Got a model 6 ('86 w/ Kahler) :) a couple of questions/issues though...

[l1kel1ke]

Heya, just got this baby about a week and a half ago It was a steal for $400 CDN! no dents anywhere, unscathed finish with very little scratches, no previous damage etc.. apparently she'd been sleepin in the box for a good 10 years. Regardless, I love it to death

anyway, just wanted some expert advice. The guy swapped the stock J200s for gold lace sensors. i can get a darker telecaster sound from it with the humbucker turned off, which works wonders for soloing. I've never heard it with the stock ones though, were the sensors a good move?

also, more importantly, the rightmost (tone 2) potentiometer is incapable of turning. I'm guessing it was a change during previous instances of modification, but was any logic to this you think? or was it just a mistake? is it better that I get it fixed or is the difference minimal?

thanks a lot

Edit:
Thanks Sunbane; just wanted to make this post worth something (excuse the blurriness, this was the sharpest pic i could take the day of while i was itching to play er. I've been meaning to take better pics outdoors but there's been barely any sunlight (when i'm up lol), so it'll have to do for now)

[Sunbane]

I've never heard it with the stock ones though, were the sensors a good move?

I would say yes. The J200 stacked humbuckers weren't all that thrilling.

also, more importantly, the rightmost (tone 2) potentiometer is incapable of turning. I'm guessing it was a change during previous instances of modification, but was any logic to this you think? or was it just a mistake? is it better that I get it fixed or is the difference minimal?

Originally, that knob should have been the gain control for the Jackson JE-1200 mid boost circuit. You'd have to open her up to see if it's still in there.

Btw, congrats on a great guitar! I have an '87 in naturally faded snow white pearl.

Now...

[l1kel1ke]

^thanks, the JE-1200 circuit, would you be referring to the active hardware in the back? I opened it up, and there's this circuit dealy that uses a 9v battery inside, passive pups but active electronics i'm guessing, not sure if that's the one you're referring to or if its something else altogether?

if so do you think i can hold off without the gain control? or does it differ in some way that it can't be achieved with effects?

[KennyF]

Good score!

[Rich#6]

Thats the one he is talking about. Its a mid-boost and the third knob controlls it. It is almost impossible to replace the board but you should be about to replace the third knob. Congrats! I have 2 86 6's

[ZZB]

Nice fiddle, weird pickup ring.

Seriously though, that's a great buy.

[JACKSONFREAK]

Before you replace the mid boost control. Try pulling the knob off of it first. And see if the shaft of the pot actually turns. Some times those knobs get pushed all the way down to the body and it creates more friction then normal and the knob wont turn. Just raising the knob is alot easier than replacing the pot.
Gil

[Sunbane]

Thats the one he is talking about. Its a mid-boost and the third knob controlls it. It is almost impossible to replace the board but you should be about to replace the third knob.

Yup, Rich hit the nail on the head. Thanks!

And yes, the pickups are passive ones. The 9v powers the Jackson preamp.

I personally never cared for the mid-boost, but plenty of people here like them. If you can't get the pot to turn at all, you can replace it (solder it off the board and put a new one in its place). I believe those are 50k pots, but I'm not sure.

Oh, and thanks for the pic!
Is the pup ring pink, or is it just a reflection?

[l1kel1ke]

Jacksonfreak: actually, I did unscrew the knob and take it out, and the pot mechanism does not turn. the entire pot ends up turning at the back when I twist the thing hard enough, so hopefully i can get that replaced. thanks

Sunbane: lol, yess the humbucker ring IS quite pink I was thinking of replacing it but strangely enough it's growing on me.


edit: I'm thinking, maybe disabling the pot was intentional on the original owner's part? if the pot was indeed sealed in the lowest tuning, does that mean the preamp/battery is not being used currently? or would that still activate as soon as you switch on a pickup?

[dg]

Pretty sure the pot he's having trouble with isn't the one attached to the board. That's the volume. The third pot (farthest right, as he said) is connected to the blue & yellow wires coming from the board. Mine's stamped "B 50K". Not sure if it's audio or linear taper, but I'm thinking it should be linear to get a better range of control of the boost level. If it turns out that the pot itself is stuck after trying what Gil suggested, it shouldn't be difficult to replace the pot.

-edit I was typing when you posted. Looks like you need a pot. I think Stewmac or Guitarelectronics should have 50K pots.

http://www.stewmac.com

http://www.guitarelectronics.com

Yep, Guitarelectronics has 50K audio. That may be what you need. I'm probably wrong about it being linear, but someone here may know for sure.

[jwoods986]

Congrats! I have a red '86 Model 6 that I bought new in '87 and it's still my #1

[Sunbane]

if the pot was indeed sealed in the lowest tuning, does that mean the preamp/battery is not being used currently? or would that still activate as soon as you switch on a pickup?

I'm pretty sure you're using the battery as soon as you plug in a cable.

[usrname]

Congrats! Nice axe. I hope you're thinking of replacing that pickup ring.

I think a zebra HB would look cool in there with the white SCs... or a white pickup ring.

[Mike]

Or, just a white EMG in the bridge with a black ring, or direct mount to the body.

[StukaJU87]

Funny you should mention a pot that sticks. I have a model 6 that has the same problem after it sits for a long time. It does free up though if I force it. You should probably have them replaced as should I. My volume pot makes a scratchy noise when I turn it too.

The only reason I have not had it repaired is because I really never play it.