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Post subject: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:00 pm
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New here, please excuse me if I mess up. I have a 1983 Fender Jazz Bass. It sounds fine unless I try to adjust the tone control knob & then it start's making a static noise. Also one of the volume knobs keeps turning like it doesn't have a stopping point. I've played all my life but i've never worked on one. Should I change the tone control or is this caused by something else? Where is a good place to buy parts online?


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:32 pm
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:arrow: You need help, dude. Volume pot needs to be replaced, totally. Tone pot could be cleaned. Take it to a pro. Pay the charge. Should be less than $50. $100 Max for both pots even in a cess pools like NYC or LA. Hope you're not in London, UK.

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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:59 pm
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It is entirely possible the volume pot that doesn't stop turning is the result to the pot retaining nut under the control knob being loose. You need to make sure the nut under the knob is tight. If that nut is loose then the pot is spinning freely round and round in the control cavity which can cause all sorts of problems like broken wires, bent pot lugs, shorts, ruined caps, etc. Just make sure the nut is tight before you start buying new parts. You may need a new pot, however if the retaining nut is loose you probably don't.

Static in tone and volume pots is to be expected on a 30 year old instrument and sometimes even on a 3 year old one. A good shot of DEOXIT spray cleaner might clear that static up in short order.

I think the best thing to do is have a tech check the pots, do a pot spray cleaning with DEOXIT or a similar product and see if that fixes it. I'm thinking that could be all it needs. Spray clean all three pots and check nut tightness on all 3.

Any competent tech can iron it out in less than 30 minutes. If it needs a new pot he will put one in. I'm really thinking it might merely be loose and tightening the nut down under the knob will fix that. You have to remove the control knob for access to the nut which holds the pot in place. As I recall the 83 Jazz has push-on type knobs and the pots are mounted in holes on the pickguard or on a traditional Jazz chromed control plate. The control knobs just pull off but it takes a surprising amount of force to break push-on knobs free from the seated position, especially after over 3 decades.

With especially stubborn knobs I have resorted to using old used guitar strings, slipping them under the knob and using a pair of pliers to pull up on both ends of the string to pop the knob off. When doing this the knob almost always will go flying at pretty high speed! So put a towel over it to keep the flying knob from bouncing into an irretrievable location. I've had them hit the ceiling and bounce into and under the most crazy things. Anyway, resist the temptation to PRY on the knobs with ANYTHING as that can mar the pickguard or control plate. Also prying on them can break the knob. You want to pull up with equal pressure on both sides of the knob to get it out of the fully seated position which can be a bigger challenge than it sounds.


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:37 am
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Sorry missed the last part of your question! There are many online parts dealers. I've compiled a list of some reputable sellers here:
http://brotherdave.com/add_parts.htm

Frequently when you only need ONE part, you can come out ahead at a local dealer paying retail because of shipping charges the online parts dealers all charge on small orders.

When buying pots for Fender instruments you can buy the Fender packaged part or buy CTS pots which are the same pots Fender packages and resells at a slight markup. Fender often includes a poly tone capacitor with their replacement pots which is part of the reason for the markup. If your instrument has the push-on Stratocaster style knobs (I think it does) then a split-shaft CTS pot is in order. The pot is probably 250k value but you can tell for sure what value is needed by removing the pickguard or control plate and reading the value off the back of the pots.

Again, I'm not convinced the pot needs to be replaced. Check the nut under the knob for tightness before buying a new pot. You should NOT change pots unless it actually is bad. Pots are one hallmark to dating an instrument and changing even one pot can result in a surprising value hit in an appraisal down the road. Granted an 83 Jazz is never going to be worth what a 63 model is worth, but late CBS era basses like yours have started gaining value recently and in 20 more years....who knows how much an all-original one might be worth?


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:41 am
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Thanks. I'll try the spray & check the nut. I live in a small town & we don't have a local dealer here. The nearest local dealer that I know does good work is 2 1/2 hours away.


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:06 pm
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Radio Shack carries pot cleaner if that's more convenient.


