Preamp troubles with SR5

[ihixulu]

Greetings all,

I have a 1999 built SR5 which is my workhorse bass. Several months ago the sound started cutting out on me randomly with the highest correlation when I would flip the selector switch to the series position. To get the sound back I would have to wiggle the switch perpendicular to direction of travel pretty hard.

I replaced battery, verified the battery contacts were clean and making contact, tried cleaning the switch from the outside to no avail so I removed the pickguard and the ground/shield wire frm the pickup broke from the preamp. I soldered it back on and was back in action, with no recurrence of the problems.

Couple of nights ago, at a party, during the 3rd hour the bass just cut out for about 20 seconds then came back in . Over the next few nights it got worse and worse so that now it seems any movement of the switch can cut the sound completely. If I tap on the space on the pickguard between the front of the switch and the volume knob it generates a static click. The ground wire is connected firmly to the pre.

Sorry for the long rant but any advice on what and how to look for the gremlin?

 

[oddjob]

I am not a SR5 expert but I had a problem like that with an old hotrodded F@nder... the switch, itself, was bad - something about the contacts, blah, blah - I wasn't into the technical stuff back then. Anyway, replaced the switch... no more problem. I would also check the wiring in and away from the switch. Since it is intermittent, you could be losing your connections as you move the bass around.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Sounds like the switch. Prehaps dirty contacts. I'd try some contact cleaner...CRC 2.26 or WD 40...just a little and move the lever several times. In the meantime, it may pay to get a spare from EB.

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