Temprature sensitive cut out

[Chris Downing]

About eight months ago I had a set of APS1 Alnico 2's put in my Tokai '83Strat. Brilliant change! But after my summer break I seem to have a problem with it - a temprature sensitive problem. Or to be specific, what happened today, and happened a few times in the last month, is that the sound on the neck PU deteriorates and distorts over a few minutes until it's only about 10% of what the signal should be and it also becomes very microphonic. Then after ten minutes it starts to get better and comes back to normal again. I've had my tech look at it and he cannot find anything wrong - although he only manged to experience it completely cutting out once - then it came back again. I can only think this is some sort of internal PU shorting that's sensitive to temprature as I move my guitar from one venue to another in the car (where it gets cold - but not sub zero - just down to about 10 or 15deg C.) then it starts to warm up at a gig or teaching

Any ideas guys - this is driving me nuts.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Temprature sensitive cut out

How's about a COLD solder joint? :fart:

J/K bro. don't know really. Are you sure nothing's getting knocked about when you're transporting your axe?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Temprature sensitive cut out

COLD Solder joints as Benjy said.. i had that problem too...

 

[Chris Downing]

Re: Temprature sensitive cut out

Well the guys who did this in the workshop do so many I'd be dubiuos that they'd do that. The PU does seem to fail when it's been cold. It's not the switch and it's not the pot - jiggling these does nothing to the failing sound. It's interesting though that the PU becomes very microphonic - like another circuit has opened up - a wrong circuit. The thing humms loudly when I'm touching a string and a pole piece. But that goes away when it returns to normal.

Are you guys suggesting it should be re-installed to make sure the solder joints are OK - could get that done I suppose. Do SD PUs ever fail? Never had any PU fail on me in 45 years of playing - until now. That's why I'm no expert at this problem!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Temprature sensitive cut out

The pickup has a bad ground, then. It's definately the install and not the pickup itself.

Wiring goofs happen to the best of us. Just ask your tech to go over the solder joints again. That should solve your problem.

 

[Philcguitars]

Re: Temprature sensitive cut out

Definately what I know as a 'Dry' joint. Check your soldering.

You get these occuring in even the most professional or automated solder jobs.

 

[Chris Downing]

Re: Temprature sensitive cut out

Well what do you know - that's exactly what the guys at SD said as well when I emailed them. So either my maintenance guy or I am going to have to open it up and resolder everything and check the earthing. Pretty much worked out that was what I would need to do next anyway.

Now onto a bass that's got static in the strings - and that's with a pair of vintage stacks installed as well - plenty or re-shielding? It's an object lesson in not getting a cheap MIM bass and then having to upgrade the bridge, the pick guard, the PUs the string tree - don't reminde me what this has cost - why didn't I start with a USA jazz in the first place?