Popping noise when I plug my bass in?

[obelix5150]

I'm a relatively new bass player, but have been playing guitar for a few years now. When I plug my guitar into my Cube amp, it works perfectly fine. However, when I plug my bass into the exact same amp, using the exact same cord, I get a horrendous popping sound that never ceases; I've tried turning the amp settings so there's less bass and more treble, or getting new cords, but the noise persists. Is this due to bad pickups? I know that the amp itself works with bass guitars, since my friend's bass (Which he refuses to lend me) works absolutely fine. What should I do to fix this?

[J. Montgomery]

Is it an active or passive bass? In my opinion, most guitar amps aren't good for bass, and vice versa.

[SGD Lutherie]

Is it an active bass? Change the battery and see if it stops.

Some circuits will oscillate as the battery is dying. The low frequency oscillations sound like a popping noise.

[julio.gamiz]

This is actually normal. I'm surprised it doesn't pop when you plug in the guitar. Anyway, to avoid it, turn down the volume of the amp. Another option is a cable with a little ON/OFF switch on the guitar side jack. Planet Waves have those.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by julio.gamiz

This is actually normal. I'm surprised it doesn't pop when you plug in the guitar. Anyway, to avoid it, turn down the volume of the amp. Another option is a cable with a little ON/OFF switch on the guitar side jack. Planet Waves have those.

I was going to answer the same thing, but he said:

I get a horrendous popping sound that never ceases

So he doesn't mean from plugging in the cord.

I say it's the battery.

[julio.gamiz]

I stand corrected. In that case I'm with you on the battery. I had that too once.

[JTE]

If the bass is actvie, and you don't put the plug all the way into the jack (because it'll stop at the ring connection), you'll get weird noises too. So, if it's active, put a new battery in it, plug the cord all the way into the jack, then see if it still does it.

Then go out and get a real bass amp, or at least a bass speaker cabinet so you don't destroy the speaker in your guitar amp.

jte

[brentonkim]

Another possibility is the output for the bass is in poor condition. I've had the same problem, both wit the battery, and the output jack. If changing the battery does not work, then try a new output.