Ibanez 6 string BTB distorted

brandonsbass · #1 07-28-2006, 08:14 PM

I don't have an issue with the batteries being dead, I have an issue with the "whatever part of the electronics" that is attached to the special knob. When I roll off all the bass, it is clean as ever, but when when I try to get some balls out of th bass, it immediately becomes distorted, I'm positive it is the bass and not the amp, because I have been playing my schecter through it all day. The knob was bent, and I repaired it (bent it back) and it turns fine now. I just don't know how to work on the interior of the bass. I'm really wishing I just had a passive bass at this point. Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, please shoot em at me.

PsionAxis · #2 07-28-2006, 09:54 PM

I was looking into getting one of these basses with the Dual Bartolini's in them, didnt they discontinue the model?

MichaelScott · #3 07-28-2006, 10:12 PM

Yes they did discontinue the ones with barts in them. I have one and it is a pretty damn amazing bass. If you have a "special knob" on yours then it isn't the Bart version- Ones with the Barts have mid selector switchs- not knobs.

You are sure the batteries are good?
Is the cable good?
Are the strings good?
And your other bass plays through the amp okay?
Does your other bass have a low B string too?
.

steve21 · #4 07-29-2006, 01:17 AM

Is the 14db input pad enabled on your amp/

brandonsbass · #5 07-29-2006, 12:32 PM

it's -15db on the svt 4, I don't have two basses with low B's, and I check the batteries with a multimeter and they are at 8.7ish volts. The strings are old, but not bad.

MichaelScott · #6 07-29-2006, 05:07 PM

Are you only getting issues on the low B notes?

What kind of amp are you using again?

brandonsbass · #7 07-30-2006, 03:02 AM

Yeah, it was just on the low B, and it is through an SVT 4 pro. It seems to have stopped occurring. I have practice tomorrow so I'll "B" able to check it out well then.

Cutty · #8 07-30-2006, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonsbass

I don't have an issue with the batteries being dead, I have an issue with the "whatever part of the electronics" that is attached to the special knob. When I roll off all the bass, it is clean as ever, but when when I try to get some balls out of th bass, it immediately becomes distorted, I'm positive it is the bass and not the amp, because I have been playing my schecter through it all day. The knob was bent, and I repaired it (bent it back) and it turns fine now. I just don't know how to work on the interior of the bass. I'm really wishing I just had a passive bass at this point. Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, please shoot em at me.

The tracking arm inside the pot may have been damaged when it got bent or when you made it straight,it's possible that one of the solder tracks on the board where the pot is attached has broken due to the pot being damaged,i have a btb 6 with the ibanez p/ups,(which i personaly prefer!)and the same Vari-Mid control, i had a look inside the control cavity,i suggest you get a strong optical glass and look for any signs of track damage,is the pot loose?did you have to tighten it up?just a few suggestions i hope might help you solve the problem,i know about electronics,so if i can help further please let me know,good luck.

MichaelScott · #9 07-30-2006, 05:14 AM

I don't know that much about the SVT pro but some amps weren't made to handle the low B cleanly.

brandonsbass · #10 07-30-2006, 12:42 PM

I think it shouldn't be a problem with handling the low B, I definitely don't want to toally rule it out; however, I'd say it isn't an issue since a number of very famous six players use em. I will take alook inside and see if I can find any "track" damage. But first, cutty, can you explain to me what that is exactly. Do you just mean places where the pot has come loose? Or are you talking about the wiring? I really have yet to do any mods yet other than truss rod and bridge work. But I'm thinking about installing EMGs in my washburn taurus so any electronics info you can send to me would be great.

Cutty · #11 07-30-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonsbass

I think it shouldn't be a problem with handling the low B, I definitely don't want to toally rule it out; however, I'd say it isn't an issue since a number of very famous six players use em. I will take alook inside and see if I can find any "track" damage. But first, cutty, can you explain to me what that is exactly. Do you just mean places where the pot has come loose? Or are you talking about the wiring? I really have yet to do any mods yet other than truss rod and bridge work. But I'm thinking about installing EMGs in my washburn taurus so any electronics info you can send to me would be great.

Hi,you can see the solder tracks on the circuit board when you look inside the control cavity,these are the tracks made by the soldering process in manafacture,they link the varios components together,if these are flexed at all,ie-: when for instance the pot is tightened it's a possibilty that the solder track or tracks can crack,these are so hard to see,that's why you need to look very carefully with a magnifiying glass, if your not tech minded and you do see a cracked piece of tracking please take it to you guitar tech who will be able to bridge it properly so that the contact is 100% again,he will be able to test the track with his Ohm meter while gently flexing the board to make sure where the break is,and where he needs to fix it,hope you understand this,i know it's a bit confusing if your not into electronics etc,let me know if i can help,good luck.

brandonsbass · #12 07-31-2006, 08:06 AM

I should be able to do it myself, luckily I am all about looking stuff up on the internet and asking for advice form people such as yourself before just tearing things apart. Hopefully all your help will be enough.

Cutty · #13 07-31-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonsbass

I should be able to do it myself, luckily I am all about looking stuff up on the internet and asking for advice form people such as yourself before just tearing things apart. Hopefully all your help will be enough.

Hope you can find the problem and sort it out,it's very good bass,i sold my TRB6 because this was a better playing and sounding bass,and better built too,good luck.