I have a Japanese Fender Precision Lyte that slowly, but steadly, started losing volume. I brought it to a shop and they could not figure out what the exact problem is. I was suggested two options: either go to a (pricy) electronics specialist in the hope he could fix it, or replace the electronics with passive ones.
On one hand, I like the idea of keeping the bass as close as possible to the original setup. On the other, I have no guarantee that there will be a solution, and I fear this will just be an expensive wild goose chase.
Do you all have suggestions on the best course of action?
Thanks for the answer! The person I asked is the best I could find in the area. Is a great bloke that does set-ups and stuff, but he does not deal with electronics, and my only other lead is the suggested electronics specialist.
In Germany we have local volunteer groups that help for free. An issue like this would surely arouse a lot of interest ⌠and âmyâ volunteer group is full of typical nerds, that really know their stuff (electronics, not guitars).
I donât know where youâre based, but maybe something like this exists in your location? Itâs really big fun, having 4 or 5 nerds, surrounding a broken device and listen to their discussions ⌠and solving it in one evening!
Replacing pickups yourself is very easy, if you use EMG pickups, for example.
I have the EMG GZR and am very happy. But: they have three knobs only, your bass seems to have four?!
Thank you for your answer! I am based in the south of UK. I never heard of such volunteer groups, but maybe I just didnât look hard enough. Also, London is not too far for me, maybe looking for a group there could be a breakthrough!
You are absolutely right, the bass has 4 knobs (volume, 2 x pick-up tone, balance between pick-ups)
Ah, I lived in Brighton for some time. Loved it ⌠it was full of nerds and other freaks
Maybe youâll find a local group like that on Facebook?
Here in Hamburg/Germany we have several groups - for all kinds of topics: IT, electronics, wood working, bike repair etc.
Itâs part of the recycling / âdonât throw away stuffâ movement!
Iâm in the IT group around the corner. Students, old ladies, refugees and all kind of other people with no money to spare come to our group to get their PC issues solved.
Itâs always fun, as itâs everything from reinstalling OSs, solving software issues, replacing hardware and gluing cracks in prehistoric notebooks.
A great opportunity to work again with Windows/286 sometimes
As in get less volume as it gets older or volume drop when you start playing. Itâs power issue whatever this is so Iâll ask the obvious question, have you checked and changed the battery. Check the power wire.
This is always the problem for me in my active basses that start to lose power.
And Iâm the poster boy for people who forget to check the battery, and bring all their gear to repair shopsâŚ
Just to find out it was the battery.
I was not a big bass player when I got my first active bass, so the 9V battery lasted a long time. That was the bass I was playing when I started here at BassBuzz, and the increased playtime sapped what juice was left in the battery.
Iâd completely forgotten it had a battery. I was heartbroken. I couldnât figure out what the hell was wrong with my bass. Finally I turned it over and was like, âwait, whatâs this compartment thing for?â
Just experienced my first phenomenon on my active EMG JV pickups I put on the â54 paranormal.
I got unusually low output I decided to change the battery but when I opened it up thereâs no battery connected. I realized that I took it out to put it on another bass. Iâm surprised that an active pickup still works without battery.
This was very helpful! I did sort out the bass through a âconventional routeâ by brigining it to a professional, but it was very good to learn about this stuff. Brighton is great
