Getting repairs on active basses

#22
Reedt2000 said:
The barts are split-coil. The 4 strings split right in the middle where the A string lands on a five. The 5 string pickups offset the split so it's in between the strings.
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OK.
I've had that happen.
Split coils for a six stringer on a seven.D string in the split.
Replaced with Delano SBC HE/S duo coils.
Snapshot_2015918.jpg
 
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#23
Just as a suggestion, it’s not uncommon to send a bass out to an established shop that is well-versed and experienced, especially if you’re in a remote area or a long distance from a larger city. You do have to cover shipping there and back, but you have the peace of mind of getting it done right the first time. I’ve seen guitars come into the big shops that are sent in by people all over the world, not just the USA.

I used to live on an island off of Florida with no guitar techs around at all, so I’d send electronic work I couldn’t handle to Carl Pedigo in Chicago. Often, he’d just need the body, not the whole bass. Since he did such solid work, all that was needed was to reassemble the bass when I got them back, and they’re still going strong years later.
 
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#24
John Patten said:
hi all!
I recently purchased a project bass (Ibanez SR505) that needed a new pre-amp. I installed the preamp then found out the pups on it were incorrect (4-string pups on a 5-string! Pretty sure the shop I bought it dirt cheap from put all their surplus parts together on it...).
Anyway, I didn’t really mind replacing the Ibanez Bartolinis with actual Bartolinis but I didn’t have the time or patience to install them myself and took it to the local Guitar Center for the installation.
A few days later, the GC tech calls me says he can’t do it, doesn’t know enough about active circuits. Refers me to two other GC locations, both about an hour away.
I took it instead to another nearby store. Two eeeks later they call say the guy had the pups installed without any problem but when I asked the passive/active switching, I got no answer.
They’ve had the bass six weeks now and I told them I want it back - even if I can only play it passively.
To get to the point: is it normally this difficult getting pups or an active circuit repaired? It doesn’t seem it should be that difficult to me.
Has anyone else had similar issues?
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The only really good guitar techs I know of at GC in your area are at the Wilmington DE store. One of them works full time at PRS, so he's not always there.
 
#25
Quality of the solder joints don't really matter?! Blasphemy!
Quality (and clean) solder joints will sound better than dirty cold ones that are barely making contact. Of you want to work on your own gear, learn to solder. There are a ton of videos on YouTube that can help you. Get a good iron. The Weller WES51 is pretty good, I have seen them on Amazon for as low as $80. I have a Weller WD2M, but most DIYers dont want to drop $500. I'm also an IPC Solder Specialist and former Fender electronics tech. Use a quality resin core solder. Kester 44 is good, and solder with lead is easier to work with than lead free. Use 99% pure isopropyl to clean the flux off with a swab this might be harder to find locally, but you can order it online

Funny thing about the luthier that worked in the shop with me, he could do awesome work with wood, frets, and finish. Terrible with electronics and any sort of wiring. Oh, and Fender throws a fit when an "amp tech" replaces a pickup under warranty for a customer.

My local GC is terrible and I wouldn't trust them with anything.
 
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#27
John Patten said:
Yes. I used magnetic green tape to confirm - and pulled one and saw it marked as a 4 string model...

I can’t believe it’s been this difficult, either. Active basses are not a novelty item.
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But genuine Ibanez spare parts apparently are something of a novelty. At least they’ve been IME.
 
#28
John Patten said:
hi all!
I recently purchased a project bass (Ibanez SR505) that needed a new pre-amp. I installed the preamp then found out the pups on it were incorrect (4-string pups on a 5-string! Pretty sure the shop I bought it dirt cheap from put all their surplus parts together on it...).
Anyway, I didn’t really mind replacing the Ibanez Bartolinis with actual Bartolinis but I didn’t have the time or patience to install them myself and took it to the local Guitar Center for the installation.
A few days later, the GC tech calls me says he can’t do it, doesn’t know enough about active circuits. Refers me to two other GC locations, both about an hour away.
I took it instead to another nearby store. Two eeeks later they call say the guy had the pups installed without any problem but when I asked the passive/active switching, I got no answer.
They’ve had the bass six weeks now and I told them I want it back - even if I can only play it passively.
To get to the point: is it normally this difficult getting pups or an active circuit repaired? It doesn’t seem it should be that difficult to me.
Has anyone else had similar issues?
Click to expand...
Haven’t had this type of problem but I am lucky enough to know a guy who knows his stuff and I’ve had no reason to go elsewhere. I’ve had all kinds of electronic work done on basses. Pickup swaps, Aguilar and Delano pres installed. There’s a huge range of stuff when it comes to working with electronics. For example my guitar players use EMG electronics and the stuff they use is basically solderless plug and play and passive basses for me are no problem but hell no im not interested in Messing around with 20 freaking wires inside the control cavity, especially for whatever GC is willing to pay, so I can’t really blame them
 
#30
Clark Dark said:
You "need" a tech who can read a schematic:cool:
Are you near Bordentown? If it isn't too late call Bordentown Guitar Rescue, Mike Virok. He's listed.
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Thanks - I’ll keep the contact handy in case I need it later. Bordentown is about an hour south of me but close enough to use next time. I think i’ll deal with this problem myself. Just surprised it’s an issue for so many... not like an active bass is hard to find.
 
#31
Nephilymbass said:
Haven’t had this type of problem but I am lucky enough to know a guy who knows his stuff and I’ve had no reason to go elsewhere. I’ve had all kinds of electronic work done on basses. Pickup swaps, Aguilar and Delano pres installed. There’s a huge range of stuff when it comes to working with electronics. For example my guitar players use EMG electronics and the stuff they use is basically solderless plug and play and passive basses for me are no problem but hell no im not interested in Messing around with 20 freaking wires inside the control cavity, especially for whatever GC is willing to pay, so I can’t really blame them
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But isn’t that kind of
Spidey2112 said:
Passively, as in... unplugged? I have an SR805 (2015, I think), and it's straight "active"... there's no mode switch for passive on mine.

Did you replace the active preamp with the same? If so, wouldn't the connections used for the Bart 5 be the same as those for the Bart 4?

If not, I would hope a schematic/wiring diagram would be provided with the new preamp.

Sorry about your experience, though.
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Yes, the wiring should be the same - part of the mystery on the difficulty these guys are having!
 
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#32
Hevy T said:
Hell you think that's bad! I brought a bass in to have a new pickup installed, not only did the tech not route the cavity the way I wanted and explained it, but he also wired out of phase like how a telecaster is wired. Apparently he used a tele schematic to wire the darned thing. Another time I wanted a pickup routed and wired the same as in a Warwick $$. But instead he puts about 2 inches between the pickups instead of side by side! That ruined that bass for me so I got rid of it :(
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oh, brother! Using a Tele schematic...
 
#33
Reedt2000 said:
I'd avoid using GC for repairs in general. Where in NJ are you? I'm in central NJ and there are a couple places in my area. I'm sure others on the forum can make recommendations too. There are also a ton of folks in luthier's corner who do this kind of work. A little $ in shipping is better than not knowing who is doing what to your bass.
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I’m in Somerset County, not far from New Brunswick and Piscataway. Let me know your recommendations because I may have other needs later.
 
#34
John Patten said:
I’m in Somerset County, not far from New Brunswick and Piscataway. Let me know your recommendations because I may have other needs later.
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These guys are in Edison, I've never used them but I've heard good things. They have pics of their work on their website, they list preamp installs among their repair services, and they deal in high-end basses.

NJ Guitar and Bass

These guys have built a good reputation but they're about an hour south of you.

http://mikevirok.wixsite.com/bgr2016
 
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