It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:44 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Pickup Jack on 60th Anniv P Bass
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:56 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 3:53 pm
Posts: 23
literally fell apart today - bass is only 11 months old. Anyone else had that problem? Seems like from the day I got it - it appeared kinda loose when I plugged my cord into it. I'm taking it over to a music store to get it repaired. I have 2 pieces that came off - one looks like a metal circular ring the other is kind of a hexagon thing - when I tried to unscrew it only 1 screw came off - everything else went even more inside the bass. Figured I didn't want to hurt the finish trying to unscrew it and let a professional fix it for me.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Pickup Jack on 60th Anniv P Bass
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:07 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
Dude- a washer and a nut. I hope they fix it for free. Everyone has had a jack nut go loose. Not a big deal.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Jack on 60th Anniv P Bass
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:20 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
On instruments with a side mounted jack like a 60th Anniv P-Bass, replacing the nut is different than on a standard Jazz or P-Bass where the jack mounts to the pickguard. However it is still a reasonably simple fix that you absolutely can do yourself with a little patience, a Phillips head screwdriver and either a properly sized socket wrench set socket or needle nose pliers.

Even on side mounted jacks, tightening up the jack nut is no problem until the jack nut comes completely off. This nut should actually be checked routinely for tightness. I sometimes use a socket wrench socket (without the wrench inserted) and just check the jack nut for snugness. Never over-tighten. You can use pliers instead of a socket but pliers can slip and leave a finish mar if you are overly aggressive or careless. A socket wrench set socket won't leave a mark.

Keeping the jack nut snugged up and check it routinely along with all screws including the strap buttons is just part of routine do-it-yourself maintenance and maintenance is cheaper than replacing lost parts.

Screws or nuts becoming loose isn't a defect. Basses vibrate which can shake screws and nuts loose. Quality tone woods actually vibrate more than cheap woods. So, higher end instruments are if anything more prone to loosening screws and nuts than cheaper ones. Check every screw from the tuner/machine head screws all the way to the end strap button and also the jack nut (and switch nuts on instruments that have switches) OFTEN. Monthly is usually good on an instrument used regularly. This should at the very least be done as part of every string change and most good techs check every screw and nut. Do not over-tighten anything, just snug tightness is fine. If you should find anything loose don't over-tighten, you are mainly checking for tightness and if anything is loose just snug it up gently.

Since your nut came completely off, here is how you can fix it yourself if you still have the washer and the nut. If you don't still have the washer and nut, just buy a new jack and use the washer and nut on it and save the new jack as a spare part.

Fortunately this particular bass uses a football shaped chrome jack plate held in place by two screws. This procedure won't work on other side mounted jacks using the cup jack plate so you are lucky.

1. Using a properly sized Phillips head screwdriver, remove the two screws from the jack plate.
2. Remove the plate from the bass body and note the orientation of the plate as it is slightly curved and will only go on one way properly and has an "inside" and an "outside." Then set it aside but within easy reach for a moment.
3. Put bass in playing position, with a little shake the jack will probably fall right out, if not you may have to gently "fish" it out with needle nose pliers or a toothpick or something like that while using gravity as your friend if possible to help it fall out. There should be an inch or two or slightly more of slack in the wire to work with. Don't pull against resistance. Once you feel any resistance stop pulling on the jack as that is all the slack you have to work with here.
4. Insert the threaded opening of the jack through the hole on the "inside" (the instrument side) of the jack plate.
5. Put on the washer first and then finger spin the nut to get the nut started correctly onto the threads. Use the pliers or a socket wrench socket to snug up the jack nut to the control plate. Once properly snug you should not be able to move the nut with your bare fingers.
6. Put the jack plate back against the bass's body and reinsert the screws and then snug the two jack plate screws up. Recheck the tightness of the jack nut. Done.


If THAT doesn't work then you will have to try a slightly more complicate approach. This is how I've had to do it on basses with a side mounted jack in a cup style jack plate like a Telecaster Bass, a 51 RI or a Sting. This takes slightly more patience and sometimes a tad of resourcefulness.

The control plate is the chrome metal plate where the volume tone knobs are located and this plate has two screws.
1. Remove the two screws from the control plate.
2. Carefully lift up the control plate to access the control cavity. Don't pull anymore once you feel resistance from the wiring. The jack will be loose in the jack channel.
3. Use a slim ballpoint pen, pen cap or even a crayon broken to the proper length inserted into through the control cavity into the jack channel so that the point is going through the back side of the jack opening (where the guitar plugs in). Use this pushing device to coax the threaded end of the jack back through the hole on the jack plate. Sometimes it takes a while to get "lucky."
4. Put on the chrome washer first and then finger spin the nut onto the jack threads.
6. Snug up the nut with a socket set socket or needle nose pliers to finger tightness. Don't over-tighten.
7. Replace the screws in the control plate. Done.

In either procedure try to keep the jack from spinning too much while tightening. This can twist the wires to the jack and cause problems such as a short or broken connections. Some twisting is OK and to be expected. Some say that some twisting is a key to getting some hum reduction, but overly twisting makes the wiring shorter and leads to problems. This is another reason why it is better to keep the jack nut snug in the first place, it cuts down on wiring problems. Good luck!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Jack on 60th Anniv P Bass
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:26 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Reread your post and it looks like you tried to take the jack plate off but only one screw came out. Remove that one screw that will come out. Apply outward pressure from the edge without the screw while turning the screw that doesn't want to come out. It should start backing out and will probably come right out easily.

Do the reinsertion of the jack and snug it to the jackplate. Break off a toothpick and stick it in the hole that didn't want to let the screw back out. You can put some wood glue or Gorilla glue on the toothpick. Let the glue dry completely if you use any. That will help if you ever need to remove that screw again.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Jack on 60th Anniv P Bass
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:22 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
I think Gorilla Glue is endorsing Brother Dave.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Pickup Jack on 60th Anniv P Bass
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:00 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
I bet Brother Dave is an excellent typist.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: