Electronic trouble 1970s 36o/6

[Jimmy-Jim-Jim]

I have a 36o/6 from 1977 with something wrong with the electronics. Through the mono jack only the treble pickup works. Through the stereo jack both pickups and all the positions work but the bass pickup is far stronger than the treble. I want to know if this is a jack problem, a pickup problem, or both. I have lived with this for too long and really want to sort it out, advice is much appreciated.

Jimmy-jim-jim

[jps]

Welcome, Jimmy!

It sounds like the the jacks or the jackplate is reversed.

[bails]

As JPS said,
sounds like the guitar wiring is all good, except that the jack labelled stereo is your mono - both pickups and a typically louder neck pick up (the capacitor on the bridge pick up drains a lot of volume making the neck pick up louder) and you mono is your stereo - only one pick up works because a standard guitar lead shorts out one of the pickups.
If you unscrew both input jacks and swap them around your guitar will be fixed, of course it won't sound any different than it does now, because your description is exactly what it's supposed to sound like.

[Jimmy-Jim-Jim]

Thanks for those replies. I must admit that I got my stereo mixed up with my mono so I don't need to change them round. However, I forgot to mention that treble pickup is temperamental and cuts out (quite a lot) when played through either channel, could this just be a loose connection at the jack or something more serious? I did have a little root around inside under the scratchplate as well as loosening the jack plate. A whole bunch of fluff came out when I did this, not sure if this cushioned the jacks against the wood deliberately or was just a build up.

I also have problem with the string height. The neck is as straight as a die but the action is too low and the bridge will not go any higher, I'm not sure if it has reached capacity or the problem is the springs as they clearly need replaced, so might the four screws?

Jimmy-jim-jim

[jingle_jangle]

One of two things are probable in the issue of the bridge pickup cutting in and out--you could be using a Chinese cable, which has a plug that is .010" too small for the Switchcraft USA jack on the guitar, and sometimes leads to trouble, or you could have a dirty selector switch, which can be cleaned by sliding some fine sandpaper (#400 or finer!) between the leaves of the switch with that pickup engaged.

[doctorwho]

... I also have problem with the string height. The neck is as straight as a die but the action is too low and the bridge will not go any higher, I'm not sure if it has reached capacity or the problem is the springs as they clearly need replaced, so might the four screws?

Jimmy-jim-jim

Generally, one will need to loosen the string tension first to allow the bridge height to be increased. try that, and if it won't go up even then, the screws or the screw holes may have become stripped.

[Jimmy-Jim-Jim]

The first thing I need to do is get a proper cable and hopefully this wil resolve the electronic trouble (and thank you for not mentioning the wire mites!).

On the bridge front however I have relaxed the tension and tried turning the screws and in fact the screws are at maximum height and hardly touch the base of the bridge. I thought the trouble might be something to do with the springs (which are shot) or perhaps slightly longer screws would do the trick (although they are probably a standard size). I have looked in the 'Boutique' and these parts are available, I also need one of the keys for the top of the screws.

Jimmy-jim-jim

[jingle_jangle]

Could you possibly post pictures or links to photos of this bridge problem?

[Jimmy-Jim-Jim]

Here are some pictures of the bridge.

Jimmy-jim-jim

[jingle_jangle]

Those are the wrong springs...somebody's put them on there in place of the originals. Originals look like ballpoint pen screws, except only about half the height.

You can remove those springs and run this bridge without springs provided you give each screw a tiny bit of Loctite with a toothpick used as applicator, once you have it adjusted the way you like it, height-wise.