Odd Distortion on a P-bass pickup?

[GeneralElectric]

Howdy all,

So I have a 2008 Fender P-bass and it sounds great and is strung with GHS flats. This is also my second bass strung with the GHS brand strings (the first was stolen) so I don't have much experience with these strings (it might actually be them, I'm not sure)

My issue lies when I turn up my volume on my bass all the way (10) and I get a very gritty growly sound, but turning it down a little (9) its gone completely.

Now I've owned a good many Precisions in the past, and I've never had this issue before. The distortion I'm getting, in my opinion, is very pleasing to the ear. So if it sits well on the ears, why am I asking about it on an internet forum? Well I'm worried that over time that something inside is going to break and that this might be a symptom of it breaking down. I wouldn't know normally because I've never had a pot crap out on me before.

So does anyone know what this is, and is it a sign I'm going to have to replace my volume pot or pickup or

[badboy1984]

I don't know much about the problem but i know what you mean. I get that on my dimarzio jazz pickups. By turning the volume down you get rid of the growly distortion is either the volume pot is 500k which turning it down will effect the tone which i don't think fender use 500k on their p bass. It also could be when you turn down the volume a little bit the growl distortion is their but you just couldn't hear it because the volume is turn down.

I don't think their is anything wrong with the pickup. try plunk the string near the neck and listen is their any distortion? if the distortion is still their it may be something else.

[GeneralElectric]

When I play any string this happens, and I usually play down by the bridge. I've changed my picking dynamics and where I pluck the string. Unless I play really soft over the fretboard I'm getting this distortion.

I've played at louder volumes and I won't get this distortion unless my volume is dimed.