Various advice needed

VimFuego

so it turns out my bargain basement bass is need to some surgery. It would seem the jack socket is not good, lots of bad noise or no noise depending on which position the jack plug is in. So, assuming I need to change it, where do you guys get replacement parts from? I haven't read any of these types of threads for years, so have no idea where to go.

Secondly, I will be needing a soldering iron, is there anything I should be looking out for or will anyone do?

Third, would it be worth changing the pots etc? Is there anyone out there who sells wiring kits?

 

JookyChap

Axesrus or Axetec will sort you out at a decent price, or North West guitar if they haven't exactly what you want.

Soldering irons, I just got one from Maplins and it is fine, but you'll get better advice on that score I'm sure

TTony

You might just need to re-solder it, might not need a new one at all.

Close up pic would help ...

VimFuego

that's a good point tt, I'll strip it down and have a look.

frankus

solder pump would be useful for getting the old muck off the socket

VimFuego

I usually just use an old t shirt.

 

 

oh, you mean for the bass...

 

ahem, added to the list, thanks.

[Deleted User]

Is the jack one of the 'open' type (in other words the hot and ground contacts are the only parts that hold the plug in)? If it is and is connect by the kind of braided screened cable which Gibson use, it is possible if the socket rotates, for the braiding to lie across the jack plug in such a way that the 'hot' signal is run to ground. Bad design but happens frequently on my old 335.

May be a wrong diagnosis on my part but worth a look...

VimFuego

hmmmm, that could be the case, in that rotating the jack fixes or makes worse the problem. However, the jack also feels lose in the socket. Is there a fix?

[Deleted User]

VimFuego said:

hmmmm, that could be the case, in that rotating the jack fixes or makes worse the problem. However, the jack also feels lose in the socket. Is there a fix?

What I do with my 335 is plug it into my amp and turn the plug (which turns the socket, assuming its worked loose) until it works. I then tighten the nut using an adjustable spanner, checking that it still works when done. Love your user name by the way. Could you play 'Stairway' at a younger age than Jimmy Page was when he wrote it?

VimFuego

I've just had the control cover off and had a furtle around. From what I can see, the tang that touches the jack plug is not always in contact with it, mostly I guess cos of the amount of play in the socket (it's not very deep, so only a small amount of the jack is actually held). I shall try that trick of tightening it, see if that helps.

 

sadly no, but I once did work with led zepps accountant, tho long after he'd stopped working for them. Think I was 26 at the time.

[Deleted User]

VimFuego;22728" said:

I've just had the control cover off and had a furtle around. From what I can see, the tang that touches the jack plug is not always in contact with it, mostly I guess cos of the amount of play in the socket (it's not very deep, so only a small amount of the jack is actually held). I shall try that trick of tightening it, see if that helps.

Are you saying the contact which touches the tip of the jack plug is not tight enough? If so, just bend it so it makes better contact. This and ensuring the screen isn't shorting it (and making sure it is properly tightened so it can't rotate) should cure it.

VimFuego

will do, thx.

[Deleted User]

VimFuego;22751" said:

will do, thx.

You're welcome. Hope works!