'96 Rogue Pan Control Issue (Help!)

[deepwood]

Really need some help...

I've owned this beautiful instrument since 2006 (2nd Owner). I've done all my own basic maintenance/setups over the years, but this go 'round I was short on time, heading into the studio, and took the bass to a well-respected luthier here in town for a basic setup, intonation, and string change. He said he had worked on many Alembics over the years...


I didn't ask him to use control cleaner on the pots, or even open the control cavity, but that is what he did. Now the pan control goes in and out and it seems like I can't always engage both the neck and bridge pups even at full bridge or full neck positions. There is certainly no longer the smooth sounding pan with center indent we know & love- sometimes it engages, sometimes not...


Is the pan control a goner? Do I call the mothership for replacement? Any help is appreciated.


Thanks!

[mica]

The pots are sealed, so cleaner should just glide over them and do nothing. Can you show me a picture of the electronics cavity? Is there any chance that the pan control was replaced?

[deepwood]

Mica!
Oh, thank you! I'll have the photos right up. To my knowledge, everything was stock unless this guy, literally, pulled a fast one. Back w/ photos pronto!
-Ty.
 

[deepwood]

Mica-
Here is the control cavity photo w/ pan control pot visible. I can send more photos, let me know what you need.
Gratefully,
-Ty.

[mica]

OK well the pots look original, so that's good. But after talking to my dad this afternoon, there's really nothing that the cleaner could really do to hurt this. It must be something else. It's possible that a wire became disconnected and it was reattached in the wrong position, but everything looks in order in this photo.

Does the pot _feel_ any different?

I can get you set up with a new pot to have you replace it locally, but we're not certain that's the issue.

Often that silly barrel jack causes issues (we don't use them anymore). It's the very best version of that kind of connector, and it usually fails in 5-10 years. But you're not really describing an output jack issue.

I would really like it if you could unmount the electronics and send them in here for evaluation. There is no charge to test, and we can then figure out what the heck is going on in there. You've got the before picture, so you will know how to reinstall them when they are returned and confirmed repaired.

It's usually easier to unplug the pickups with needle nose pliers or to wait until the board is out and then grasp the plastic housing - never pull on the wires.

Please let me know if you will be sending this in or if you want to explore the pan pot path - might be better to email since we'll need to talk addresses and such at that point.

[deepwood]

Thank you so much Mica! I appreciate the insight and options. We'll move this over to Email. And, kindest regards to your father!
Best,
-T.

[David Houck]

Is the nut, underneath the knob, tight?  If the nut is loose, then the pot won't have a good connection to ground.

[deepwood]

Ahhh, thank you Sir David. I'll give that a check as well!

[jazzyvee]

Following on from what David is saying, if the pot is lose then the whole assembly could turn when you move the pot and not just the shaft so it could be that the shaft is turning less than the whole pot adn not giving you the full sweep of movement expected.

Also (hopefully this is not the case), the guy may have tried to remove the knobs without understanding the correct procedure and forced something adrift inside the pot?
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=217.msg1024#msg1024

[deepwood]

Thank you Jazzy! I remembered about the collet knobs as I was driving home. I should've casually questioned his actual  knowledge with more acuity... After working on the bass myself yesterday, checking his work, re-seating connections, etc., the bass has returned to it's former glory and is fully functional; but, I am going to pull the electronics and send them off to the mothership for testing once I get through my studio sessions this weekend.


I've loved working on my own bass(es) and am grateful that Alembics are designed and built so well, with such care and passion.


Once again, I'm also grateful to the Alembicians of the world that have consistently provided spot-on guidance and support.


Cheers!

[David Houck]

Glad to hear you fixed the problem!

[jazzyvee]

If you are sending the electronics back to alembic, it might be worth considering getting the 3 position Q switch modification done at the same time. i had that done to my guitar electronics when I sent them back for check/repair some years back.

[slawie]

I’m not sure it’s possible to add 3 position Q to Rogue electronics.
But then again I may be wrong.

Lovely looking bass