Why has shielding made my bass go quiet? I mean like, no noise at all

[lownote]

Just swapped out my old pup for a s/hand Bareknuckled P '58 pup.  While I was at it I used copper sheet to line the cavity and the pickguard. Result:  silence.

I either can't get any response from the pup poles by tapping them, or get a response from one of the two pup halves if I lift the pots out of the cavity. And even if I get a tap from touching the pole with a screwdriver, putting a string over it at tension elicits no response at all.

Trouble is I have next to no idea about electrons and certainly don't own a multmeter. Which I admit is daft, then, trying to do an electron job.

Edited June 9, 2022 by lownote

[PaulThePlug]

Check at the jack socket that the center pin is not making contact with the shield that is grounded... when the jack is inserted...

Edited June 9, 2022 by PaulThePlug

[Velarian]

I would recommend getting a simple multimeter as they’re useful for checking/trouble-shooting a few things. They’re available from places like Screwfix and Halfords etc for less than a tenner. 

[ezbass]

You may have a short between the pickguard shielding and one of the pots or a connecting, bare wire (if you find the output jacket socket is fine). 

[Random Guitarist]

Do you know for sure that the pickup works if it is used? From your description either the pickup is dead or you have shorted the signal wire to earth, or a wire has become disconnected/ broken. 

 

Can you share a picture or 2 of the cavity?

 

 

[lownote]

Problem isolated to broken wire inside one half of the pickup.  Now sorted.