strange sound from my bass

[Lowpro]

So today I noticed that my bass is starting to make this weird oscillating sound. It sounds like crickets chirping and it goes away if I turn down my treble knob (it starts making it whenever the treble knob is about halfway)

It does get louder/softer depending on my bass's position (relative to what I can't tell; I've turned off my lights, my computer, and my TV and it still makes the sound so I can't right tell what's making it worse)

[96tbird]

Don't know for sure, but unplug bass and see if a saddle is rattling on its neighbor. Sometimes the screws move from the vibes and saddles rattle. You don't hear it with tone down. One possible explanation of many...

[Epidrake]

Active or passive pickups?

[Lowpro]

Active and I replaced the battery to check that, but it's the same problem. I also opened up the preamp cavity and there's nothing out of the ordinary, particularly with the treble pot.

I was hoping it would be peculiar enough to be a textbook problem =(

[Epidrake]

The fact that changing positions makes a difference is very strange especially if you've tried to find an electronic culprit. It sounds like you are describing the sound of pickups when you aim a tv remote control directly at the pickups and push the buttons. Very strange indeed.

[Lowpro]

Yea I had thought there may have been a shielding issue but if there is it's no obvious. I found that if I face my bass directly towards my amp the sound is loudest, as well as if I turn 180 degrees.

I have another bass with active pups and it doesn't do this. I've used different cables too and it doesn't seem to make a difference; whatever it is, it's in the bass or at least the bass exaggerates it somehow.

BTW it's not particularly like the sound a remote makes at the pickups; this one's just a faint sound which sounds a lot like that chirping crickets soundbyte you always hear.

[lowfreq33]

Could it be your cellphone?

[Lowpro]

Nope not my cell phone.

[Rip Topaz]

If the bass is active and it's worse when facing the amp, could it be the amp's power transformer causing the interference?

[lowfreq33]

Ok, what kind of bass is it, and what kind is the one that doesn't make the noise?

[Lo-E]

I think 96tbird is on the right track here.

You should be looking for a mechanical vibration, not an electrical problem.

A small, rattling piece will behave as you describe. Check for loose string saddles, saddle screws, control knobs & set screws, pots and lock nuts, etc...

Sometimes strap locks are prone to rattling as well.