Warwick thumb buzzing/popping

squiresuzuki · #1 07-20-2011, 11:10 AM

I just received my Warwick Thumb 5 NT a few weeks ago, ordered from eBay. It was in perfect condition, from 2005, had only been played 4 times, and the person who sold it to me is a guitar technician who looked over it and approved it. I got it for $2000 (retail is $6000). I'm 16 so it will take me a while to pay this one off to my parents.

It was working fine for the past 3 weeks and even a few hours ago, but I just plugged it in again (to my cheap 15w Peavey practice amp) and now you can hear huge pops, buzz, and static when you plug it in. The battery is fine. The cable works fine with my other bass.
It has a three band pickup, one knob has stacked treb and bass and another knob has mid. There's also a stack blend/volume knob with a push/pull active electronics.
It seems to work ok if I put it into passive mode, and then I blend it 100% to the neck pickup. If I turn it on active, it then goes very, very, very quiet but you can slightly hear it. Then as I slowly blend it to the bridge pickup you can hear the fuzz/pops come back in.
I'm praying that I won't have to buy new pickups ($200+ each) or new electronics ($600) for my brand new bass.

Vakmere · #2 07-20-2011, 12:16 PM

Could be one of a few things:

1. defective jack and/or jack connections
2. defective preamp - mine did the same crackle-pop thing. Replaced it.
3. Bad battery -long shot- (are you sure it has 9 volts and not 6.1 volts?) -will not run in active mode
4. You should have bought a Ken Smith. (just kidding..... not really)
5. Invest in something other than a cheap 15w amp.

Personally I dont buy the "only played 4 times" line. If so there should be nothing wrong with the bass. Just like "only played at church on Sunday" is a crock to. This bass had issues the seller hoped you wouldnt notice right away and it looks that way. Get it to a tech and have him figure it out. Worry about cost later, it may be something repairable. Getting 95 opinions on TB is not how to troubleshoot an electronic problem.

PS: your parents did a nice thing buying this bass however thay also know the pitfalls of buying a used car to. Things happen, get it fixed and learn how to play it and play it well. Then they will feel their investment in the bass and you were worth it.

bjabass · #3 07-20-2011, 12:44 PM

Cracking and popping. 1st step. Get a Q-tip and some alcohol and carefully clean the jack, concentrating on the part where the shaft of the plug grounds to the barrel of the jack. Then make sure the hex nuts holding the pots (and jack) in are tight. Popping is almost always a bad ground connection somewhere IME.

squiresuzuki · #4 07-21-2011, 08:22 AM

Yesterday, I replaced the 100% 9 volt battery with an old 9 volt that had about 80% juice left. It worked for the remainder of yesterday to my suprise...I have no idea why.

But today when I woke up, I tried playing it again and now there's a slightly different problem. It still works perfectly on passive mode, but when I switch to active it's incredibly soft and there's a slight fuzz plus a fizzing sound coming from the amp.

Could this be a problem with the amp? I've been using this 15w Peavey practice amp for the past 3 years with an active Yamaha bass, and it's had no problems. Of course, it only has one input, I assume it was designed for passive basses, so could it be a problem that I'm pumping a little extra power into the amp? I think I'm going to bring it to Guitar center soon to test it with a real amp.

grendle · #5 07-21-2011, 03:04 PM

You aren't leaving the cord plugged into the bass are you? That will kill the batt, but they should last for a long time (a year maybe?). Sounds like you have a loose wire or a scratchy/ bad pot.

Vakmere · #6 07-21-2011, 07:33 PM

15 watts? Dude. If you have a friend that has a bass amp with respectable wattage and is of a decent quality that will eliminate the amp as the culprit. If you have a good tech at the local guitar store take it there. The basses pre may be shorted. Or send it to me, I'll look at it, free.

Lesfunk · #7 07-21-2011, 07:38 PM

Could be lots of things.. Sometimes something as simple as a cold solder joint.
You have a real nice bass that should last you a lifetime. Spend a little more money and take it to a good repair shop and have it looked at.
That's my 2 cents advice

Elove · #8 07-21-2011, 07:50 PM

Had the same issue with a streamer....I had the jack replaced and problem gone....secondly, you (your parents) spent a lot of money on a great bass...now you need to spend some money on a quality amp with sufficient wattage. Do that and you'll have years of bass bliss....or a least a few days until the GAS sets in....good luck

e

squiresuzuki · #9 07-25-2011, 08:54 AM

I'll be going to GC today to buy a nicer amp...probably the Acoustic 260 Mini Stack.

However, the problem still persists. Here is a video I made a few days ago showing the problem: Warwick Thumb 5 NT Active electronic problem? on Vimeo

It's very, very quiet while in active mode. However just a few minutes ago I realized that if you turn down the treble all the way, you can't hear the bass at all. It's not the same with the bass or mids.

Vakmere · #10 07-25-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

I'll be going to GC today to buy a nicer amp...probably the Acoustic 260 Mini Stack.

However, the problem still persists. Here is a video I made a few days ago showing the problem: Warwick Thumb 5 NT Active electronic problem? on Vimeo

It's very, very quiet while in active mode. However just a few minutes ago I realized that if you turn down the treble all the way, you can't hear the bass at all. It's not the same with the bass or mids.

Good to show the vid. The trim pot adjustment on the board needs to be adjusted. Go to 1:11 on you video, see the round thing with the slot? With the bass in ACTIVE use a plastic tip screwdriver or something non-metalic and turn it until you hear sound while plucking a string. If it is not turning clockwise then go counterclockwise. This pot should be at the midway setting. Purpose of it is to have the active and passive mode at the same volume when switched. Let us know how it turned out. Its posible the previous owner adjusted it to go all passive.

Bassoballs · #11 07-26-2011, 06:00 AM

When your not playing it do you unplug the cable? If not it will drain the battery. Your vid sounds just like my Thumb when the battery dies.

Vakmere · #12 07-26-2011, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassoballs

When your not playing it do you unplug the cable? If not it will drain the battery. Your vid sounds just like my Thumb when the battery dies.

The vid clearly shows him testing the battery and registering it as good.