Add group to favorites
Back to post list
Send new message to group Search:
Post Subject:
Fretless Arrives
Fretless Arrives
My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it in,
but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I return
it for a new one?
My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it in,
but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I return
it for a new one?
Re: Fretless Arrives
> My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it
> in, but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I
> return it for a new one?
Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
> My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it
> in, but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I
> return it for a new one?
Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Re: Fretless Arrives
On Apr 17, 8:37 pm, "Derek Homsberg" <dh...@gmail . com > wrote:
> > My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it
> > in, but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I
> > return it for a new one?
>
> Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Since Squiers tend to be rather variable in quality, my advice would
be to carefully try the bass. Pay attention to the tone, the feel the
playability and your general overall "likeability" of it. If it seems
like a "keeper" in your opinion, then just make other arrangements to
fix the pot. If on the other hand, you find the tone dull, dead spots
on the neck, a kind of "rattle" when playing it unplugged, and other
things that indicate a less than stellar bass, then ship it back
complaining about the pot. They may just fix it and send you the same
bass, but it's worth the try.
On Apr 17, 8:37 pm, "Derek Homsberg" <dh...@gmail . com > wrote:
> > My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it
> > in, but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I
> > return it for a new one?
>
> Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Since Squiers tend to be rather variable in quality, my advice would
be to carefully try the bass. Pay attention to the tone, the feel the
playability and your general overall "likeability" of it. If it seems
like a "keeper" in your opinion, then just make other arrangements to
fix the pot. If on the other hand, you find the tone dull, dead spots
on the neck, a kind of "rattle" when playing it unplugged, and other
things that indicate a less than stellar bass, then ship it back
complaining about the pot. They may just fix it and send you the same
bass, but it's worth the try.
Re: Fretless Arrives
Derek Homsberg wrote:
>> My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it
>> in, but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I
>> return it for a new one?
>
> Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Are you nuts?
It's a $5 part.
If you like the bass replace the pot.
Send it back and you might get a whole different bass that sucks.
Not to mention that by the time you pay for shipping it back to the
company and back to you ( and you WILL pay for that) you would have been
able to have a luthier replace ALL the pots *and* had a couple of beers.
Send the company the bad pot and the repair bill and see if they refund
the repair cost. They should. If not forget it and play the damn thing.
Derek Homsberg wrote:
>> My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it
>> in, but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I
>> return it for a new one?
>
> Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Are you nuts?
It's a $5 part.
If you like the bass replace the pot.
Send it back and you might get a whole different bass that sucks.
Not to mention that by the time you pay for shipping it back to the
company and back to you ( and you WILL pay for that) you would have been
able to have a luthier replace ALL the pots *and* had a couple of beers.
Send the company the bad pot and the repair bill and see if they refund
the repair cost. They should. If not forget it and play the damn thing.
Re: Fretless Arrives
> Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Just so you'll all know, I bought it from Musicians Friend, and there was no
cost to ship it back to them. The drop off point is a mile from my house
and it was quite simple. They sent me a free shipping label by email, and
it was on its way back within an hour of arrival.
Unfortunately, I'd sent it back by the time I read some of your posts about
testing it first to see if the sound was such that it was worth keeping and
fixing the pot myself. That was a good idea, but alas, I'll never
know....;-)
> Heck, I'm sending it back. More delayed gratification.
Just so you'll all know, I bought it from Musicians Friend, and there was no
cost to ship it back to them. The drop off point is a mile from my house
and it was quite simple. They sent me a free shipping label by email, and
it was on its way back within an hour of arrival.
Unfortunately, I'd sent it back by the time I read some of your posts about
testing it first to see if the sound was such that it was worth keeping and
fixing the pot myself. That was a good idea, but alas, I'll never
know....;-)
Re: Fretless Arrives
Derek Homsberg <dhoms@gmail . com > wrote:
> My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it in,
> but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I return
> it for a new one?
Is this a brand new bass from a shop or on-line store?
If it is from a shop they might repair it for you - if it's an on-line
store they may well replace it with another instrument and send the bass
back up the line for repair or whatever.
In your situation what I'd do is plug the thing in and play it. If the
bass sounds great and it's just a case of a dodgy pot stem I'd keep it.
If the bass sounds only OK, or there are other big looking issues I'd
consider sending it back and going once round the cheap bass lottery
loop.
You will almost certainly need, at some point soon, to take the control
plate off and install the required copper shielding that Fender/Squier
were too cheap to put in at the factory - at this point replacing the
pot with a new one is a pretty easy bit of soldering.
You have tried gently pushing the shaft of the pot inwards? Those
cheap pots are probably only held together by spit and will power
anyway.
--- Derek
--
Derek Tearne - derek@url.co.nz
Many Hands - Trans Cultural Music from Aotearoa/New Zealand
* w w w .manyhands.co.nz/
Derek Homsberg <dhoms@gmail . com > wrote:
> My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled it in,
> but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I return
> it for a new one?
Is this a brand new bass from a shop or on-line store?
