bassmansky Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 just bought a squier cv 60's p-bass.started playing through my practice amp and after a little while could smell something like plastic getting hot.on inspecting the bass i found the smell was coming from the pups.i had taken the protective film off but ive never known pups to smell like that before.is something wrong inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 i dont know much about electronics, but i really don't think its possible for passive pickups to burn spontaneously... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Don't worry what they smell like - did they get hot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 [quote name='Hamster' post='420536' date='Feb 27 2009, 12:18 AM']Don't worry what they smell like - did they get hot?[/quote] no dont seem to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I think there is already a thread about warm pups. I would suspect this could be something quite bad, if you can get shocks through your amp earthing via your bass, this would indicate such a problem would allow current to pass through your bass, in this case, if its going via the pup, it would get warm as a thin copper coil is very much like a heating element. I'd get a new amp. If they do just smell plasticy, does the smell fade, when it isn't plugged in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='420616' date='Feb 27 2009, 08:31 AM']I think there is already a thread about warm pups. I would suspect this could be something quite bad, if you can get shocks through your amp earthing via your bass, this would indicate such a problem would allow current to pass through your bass, in this case, if its going via the pup, it would get warm as a thin copper coil is very much like a heating element. I'd get a new amp. If they do just smell plasticy, does the smell fade, when it isn't plugged in?[/quote] the smell fades when its not plugged in.i will try my jazz through the amp but never had a problem before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 tried the jazz through the amp no probs.must say the smell is hardly noticeble now when playing.if i get really close to the pup there is a faint smell even when the bass is unplugged.will have to see how it goes in the next day or two.under warranty so no worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 took the bass back to pmt who are as mystified as me!they are sending the bass back to fender and will get a replacement asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinman Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'd be very worried about the amp! Can you get access to a voltmeter/multimeter? If so, plug your lead in and , with the amp on, measure across the tip and sleeve of the end you'd plug into the bass. With the meter on a DC voltage measurement range (start on a high range and work down if no reading). If you see anything above a few millivolts then I think you've got a problem. If I had to guess it may be an input capacitor gone short circuit letting the pre-amp supply voltage (12v-ish) through to the pickup. Can't think of any reason to check the bass if it's totally passive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 [quote name='thinman' date='Mar 1 2009, 08:21 PM' post='422626'] I'd be very worried about the amp! Can you get access to a voltmeter/multimeter? If so, plug your lead in and , with the amp on, measure across the tip and sleeve of the end you'd plug into the bass. With the meter on a DC voltage measurement range (start on a high range and work down if no reading). If you see anything above a few millivolts then I think you've got a problem. If I had to guess it may be an input capacitor gone short circuit letting the pre-amp supply voltage (12v-ish) through to the pickup. Can't think of any reason to check the bass if it's totally passive thanks for that.but why would it do it to the squier pup and not on my jazz?have to see if i can get a meter from somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 i cant get a reading on the meter must be a duff one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 [quote name='bassmansky' post='423435' date='Mar 2 2009, 05:25 PM']i cant get a reading on the meter must be a duff one![/quote] Umm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 [quote name='EBS_freak' post='423471' date='Mar 2 2009, 06:01 PM']Umm...[/quote] it is a cheapie one i borrowed from work.probably doesnt work like most of our gear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 [quote name='bassmansky' post='423435' date='Mar 2 2009, 05:25 PM']i cant get a reading on the meter must be a duff one![/quote]How have you got the meter set up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 i have it switched to dc and have been making contact with lead,nothing.i know the meter works because i tested a battery with it.ive changed meter wires round to see if it makes a difference,nothing!what ive read elsewhere shouldnt you test inside amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinman Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 [quote name='bassmansky' post='423579' date='Mar 2 2009, 07:44 PM']i have it switched to dc and have been making contact with lead,nothing.i know the meter works because i tested a battery with it.ive changed meter wires round to see if it makes a difference,nothing!what ive read elsewhere shouldnt you test inside amp?[/quote] If there was a voltage I'd expect it to be DC - if it was AC you probably hear it very loudly (assuming it was at an audio frequency)! If you're reading 0v then either the meter's on too high a scale or there's no problem. Pickups heating up though would seem to imply some form of energy getting in there, i.e. a current passing though but as you mention, the fact it doesn't happen on another bass is odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted March 14, 2009 Author Share Posted March 14, 2009 got the same bass back today,fender cant find nothing wrong with it!will have to see how it goes or they can have it back again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmansky Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 well played a whole gig with this bass and sailed through it with flying colours.fender were right after all ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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