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Post subject: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 1:51 am
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At a studio last week while jamming on my MIM 2011 Std. Jazz bass something weird happened. I turned the volume on both pots down to Zero but the volume continued to come from the cabinet. I fiddled with the tone knob some and after a little scratching and a slight pop, the volume went off and then everything worked normal. At home, I tried to emulate what happened and It happened again with some fiddling but only once and then it was as if I had never had a problem. Is this an indication that the tone pot is going bad or is bad? Is it time for an upgrade? I don't really want or need a new electronics package as the tone is just fine as far as I can tell.

Is this a problem others have experienced?


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 5:19 am
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Just spray a good contact cleaner with lubricant in volume pot


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 6:26 pm
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Sounds like a loose wire to me. Pull the control-cavity plate and take a peek inside.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:29 pm
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Stratele52 and Retroverbial gave very good advice. I'd check the wiring, sounds suspicious and use spray cleaner like DEOXIT or similar spray.

Here's a link on pot cleaning tips.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6364203_clean-electric-guitar-pot.html


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:23 pm
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I've had that problem. It was the pot-the volume I believe---- I replaced it.


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:41 am
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stroker vance wrote:
I've had that problem. It was the pot-the volume I believe---- I replaced it.



Did you try to clean it before ?


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:03 am
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I probably did- I'm foggy on that but yeah just replace the pot in question. I say that because I really don't worry about changing parts. I'm not freaked out about so called ruining the value or collectabilty of my basses- I think I'm the only one who says that in the Universe. I'm a player - not a collector- BUT -----I will hold my old basses close to my thoughts before changing stuff. I guess I may have a small bit of the "collector mindset" in there somewhere.


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:12 am
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Clean it first. All pots get dirty. Its really just oxidation inside the pot. I don't think most players expose their instruments to that much dirt!

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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 6:38 am
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Although I have no problem cleaning the pots, I haven't done it yet. I did have the control plate open and looked inside. What I found was a lack of ground wire from the output jack to the rest of the grounds and also an extra ground wire running towards the front PUP. Touching the pots while the bass was plugged in also revealed something. I could hear what sounded like a finger or something touching a live mic or when you touch the tip of a instrument cable that is plugged into the amp but not a guitar. But the more I touched, the less sound I got. Like it, what ever it was, was clearing itself. I don't know if any of this makes sense but I am now considering changing something. Either the one pot which is the TONE pot or scrapping everything and installing new pups and new pots and new wire and new output jack. You see?


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:30 pm
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No ground at the output jack will do a hum . Any picture of inside ?


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:40 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
No ground at the output jack will do a hum . Any picture of inside ?




not always


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:19 am
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stroker vance wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
No ground at the output jack will do a hum . Any picture of inside ?




not always



Ah ah , I think you don't understand my answer :lol:

A output jack need 2 contacts / conductors/ wires.

A positive and a negative also call ground .

If one contact is missing guitar won't work .


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Post subject: Re: Funky working tone pot
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:05 am
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stratele52 wrote:
A output jack need 2 contacts / conductors/ wires.

A positive and a negative also call ground .

If one contact is missing guitar won't work .


+1

The very definition of a "circuit" as applied to electricity.

Arjay

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