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 2:13 pm
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Ok. The Radio Shack here doesn't have the cleaner & said they can't order it but I could order it from Radio Shack online (I have a friend that does tv repairs & he had some). The tone knob came off easy, to easy. The plastic knob is slightly stripped out. It holds on & turns the tone but stripped out just enough to keep on turning. I checked the nuts & ALL of them was loose & one of the volume nuts was almost all the way off. I tightened them & tried it & it sounds MUCH better. The only problem that I hear now is a humming noise coming from the tone knob. I took out the tone knob to clean it with the spray & even though the spray say's quick dry i'm letting it dry out really good. I noticed some wires that look odd & out of place. I took some pics but i'm not sure how to get them on here.


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:32 pm
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Hope I did this right. IMG codes for photobucket...

Image

Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:33 pm
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One more... Image


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:27 pm
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The tone is still making a static & buzzing noise despite cleaning it. I ordered a new wiring kit because I intend on playing it & need it to sound decent. I'll hang on to the old ones though. Thanks for all the help... :)


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:55 pm
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Is it buzzing even with the pickguard back on? The tone pot is possibly grounded by the metal foil on the back of the pickguard.

The controls on this instrument have been tinkered with a little but the even worse news is that I suspect the pickups are not original. I believe the original pickups were white, not black, and I don't think they had shielded leads either. This instrument has had a Sprague Orange Drop tone capacitor added also which is not stock. Not sure what the added brown wires are about, but I think they were trying to improve the ground instead of relying upon the pickguard foil.

I think I'd try rewiring it and only replace pots if rewiring didn't fix it. Ordinarily I leave the pots attached to the pickguard when working on wiring, otherwise it is difficult to get the pot orientation correct. I would add grounding wires on a Player Class instrument but make them black. By the way, this instrument is now Player Class since the original pickups are not there.

It is entirely possible what you are hearing is single coil buzz, which is normal in single coil Jazzes and other single coil basses like first generation P-Basses. Turning both pickups wide open should kill single coil buzz on a Jazz since the pickups are wired out of phase for a humbucking effect. Frankly, if it is RFI then a new pot won't help with that issue.

If it is single coil RF noise (buzz) then copper shielding the instrument will help a great deal. $15 buys you enough self adhesive copper tape for pickup and control cavities plus one copper sheet to line the back of the pickguard and a few feet of black wire to ground the pickup cavities. Adding the chrome bridge and pickup covers will help with RFI a little also for more money.

Fortunately this all is a pretty easy fix. Pity about the replacement pickups. I think you can still get the original type knobs that are now sold for Stratocasters if you need replacements.

I'd consider installing some white correct vintage Fender pickups too, or at least getting some white covers instead of those black ones. If not going vintage, then I'd look for Fender Original Jazz Bass pickups, part number 0992123000, which are current production pickups that will be affordable and put white covers on them. For the white vintage Fender pickups you are going to have to go to the vintage parts market like on eBay which can be big money. I'm not sure what those pickups in there now actually are, but I'm pretty sure they are not Fender pickups and that might actually also be part of the problem.


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 6:54 pm
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I could quote Brother Dave's previous post but why, just scroll up.

The bass electronics are not right. I wasn't sure about the pickups, but the orange drop cap and shielding is not original. It is a player quality bass.

Just looking at the cracking PVC insulation insinuates leakage, and possible shorting, and hard shielding is easily subverted with loose copper strands.

Rewire it, and I would expect your issues to end. Do it to spec. In the US, green is recognized as ground for electricity, so I always ground using green.....and I am probably the only one on the planet - but it also shows clearly that there has been a change made, and I find that important too.

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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:47 am
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Just got done changing the tone pot & it's working great. I bought it to play so it doesn't bother me if it's not original. Thanks for all the help... :D


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Post subject: Re: Static When Turning Tone Control Knob
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:06 pm
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affprod wrote:
I could quote Brother Dave's previous post but why, just scroll up.

The bass electronics are not right. I wasn't sure about the pickups, but the orange drop cap and shielding is not original. It is a player quality bass.

Just looking at the cracking PVC insulation insinuates leakage, and possible shorting, and hard shielding is easily subverted with loose copper strands.

Rewire it, and I would expect your issues to end. Do it to spec. In the US, green is recognized as ground for electricity, so I always ground using green.....and I am probably the only one on the planet - but it also shows clearly that there has been a change made, and I find that important too.




GREEN=GROUND- YES- It's standard. I use red for HOT leads .


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