one in Blanchardstown Centre. You'd need it sooner or later anyway.

Though I'd agree in this case it sounds more like mechanical failure of the pot.