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Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:12 am
by ch willie
Last night when I plugged in my 330, my neck pickup has lost so much volume, all of a sudden.

The pickups were at the same volume until I plugged in last night. Somehow it happened when the guitar was sitting idle.

What do you think? Bad pot or bad pup? I've never encountered this in all my years of playing.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:02 am
by gellkeller
Most likely a faulty pot. Does it have the same travel as the other pot? Try gently working it back and forth to see if it makes any difference.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:34 am
by jps
Does the signal vary if you play around with the selector switch (gently moving it around while in the center position)?

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:56 am
by ch willie
I've turned the volume up and down while playing, but nothing made it any louder.

I'm not sure what's meant by "varying", there's no noise in the switch, but you immediately notice the loss of volume in the middle and neck selector.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:23 pm
by ch willie
I'm taking it into the shop Friday.

Worst case it turns out to be the pickup. No biggie, the guitar is new and under warranty. Can't exaggerate just how much I love this guitar. It became my number 1 after years of being a Tele and Strat guy.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:21 pm
by jps
Sometimes the switch leaves may not make solid contact with the pads, that is why I asked about the pickup selector switch. If it were that it is an easy fix you could do yourself.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:44 pm
by ch willie
jps wrote:Sometimes the switch leaves may not make solid contact with the pads, that is why I asked about the pickup selector switch. If it were that it is an easy fix you could do yourself.
That might be the answer. I'll check that out.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 12:02 am
by scott_s
ch willie wrote:I'm taking it into the shop Friday.

Worst case it turns out to be the pickup. No biggie, the guitar is new and under warranty. Can't exaggerate just how much I love this guitar. It became my number 1 after years of being a Tele and Strat guy.
Before you take it in, any chance you bumped the 5th knob and accidentally turned down the neck pickup?

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 1:41 am
by jps
scott_s wrote:
ch willie wrote:I'm taking it into the shop Friday.

Worst case it turns out to be the pickup. No biggie, the guitar is new and under warranty. Can't exaggerate just how much I love this guitar. It became my number 1 after years of being a Tele and Strat guy.
Before you take it in, any chance you bumped the 5th knob and accidentally turned down the neck pickup?
Or even, realize that the 5th knobs works backwards?

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:57 pm
by ch willie
jps wrote:
scott_s wrote:
ch willie wrote:I'm taking it into the shop Friday.

Worst case it turns out to be the pickup. No biggie, the guitar is new and under warranty. Can't exaggerate just how much I love this guitar. It became my number 1 after years of being a Tele and Strat guy.
Before you take it in, any chance you bumped the 5th knob and accidentally turned down the neck pickup?
Or even, realize that the 5th knobs works backwards?
When I get home from work, I'll see if that's happened. I don't think so, but you never know. I hope that's it! I'll report back.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 10:18 pm
by ch willie
It was the fifth knob.

I feel a bit silly. I haven't really touched the fifth knob since I got the guitar.

My ego's bruised, but my 330 is fine.

I'm really glad. I've been playing Fenders and Gibsons for 30 years, but I've bonded with the 330 like no other guitar, and I've got some decent instruments. I've had my 4001 for 42 years and always wanted a Ric 330 or 360, just had to take care of other musical needs.

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:56 pm
by scott_s
Whew, glad it was a simple thing! You're far from the only one who rarely touches the 5th knob. :)

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:19 am
by jps
Happy to read it was simply the 5th knob, William. You're not the first, and certainly will not be the last this happens to, so don't sweat it, really. 8)

Re: Help! Neck Pickup Problem1

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:47 am
by ch willie
Thanks guys, and thank you for telling me to check that knob.

Ha ha, realizing it was the 5th knob reminds me of the times when I've thought something was wrong with my amp, when it was just that I hadn't plugged in the guitar yet!