Problem with bass guitar

gsparx

I have a Mexican made Fender Precision Bass. Bought it new a few years back and use it for studio work so it hasn't been played a whole lot.
I took it out a while back and there's almost no sound out of it.
At top volume on an amp you can just about hear it.
The guitar volume does work so at 0 there's no sound and at 10 a tiny bit.
I opened it up (ie took off the pick guard) and all the wires look attached and in the right place.
I owned many guitars over the years but I've never come across this before.
Could it be the volume pot? I'm not great at electronics but is it easy to replace?
Just thought, before I spend money getting it checked professionally, I would ask people on here.
Thanks.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

does it have active pickups? If so sounds like the battery is dead (no pun intended) which would make since if its a few years old

gsparx

No, doesn't have active pick ups. Wish it was just a dead battery!

Quillo

P bass is about as simple a wiring setup as there is....

See http://www.guitarnucleus.com/gitschems/Pbass_wir.jpg

You've basically two pots and a capacitor. Problem could be will any one of these but the easiest thing to try is to use a soldering iron to lift one leg of the cap and see if that is causing the problem.

Pots can be got for a few euro, caps for cents, so any replacements needed won't be a problem, for example, try:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups.html

Malice

Stupid question but have you checked the guitar cable, power cable, amp and any effects units to make sure they're okay? I've driven myself demented occasionally thinking my guitar was knackered when it was just that the volume on something was set very low or the cable needed replacing.

Paolo_M

I'm with Malice, have you verified the cable and amplifier itself are working correctly?

si_guru

I have a Fendar Tele which does this if not used.. cleaning the socket and the pots usually fixxes it.. tone pot seesm to give up after even 1 week in the case.

gsparx

Thanks for the replies. Yep, did all the obvious stuff exchanging cables, amp etc etc. so it is the guitar. I'll try cleaning the pots etc. because it was sitting idle for a long time before I discovered the issue.
Then I'll get the soldering iron out.
Cheers....

gsparx

Just following up on this old post since I only recently got around to sorting it out.
The pickup itself was dead...which I found weird since the guitar had so little wear and tear.
I was told it can quite easily happen.
Anyway, fitted it with a new Seymour Duncan "Quarter Pound" and it's right as rain.

Meehanmeehan

It's mad at you for not showing the love. My guitar told me that all his Fender friends get pretty mad at that.