Help! help me find the loose connection on my sterling

[3+5]

hi

i bought an '94 musicman sterling 4 a few days ago.
now, i have a problem:

when i have the switch in bridge position (parallel coils), sometimes it occurs, that the signal get's weaker. the sound changes, and i hear hum.
this happens by itself.
the same in the middle position (single coil).
it doesn't have to do with using the switch.

but most of the time when i switch to serial mode, i have a very weak signal, and the sound is muffled and lacks the high end.
switching to another mode, and switching back to serial doesn't change this.
but when i hit the pickup a few times, the loudness comes up, and it sounds like everything is right.

now, i don't know where the loose connection is.
maybe it's inside the pickup, but that seems odd to me...
maybe it's somewhere else, and when i hit the bass it get's ok (hitting the pickup might be just as good as hitting the wood or something ?)

i opened the electronics compartment and looked inside.
everything seemed fine.
but since i can't take out the circuit board without using an soldering iron, i couldn't look beneath it.

please help me find out why the sterling does what it does !

oh, and happy holidays to all of you.

 

[Musicman Nut]

hi

i bought an '94 musicman sterling 4 a few days ago.
now, i have a problem:

when i have the switch in bridge position (parallel coils), sometimes it occurs, that the signal get's weaker. the sound changes, and i hear hum.
this happens by itself.
the same in the middle position (single coil).
it doesn't have to do with using the switch.

but most of the time when i switch to serial mode, i have a very weak signal, and the sound is muffled and lacks the high end.
switching to another mode, and switching back to serial doesn't change this.
but when i hit the pickup a few times, the loudness comes up, and it sounds like everything is right.

now, i don't know where the loose connection is.
maybe it's inside the pickup, but that seems odd to me...
maybe it's somewhere else, and when i hit the bass it get's ok (hitting the pickup might be just as good as hitting the wood or something ?)

i opened the electronics compartment and looked inside.
everything seemed fine.
but since i can't take out the circuit board without using an soldering iron, i couldn't look beneath it.

please help me find out why the sterling does what it does !

oh, and happy holidays to all of you.

If you have any electronic skills you can check the bottom of the pickup for maybe a loose wire and is an easy fix, if you have no skills take it too a local repair guy, I'd bet it's just a lose wire which has probably happened from someone playing it hard pounding on the bass hitting the pickup etc.

 

[Rano Bass]

Sounds like a bad pickup to me, but it's impossible to diagnose without seeing the bass.
I advise you to take the bass to a qualified repair guy.

 

[bovinehost]

If you have any electronic skills you can check the bottom of the pickup for maybe a loose wire and is an easy fix, if you have no skills take it too a local repair guy, I'd bet it's just a lose wire which has probably happened from someone playing it hard pounding on the bass hitting the pickup etc.

There's the only good advice you can get over the internet. I'd take it if I were you.

Jack

 

[keko]

Right, it's impossible to make diagnose over the net, if I were You I could fix it by my self, 'cause I'm qualified person for that matter, but without examine on the my lab table, without visual and some instrument measuring tests..., sorry!

I don't know if does exist in English term: "cold solder" ?
That's very usual problem in electro-acoustics when older!

So, Your bass is '94. and my advice is: -try to find some friend electronic guy who could check that matter!

 

[3+5]

is there really a connection on the back of the pickup, like on EMG pickups ?
or are the wired just coming out of the epoxy mass that surrounds the coils ??

i know that it's impossible to make a diagnose via mail, but that information doesn't help me out.
plus, a hint or two are better than nothing, right ?
that's what forums are made for i think.

i will check the pickup.
what else could be the reason for the bad connection ?
to me, it doesn't seem so likely that the wires inside the pickup brake ?!?

thanks so far.

 

[mynan]

what else could be the reason for the bad connection ?

The only reasons for a bad connection are a broken wire or solder joint, or malfunctioning part causing a gap in the circuit...none of which are able to be diagnosed over the internet. If you don't know how to diagnose/fix it, take it to someone who does.

 

[3+5]

i know how to use an soldering iron, and i wired electric guitars and basses before.
but i don't know where to find the bad connection, that's why i'm asking.

now, it seems like the signal of one coil is cutting off from time to time.
if i am right, then the signal comes back after hitting the pickup.

that means, that the bad connection is on the pickup, right ?
is there a connection on the back of the pickup, like this ?

or are the wires coming out of the pickup without a connector ?

 

[oli@bass]

On all MM's I've opened or seen pics of, there were the wires coming out the pickup, no connector. Also, on the StingRay the pickup itself consist of two separate coils that are soldered/wired together. Never opened a Sterling. If you're afraid to remove the pickup to have a look at it instead of asking here, you definitely should take it to a qualified service person.

I hope you can sort it out soon!

 

[silverburst]

The Sterling pickup does not use EMG style connectors. The wires come direcly out of the pickup.

Also, there is a dummy coil underneath the pickup, which is really going to confuse you when you see it. You need to take it to a repair guy.

 

[3+5]

i'm NOT taking it to a repair guy.
the only repair guys that are around my area don't know it better. they just are called repair guys, but they mess stuff up.

i didn't want to take the pickup out if it is not necessary, because i didn't want to mess up my perfect setup

yesterday i realized, that i don't have to hit the pickup to get the sound right again.
it is enough to hit on the rib (i mean the side of the body).

is it possible to take the circuit board out so i can hava a look at the connections ?
where can i find the wiring schematics ?

 

[3+5]

i still haven't solved my problem, and the only thing that musicman told me via email is to take it to a repair guy.
that's all.


man, forums and support mails are not made to be told to take it to some repair guy, are they ?

 

[silverburst]

I think they are giving you sound advice. If you are not capable of diagnosing and fixing it yourself, it should be taken to a professional.

If you bought a car, would you expect the manufacturer to tell you how to fix a mysterious problem over the phone, without ever seeing it themselves?

 

[bovinehost]

I think they are giving you sound advice. If you are not capable of diagnosing and fixing it yourself, it should be taken to a professional.

If you bought a car, would you expect the manufacturer to tell you how to fix a mysterious problem over the phone, without ever seeing it themselves?

I think this is the best anyone can do without getting the thing on the bench and testing each and every connection.

We can talk it to death but that's what it's going to come down to, so let's call it a day before you get some really BAD advice.

Jack