Loss of volume on treble pickup

Setup, repair and restoration of Rickenbacker Instruments

Moderator: jingle_jangle

Post Reply
beatlejon
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 243
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 10:55 am

Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by beatlejon »

Ok, my treble pickup was working fine on my 325 today but then a few minutes later, I hardly get any volume out of it?? Seems like the toggle switch is a bit scratchy...any help??

Thanks,
Jon
User avatar
jingle_jangle
RRF Moderator
Posts: 22679
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
Contact:

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by jingle_jangle »

Wire mites. Use a magnifying glass. They're kind of hard to see...
beatlejon
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 243
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 10:55 am

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by beatlejon »

Any other info? First of the day, I'll start to play it...low volume on treble pickup, little more volume on middle pickup, TONS of volume on the bass pickup. I try to adjust the pickup volume by screwing the screws but, no luck.....then, I will go play the guitar a couple hours later...everything is fine...all pickups have the same volume. Could the wiring be bad or what? Pickups bad? Something loose somewhere?

Thanks
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37497
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by jps »

As PW said, make sure there are no wire mites in the switch and output jack contacts(read between the lines) and clean them. :wink:
User avatar
pinball63
New member
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:28 am

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by pinball63 »

Are you sure the pickup is working? Sounds like it could be bad! Put a meter on it if you can to make sure it's not reading open (NC no connection)! Could be the winding inside the pickup, that's soldered to the post, it could be touching intermittently? Does it work when you toggle the switch a few times? If so, check wire, clean it, and if they are bladed contacts, that you can see making actual contact between two points, clean with thin cardboard (business card) by folding it, then rub between the contacts. This way they wont get ruined. There's not much these unless there are active electronics, hope this helps!
User avatar
johnallg
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 17688
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by johnallg »

Tired electrons... Don't keep them up half the night rockin' out and expect them to be ready in the morning. Obviously they are pooping out after just a bit of playing....







:twisted: Make sure the contacts are not corroded on the switch and also the tension on the blades there are making good contact when wanted.
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37497
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by jps »

So it is true, wire mites tire out electrons! I always thought that was a myth. :shock:
User avatar
winston
Membership Admin
Posts: 11010
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:00 am

Re: Loss of volume on treble pickup

Post by winston »

I had a bad earth connection (ground connection in USA and Canada) one time on my 350 so would that mean I had terra mites? :lol:
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein

"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Post Reply

Return to “"Vibrola" Rickenbacker Technical Forum: By Paul Wilczynski”