rear pickup half dead

[kick2max]

My 11 year old brown bass (inside out version)'s rear pickup are not working as much as front. The output is so weak when I set to rear pick up only, whereas the front pickup works just fine.    Any clues how to fix it?  Thank you

[jazzyvee]

Have you tried adjusting the internal gain trim pots for the setting the level for each preamp?

[KR]

Set the pickup height so there is 2mm space between the top of the pickup and the bottom of the outside strings when holding down the strings at the 24th fret. This will give you some output. If you need more, just open up the cavity and adjust/increase the bridge pickup gain pot--per Jazzy.

[StephenR]

Hi Manabu,

Great advice so far. One other thing to keep in mind... any pickup near the bridge sees less energy from the orbit of the strings than a pickup closer to the neck. Having Alembic electronics with individual gain controls for each pickup gives you a way to compensate, it also allows you to balance the output of the pickups to where you feel they sound best. It is a matter of personal taste.

[mica]

To help understand the problem a little better, can you please answer:

1. How long have you noticed the problem?
2. How long have you owned this bass?
3. Do you turn the controls much when you use it?

If nothing else, this will help us eliminate some possible issues.

[kick2max]

To help understand the problem a little better, can you please answer:

1. How long have you noticed the problem?
2. How long have you owned this bass?
3. Do you turn the controls much when you use it?

If nothing else, this will help us eliminate some possible issues.

Thank you Mica for your post.  I didn't find your reply so I posted the same question last week.   

My problem is that I can hear rear pickup output weak at max on volume Pod.  If I turn the pot just a little bit, no signal comes out.

1 I noticed this problem since a few years ago.
2 I own this bass about 11 years.
3 I don't often turn this volume pot   

Also, I tried to fix it by doing following;
I tweaked gain trim but not result.
I moved the pickup as close as to strings.  No change.,
I turned volume pot 100 times up and down to see any changes - no change.

So I am stuck with the problem. 

any further tips to fix it would be highly appreciated.

[mica]

You can swap the pickup connections to the electronics to confirm the issue with with the electronics. It's very unlikely that the pickup itself is the culprit but it can happen so it's good to double check.

Once the problem is confirmed to be in the electronics, we can either get replacement parts for you to install yourself or send in the electronics for repair.

[kick2max]

Mica
Thank you for your comment.  It is surely assuring that you can support me for this trouble.  I will work on the circuit toward next week in Feb.  I will get back to you after that.

Thanks again

[kick2max]

Dear Mica
I finally managed to find time to follow your troubleshoot instruction.  I opened back panel and swapped pickup outputs from rear to neck, and neck to rear.  The result is that the rear pickup is live and kicking when it goes through front pickup circuit (volume and tone control)  Therefore, my conclusion is that something is wrong with volume or tone pod in rear. 

I have a close friend who works with guitar circuits so if I have the replacement parts, I can ask him to help out the installation.   

How do I get the replacement parts?  Thank you!!