I have a 1980 LSB1 and am the orignial owner. I have gone through several 5 pin cables over the years and have recently encountered an issue. A high pitched squeal which stops when I disconnect the 5-pin cable. When I plugged it back in, it started again. This isn't the forst time this has happned. I changed to a back up cable and didn't have any issues for the remainder of the gig. I did have the module board worked on some 20 years ago and was wondering if anyone else had similar issues .Is the cable or the comdule board

turn the filter knob and see if it quits.  mine does that sometimes if the q is at maximum.
 
John

If you try John's suggestion and it seems that the problem is there, you could tweak the trimpots on the backplate for that particular pickup: http://club.alembicguitars.net/Images/16271/50896.html?1208917987
 
I had the same problem with the bridge pickup of my Series I with the filter and q to the max and I managed to solve it with a small adjustment of the hum balance trimpot and the pickup height.
 
Good luck!
Wilfred

- Does it always squeal with the one 5-pin cable, but never with the other?
 
- Does it squeal with a 1/4 cable?
 
- How long has this been happening?
 
- Does it squeal when the selector switch is on neck pickup ony?  Bridge pickup only?

-Does it do it on the job?
 
-Does it do it with a knob?
 
-Does is do it in a pinch?
 
-When it does it do you flinch?
 
-Does it do it over there?
 
-Does it do it in a chair?
 

 
I couldn't resist.  Sorry.
 
John

Actually, it's a pretty good troubleshooting list!

Sounds like an application for a prostitute to me, but that's me and if anybody here KNOWS me I would think of something like this, me thinks!

Wow Dr. Seuss is a club member!
 
slawie

Does he play a Series I?
 
Does he play it just for fun?
 
Does he gig with it for free?
 
Does he gig and charge a fee?
 

 
John

I have tried flipping switches and turning knobs and the only thing which will stop the noise is disconnecting the cable. It has also happened once using the 1/4 but coincidentally, the batteries went dead so after I changed the batteries, no noise.
 
I will try the trim potts as I have cleaned everything else except those.

So it happens with both five pin cables?

I might suggest re-seating the connections inside the body.  Being an older instrument, it's entirely likely that there may be oxidization that's throwing the whole mess out of specification..
 
John

Hasn't happened with Alembic cable yet. It might be too soon to tell. I will check the trim potts and inside body connections to see if that helps.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.
Ian

That's a beautiful bass you've got there...
 
John