Can somebody help me identify this problem?

[ILoveIbanez]

Hey,

I'm new here on TalkBass so Hi.

I signed up because I have a pretty annoying problem and I googled around and couldn't find any help so I came here.

At first I thought the problem was my practice amp, which is a very standard little Hartke. But then I tried switching from my Ibanez bass to my starter bass and wall-la it sounded perfect.

So what happens is my bass is making a horrible crackly and distorted sound (not the good kind) out of my little amp. The amp is fine on my other bass so it's definitely the guitar that has the problem.

If this information helps it's an Ibanez SR500, it has Bartolini Mk1 active pickups.

Also I was playing with my band last Thursday and was using my Ampeg and it sounded fine but the sound kept cutting out.

I have tried changing the battery and no difference so it's not that, but the sound dies all together when the batterys out anyway.

So if anyone has had anything like this or knows a fix please reply



(If the answer is easy I'm sorry, I am perhaps the worst human being in the world when it comes to fixing instruments!)

And sorry if this Is wrong section, like I said I'm new here.

[joesgarage]

Sounds like a problem with the input jack on the bass. You may need to solder a wire or just get a new jack. Either way it's not a big deal.

[202dy]

It may be a problem with the output jack on your guitar.

It could also be a problem at the input of the very standard Hartke. Is your beginner guitar active? If not, then the signal coming from the SR500 is much hotter. There is usually a switch for the input or there are two input jacks. If there is a switch, use it. If there are two jacks, use the other one.

[joesgarage]

you're right 202dy, it's output jack sorry about that, but my point remains valid. The OP says the sound was cutting out when he played through his Ampeg, so either there's a malfunction in both amps or a problem with the jack on his bass; both are possible but the latter is more likely. Also, he says his amp is fine with his other bass.

[JTE]

Originally Posted by 202dy

It may be a problem with the output jack on your guitar.

This is important. Signal flows from outputs to inputs. Keeping the terminology right helps with trouble shooting. It helps you keep the signal flow straight in your head so you know what impacts what.

Originally Posted by 202dy

Is your beginner guitar active? If so, then the signal coming from the SR500 is much hotter.

Not sure what this means, but don't ever assume an active instrument is substantially hotter than a passive one. In fact, most are made so the nominal level is pretty much the same. Unless you're boosting all the EQ bands all the way, in most cases there's not a huge difference in output level.

Use the normal gain input first and if it's causing problems, then try the padded input (generally labeled "active").

The OP is having trouble with one bass in two different amps. I'd also suspect the bass. If the battery has been recently replaced with a new GOOD alkaline battery then it's likely not the battery. But if it's a used battery, or a rechargable NiCad, or a regular zinc battery, it's probably not got enough voltage to operate the pre-amp correctly.

So, new good correct battery is the first thing to try.
Second, get some Caig's DeOxit contact cleaner. Spray a little on a 1/4 plug (the plug is the male part, the jack is the female part) and run it in and out of both bass's output jacks, and both amps' input jacks. That'll help clean any corrosion off the switching elements of the jack. On active basses the output jack is a T/R/S or stereo jack. The ring connection shorts to ground when you use a regular mono plug. That shorting closes the circuit and acts as the switch for the preamp.

If either the tip or ring connections on the jack are loose or out of line, it'll cause some of the problems described. If it's an open panel mount jack, then it's pretty easy to try to bend the tabs back. If it's a barrel jack, then the only real solution is replacement. Either way, if it's not a good Switchcraft jack I'd replace it anyway.

John

[202dy]

Missed the second amp. That does turn the diagnosis toward the guitar. Cleaning and re-tensioning the jack are in order. It is also possible that the one or both plugs on the cable are out of spec. Adjusting the jack will take care of that problem, too.

As far as hot signals go, change the so to not, as in if the beginner guitar is NOT active. Will correct in editing.

[Fishheadjoe]

I had a similar problem with one of my active basses and after much monkeying around, we found it to be a bad connect at the battery terminal.
What the heck, it's worth a look.
Fishheadjoe

[96tbird]

ILoveIbanez, does the problem come and go when you wiggle the cord at the output jack? When you turn the knobs on the bass?

[john grey]

Did you check for foreign matter in the input jack? Did you check for poor solder joints or poor wiring issues from pick-up down to pots, down to jack? Did you check for input-jack retention, clip rigidity / solid contact? Those above may contribute to cracking-popping noises when plugged in.
"Canned Air" would blow out foreign matter. Physical observation & DIMM meter would determine wiring issues. Could be a very simple fix.

[Solarmist]

Originally Posted by Fishheadjoe

I had a similar problem with one of my active basses and after much monkeying around, we found it to be a bad connect at the battery terminal.
What the heck, it's worth a look.
Fishheadjoe

+1

Check and see if the battery terminal connections are tight. Even if they are slightly loose it will crackel. It's easily cured with a piece of masking tape or small rubberband. One of my SR's has the same problem.

[Mousekillaz]

might be the patch cord, I've run into that before.

[mk197523]

Maybe the output jack is the problem. Things to remember : Signal flows from outputs to inputs. Keeping the terminology right helps with trouble shooting. It helps you keep the signal flow straight in your head so you know what impacts what.