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 Post subject: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 1:26 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:50 am
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First name: herry
Last Name: trismono
City: malang
State: east java
Zip/Postal Code: 65142
Country: Indonesia
Focus: Build
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Hi. Hello everyone I need help [uncle]
A fiend of mine give his electric bass guitar to my church (Warwick Streamer STD 5strings with passive MEC pickup, circa March 2000),
that bass has not been used for more than 10 years at his warehouse.
I have done fret polishing and cleaned the electronic and pot with electronic cleaner, change the strings.
Problem is :Sounds a bit weaker than other bass ( About half of it).
What should I do?
Must I change the pickup? or Can I care the pickup or another else?
thank's, Herry Tze


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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 2:38 am 
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
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First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
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Focus: Repair
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Turn up the amp.

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These users thanked the author Chris Pile for the post: DannyV (Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:34 am)
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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 2:55 am 
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If you haven't already, try cleaning the contact point on the jack socket and plugs. Or replace them.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 5:54 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Adjust the active pups upward closer to the strings. When and if you hear a "warble" of the notes or see jumping on the tuner the pup is too close. I set them fretting on the highest body frets that will be used and then see the physical height over the pup and listen for the warble too.

Volume of output on pups can be dramatically increased or decreased simply by adjusting the physical proximity closer or further from the strings. At some point it can be too close as mentioned and will created tuning and possibly issues setting intonation but you can increase volume dramatically this way. It's how pups are balanced BTW.

Jacks either work or don't. They can crackle from dirt and corrosion but I've never seen volume increases or decreases because of the condition of a jack. Clean it anyway and shake the input jack on the cable to be sure it's not shorting out.

Get a can of Dioxit and clean the pots and switch too. You won't increase volume by cleaning these but it's always a good idea especially if the thing has been in storage.

And lastly yeah you can turn the volume up too...;)

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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:31 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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I should have added that the physical proximity of the pups to the strings is a function of the set-up too. If the action is WAY high because the neck is in way too much relief that will quiet pups too. Anyway check the distance from the pups to the strings.

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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 3:43 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Hesh wrote:
I should have added that the physical proximity of the pups to the strings is a function of the set-up too. If the action is WAY high because the neck is in way too much relief that will quiet pups too. Anyway check the distance from the pups to the strings.

This was my first thought as well.

I would also figure out which pickup is weak, the neck or the bridge - put both volume knobs up and go from there.

Chris Pile wrote:
Turn up the amp.

Change 1, my FIRST thought was, "What are you plugging into, and specifically how is the gain setup?"



These users thanked the author Aaron O for the post: Hesh (Sun Jul 16, 2017 3:44 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:43 pm 
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Cocobolo
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First name: herry
Last Name: trismono
City: malang
State: east java
Zip/Postal Code: 65142
Country: Indonesia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thank's all.. I will do everything else your suggestion... and soon I will report what I try
Thank's again


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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 5:53 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:50 am
Posts: 361
First name: herry
Last Name: trismono
City: malang
State: east java
Zip/Postal Code: 65142
Country: Indonesia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thank,s alot
Problem solved
I checked the string height then raised the neck and bridge pickups and the sounds be louder.
Thank you all, have a nice day



These users thanked the author herry tze for the post: Hesh (Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:27 am)
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 Post subject: Re: SOUNDS WEAK
PostPosted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 7:10 am 
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
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Hot diggity!

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