 Ibanez BTB400 problems
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I bought an Ibanez BTB400 bass last summer and now have a couple of problems and questions about it that I'd be grateful for some help with.
Firstly I have a problem with the bass cutting out during gigs. Initially I was getting a crackling through the amp every time I moved (which since I like to move about on stage was quite a lot of the time). I traced that down to the two 9-volt batteries being a bit smaller than the bay they were housed in and so, moving around a bit causing the crackling. To rectify that I filled the excess space in the bay with foam to ensure a tight fit to keep a good connection. That seemed to solve it and for a while I had problem free playing. Then after a while I started getting the problem again, only this time instead of just crackling the bass would cut out entirely. After some fiddling around I traced it down to the output. The lead had quite a bit of movement where it went into the bass and in certain positions wouldn't work. I took it to my local music shop and they told me that the output was bent inside and that they'd bend it back for me. This again seemed to solve the problem. Then at a Battle of the Bands competition a few weeks later my bass completely died on stage. It crackled and buzzed for a bit, then started giving high pitch whines that I've never heard from a bass before, then just died. The next day when I plugged the bass in it was working fine without me having to do anything to it. I thought this might be down to flattening batteries but I've changed them and similar problems have continued. I took it back to the shop and they said the jack was bent again and they'd re-do it, (I have to say this sounds a little suss to me so if you have any alternate theories I'd be grateful).
Having paid again for the same repair a got about a week of trouble free use. Now all the problems are back, the bass crackles, buzzes, cuts in and out and causes me real problems.
I was wondering if you might be able to tell me what's causing these problems and how I could fix it. I really love the bass so I'd be loathed to get rid of it, but if its gonna keep on with this then I just can't gig with it anymore so it'd become a rather expensive ornament.
Also, another query I had with it was that compared to other basses it seems very quiet. I play a slot with my band at a local jam night every few weeks and going through the same amp as everyone else my bass is always far quieter. I've tried tweaking the controls on the both the bass and they amp but nothing really seems to help. I was wondering if you knew of any way I could get a bit more punch from it. | 
