I have a 1974 EA 260 semi hollow-body I picked up recently (exactly like the one in the pic below). The jack input has been crackling a bit right from the start (especially if I play sitting down) and it evidently needs to be cleaned - or something in there needs soldering. I thought I could just unscrew the jack input outwards, pop it out and get at the wiring that way - to check for loose connections. But it actually doesn't screw out fully, hardly at all. So I'm wondering how to get in to the input wiring and the pots? Do I have to take the PUPs off and go in that way?? Any advice would be very welcome.
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If its the input jack, it needs tightening/soldering.
But while you've got the guts out, be sure to pick up a can of DeOxit and blast the pots with the stuff, its hands down magic for pots.
But while you've got the guts out, be sure to pick up a can of DeOxit and blast the pots with the stuff, its hands down magic for pots.
This. Exactly this. Basses are no different from cars or computers. They occasionally need maintenance. It's not that hard and you should only have to do it every year or so.
Great looking bass!
Not to be a nitpicker, but if you have one "exactly" like that - it's not an EA-260 (which I have). That's actually a 5120e; the model before the EA-260, which replaced the 5120e's in, IIRC, 1971. No real difference, though; other than different pickup trim rings, no mute on the EA-260 (and a very plain trapeze tailpiece), they're the same bass. That one's just older, and looks nicer - and more like the Riviera, which it was intended to replace. Anyway...
Yes, you can fish things in and out a pickup hole, or an F hole - whichever you prefer. For the jack, I think the F hole might work a little better for you. But, for goodness sake, tie, glue, or otherwise fasten a string or something to it before you pull it out. You'll die of old age before you get it back in place, otherwise. I've seen people use an old jack with a string attached, too; that seems to work very well. The same goes for anything else you decide to pull out of that bass. Make sure you have some way to pull it back to it's hole first. And yes, it's a pain in the ass; which is why most techs cringe when you show up with a hollowbody anything. As has been suggested, try a couple good squirts of DeOxit, or a good electrical contact cleaner; followed by lots of knob turning/switch flipping, first, before you start trying to fish things out..
Yes, you can fish things in and out a pickup hole, or an F hole - whichever you prefer. For the jack, I think the F hole might work a little better for you. But, for goodness sake, tie, glue, or otherwise fasten a string or something to it before you pull it out. You'll die of old age before you get it back in place, otherwise. I've seen people use an old jack with a string attached, too; that seems to work very well. The same goes for anything else you decide to pull out of that bass. Make sure you have some way to pull it back to it's hole first. And yes, it's a pain in the ass; which is why most techs cringe when you show up with a hollowbody anything. As has been suggested, try a couple good squirts of DeOxit, or a good electrical contact cleaner; followed by lots of knob turning/switch flipping, first, before you start trying to fish things out..
Not to be a bit picker but it is a rebranded Arai. Identical to my second bass ever.
Wish I still had it.
Wish I still had it.
Actually, it (like the Arai's of the period) is a Matsumoku, and was sold under several different brands; like a lot of Chinese, Korean and (still) Japanese instruments are to this day...I'm fortunate enough to have the -260's companion guitar - the EA-250, as well (and a very nice guitar it is, too).
I'd use Deoxit (as noted above) reaching inside the OUTPUT jack to swab it with a Q-tip, and probably dab some on a cable plug, then insert, remove, insert, remove a number of times.