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preston
New
Username: preston

Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 8:39 pm:   Edit Post

Hello, all. I'm new to this forum, though I've owned my bass since '78. Lately, I get a sharp "POP" out of the bass pick up whenever I play - with even moderate force. It causes the mixers track meters to overload. It also happens if I just tap my bass anywhere on the body. The only time I don't hear it is when I turn the bass pick up filter all the way down. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanx!
Preston
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 347
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 5:12 am:   Edit Post

Check the trim pots for that pick-up turn it all the down then gradually turn it up,(hum canceller too) then Check the connection of that p/up to the circut board,some times if a series p/up is turned too high (on the trim pot) it can affect and trip out the overall system that it's plugged into. Hope that works!
dela217
Senior Member
Username: dela217

Post Number: 580
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 5:53 am:   Edit Post

Preston, another thing to check for that kind of symptom is the ribbon cable. The ribbon cable is a multicolored cable that pluggs into the circuit board inside of the control cavity. A bad connection there will give all sorts of problems.

Michael
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3003
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

Hi Preston, welcome to the board. I assume that by "bass" pickup you mean neck pickup. Try switching the pickup leads and see if that makes a difference, i.e. whether the problem stays with the neck pickup or moves to the bridge pickup.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2968
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:44 pm:   Edit Post

Since it's in a condition that it's acting up, you can do some creative probing to find where the problem is. Use a non-coductive probe, like wood or plastic, to very lighty tap on the connections, starting right at the pickup connector for the bass pickup. If you use your finger, you will introduce hum and that won't be helpful. Nothing in the cavity is high voltage, so it's safe for probing. Make sure you use a light touch, and then report back where you find you can trigger the pop - it should take much less force to initiate it at the source than when you tap on the body to make it happen.

It's possible that the coax connector for the pickup to look plugged in correctly even when it's not. It's a delicate connector, so if anyone has every gone inside your bass and reconnected this part, it can bend it a little if they are not careful.
preston
New
Username: preston

Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post

Thanx to all for the replies. Believe it or not, I've never ventured inside my bass. Sent it back to Alembic once for repair to the fret board, that's it. Nervously, I opened/cleaned everything I could and rotated the pots a million times. There was some build up on the connector pin but nothing appeared out of place. I guess it was just a "dirt" thing 'cause the noise is gone. woo-hoo!
Peace to U all...
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 350
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 7:21 am:   Edit Post

PRESTO!!!!....
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3014
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 9:12 am:   Edit Post

Great!!
serialnumber12
Advanced Member
Username: serialnumber12

Post Number: 352
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 9:49 am:   Edit Post

Just think ........You just saved a bunch of money by switching to ALEMBIC!!!!
preston
New
Username: preston

Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 9:00 pm:   Edit Post

sn12, I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "saved a bunch of money" and the word "Alembic" in the same sentence! :-)
http://www.123preston.com

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