If it is from a shop they might repair it for you - if it's an on-line
store they may well replace it with another instrument and send the bass
back up the line for repair or whatever.
In your situation what I'd do is plug the thing in and play it. If the
bass sounds great and it's just a case of a dodgy pot stem I'd keep it.
If the bass sounds only OK, or there are other big looking issues I'd
consider sending it back and going once round the cheap bass lottery
loop.
You will almost certainly need, at some point soon, to take the control
plate off and install the required copper shielding that Fender/Squier
were too cheap to put in at the factory - at this point replacing the
pot with a new one is a pretty easy bit of soldering.
You have tried gently pushing the shaft of the pot inwards? Those
cheap pots are probably only held together by spit and will power
anyway.
--- Derek
--
Derek Tearne - derek@url.co.nz
Many Hands - Trans Cultural Music from Aotearoa/New Zealand
* w w w .manyhands.co.nz/
Re: Fretless Arrives
On Apr 17, 11:16 pm, de...@url.co.nz (Derek Tearne) wrote:
> Derek Homsberg <dh...@gmail . com > wrote:
> > My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled =
it in,
> > but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I =
return
> > it for a new one?
>
> Is this a brand new bass from a shop or on-line store?
>
> If it is from a shop they might repair it for you - if it's an on-line
> store they may well replace it with another instrument and send the bass
> back up the line for repair or whatever.
>
> In your situation what I'd do is plug the thing in and play it. If the
> bass sounds great and it's just a case of a dodgy pot stem I'd keep it.
>
> If the bass sounds only OK, or there are other big looking issues I'd
> consider sending it back and going once round the cheap bass lottery
> loop.
>
> You will almost certainly need, at some point soon, to take the control
> plate off and install the required copper shielding that Fender/Squier
> were too cheap to put in at the factory - at this point replacing the
> pot with a new one is a pretty easy bit of soldering.
>
> You have tried gently pushing the shaft of the pot inwards? Those
> cheap pots are probably only held together by spit and will power
> anyway.
Some pots (at least), the shaft is held in by prongs at the inside end
(opposite the knob), which click into some kind of receiver after
being compressed, via split shaft, as it slides through an opening in
the guts of the pot. (Clear as mud?)
So, the repair might not involve soldering if you go buy a similar
pot, get the shaft out of it in one piece, and replace the one in your
bass.
I'm working from old, old memory here but someplace in the far distant
past I think I saw this done when the pot shaft was wiggly because one
side of the split shaft pronged holder-inner apparatus apparently
broke on installation.
There are "wiring harness kits" on ebay and I'm sure elsewhere that
would be a good way to go, so (yes, the old refrain) you have good
pots, good wire, and a good output jack in the bass. One that won't
break at the worst possible moment and one that you or someone else
has tightened sufficiently that it won't loosen in ordinary use,
either.
Unless of course, as others have discussed, you don't think much of
this particular bass and are willing to pay postage to do some more
mail-order Fender fishing <g>. --D-y
On Apr 17, 11:16 pm, de...@url.co.nz (Derek Tearne) wrote:
> Derek Homsberg <dh...@gmail . com > wrote:
> > My new Squire Modified Fretless arrived today. Haven't even pluggled =
it in,
> > but the stem of middle pot is loose. Is this a quick fix or should I =
return
> > it for a new one?
>
> Is this a brand new bass from a shop or on-line store?
>
> If it is from a shop they might repair it for you - if it's an on-line
> store they may well replace it with another instrument and send the bass
> back up the line for repair or whatever.
>
> In your situation what I'd do is plug the thing in and play it. If the
> bass sounds great and it's just a case of a dodgy pot stem I'd keep it.
>
> If the bass sounds only OK, or there are other big looking issues I'd
> consider sending it back and going once round the cheap bass lottery
> loop.
>
> You will almost certainly need, at some point soon, to take the control
> plate off and install the required copper shielding that Fender/Squier
> were too cheap to put in at the factory - at this point replacing the
> pot with a new one is a pretty easy bit of soldering.
>
> You have tried gently pushing the shaft of the pot inwards? Those
> cheap pots are probably only held together by spit and will power
> anyway.
Some pots (at least), the shaft is held in by prongs at the inside end
(opposite the knob), which click into some kind of receiver after
being compressed, via split shaft, as it slides through an opening in
the guts of the pot. (Clear as mud?)
So, the repair might not involve soldering if you go buy a similar
pot, get the shaft out of it in one piece, and replace the one in your
bass.
I'm working from old, old memory here but someplace in the far distant
past I think I saw this done when the pot shaft was wiggly because one
side of the split shaft pronged holder-inner apparatus apparently
broke on installation.
There are "wiring harness kits" on ebay and I'm sure elsewhere that
would be a good way to go, so (yes, the old refrain) you have good
pots, good wire, and a good output jack in the bass. One that won't
break at the worst possible moment and one that you or someone else
has tightened sufficiently that it won't loosen in ordinary use,
either.
Unless of course, as others have discussed, you don't think much of
this particular bass and are willing to pay postage to do some more
mail-order Fender fishing <g>. --D-y
