Washburn onboard-preamp distorting

WashburnBasser · #1 05-02-2008, 10:36 PM

Hey, I have a ABT Series Force 4. I love it, it is fantasitic in every way. It sounds great, and is super comfortable. However, Over the 3 years I've owned it, I've slowly realized that the on board pre is most likely distorting. On every amp I've tried, if I boost the bass on the bass, I will get distortion of varying levels. I'd like to be able to boost the bass without the distortion. If there anyway to get it to not distort? I was thinking maybe switching to 18v would give it a little more juice, and maybe help? Should I just switch out the preamp? I want to leave it in, because I like the sound, but I really want to get rid of the distortion.

And yes, I am 99 percent sure it is the preamp, and I'm not clipping the amp's pre or anything.

Any suggestions?

Surprise Panda! · #2 05-03-2008, 03:59 PM

Have you switched the battery?

badboy1984 · #3 05-03-2008, 04:08 PM

might want to take it to a guitar tech to check it up.

WashburnBasser · #4 05-03-2008, 04:19 PM

Fresh battery. I'm going to ask about it at my local music store tonight, see if anyone knows what might be going on.

rumbler · #5 05-04-2008, 07:05 AM

Dude,

don't listen to this. My bass does the exact same thing and I have tried 6 new batteries. its not the BATTERIES!!! I DON"T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!!!!

andrew

WashburnBasser · #6 05-04-2008, 08:27 AM

Yep, I know it's not the battery. My local music store couldn't really help me, the owner said he hasn't heard of this before, but he thinks it should be fixable. I emailed washburn on whether they have heard of this problem before.

rumbler · #7 05-04-2008, 09:21 AM

Ya it is not just on Washburn's though

My bass is a Yamaha RBX JM2 which the Myung signature model. I have made a thread about it here and no help from anyone. I saw another guy who has a stingray also had the same problem but no help from any of the TBer's. I also asked the tech at my local long and mcquade (who doesn't know jack btw) and he was puzzled as well. I emailed yamaha, but still have not heard a response in God know's how long

Andrew

WashburnBasser · #8 05-04-2008, 09:42 AM

I'm gotten responses from washburn in the past, so hopefully they'll be able to shed some light on this. By theory is that the preamp is clipping itself, and more voltage might help. Is your Yamaha 9 volts or 18 volts (One battery or Two?)

rumbler · #9 05-04-2008, 09:44 AM

It's only a 9v, but in my thread someone told me that if I put another 9v in there to make it 18v that it would distort even more. I also don't know where I would fit that second battery if i wanted too.

WashburnBasser · #10 05-04-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumbler

It's only a 9v, but in my thread someone told me that if I put another 9v in there to make it 18v that it would distort even more. I also don't know where I would fit that second battery if i wanted too.

Well my theory is, when you have a dying battery, your preamp might distort, because there is not enough voltage from the dying battery. This is like that, except the battery is fresh, so it needs more voltage.

Surprise Panda! · #11 05-04-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WashburnBasser

Well my theory is, when you have a dying battery, your preamp might distort, because there is not enough voltage from the dying battery. This is like that, except the battery is fresh, so it needs more voltage.

Have you considered a new preamp?

WashburnBasser · #12 05-05-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprise Panda!

Have you considered a new preamp?

Of course, but I'd rather try to fix it without buying anything expensive. But, as of right now, it seem like the best option.

WashburnBasser · #13 05-05-2008, 01:42 PM

Washburn just got back to me, the electronics aren't covered under warrentee anymore, and the rep didn't know anything about the preamp, but I decided I'm going to try 18v, and hope for the best! Anyone know if it is most likely going to fry?

rodneyat · #14 05-05-2008, 01:49 PM

I would be very leary of adding another battery for a preamp if you have not heard that it supports 18v. I am not an electronics expert nor do I know much about Washburns but this seems to be somewhat risky. How much do you have to turn the bass up before it distorts? If it is a lot, you could be overdriving the preamp on the bass itself. Sometimes, active preamps are set pretty hot and you could just be overdriving it. Just my 2 cents.

WashburnBasser · #15 05-05-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneyat

I would be very leary of adding another battery for a preamp if you have not heard that it supports 18v. I am not an electronics expert nor do I know much about Washburns but this seems to be somewhat risky. How much do you have to turn the bass up before it distorts? If it is a lot, you could be overdriving the preamp on the bass itself. Sometimes, active preamps are set pretty hot and you could just be overdriving it. Just my 2 cents.

Yep, the preamp on the bass is distorting, but very easily, with just a turn of the bass boost. I'm going to call Washburn and see if I can talk to a tech or somebody who might know.

EDIT: Just called Washburn, and they really have no clue. The rep I talked to said he understands what I'm talking about, but with the production of the preamps changing all the time, he really has no clue if it will take the added voltage. I think I'm going to experiment with different pickup heights before I try anything. Also, does anyone know of good relatively cheap 2 band preamps with a pickup blend and volume?

rumbler · #16 05-05-2008, 03:27 PM

Dude, Pickup height won't change a thing. I tried that already. Its the pre man, I don't know how to fix it though, its got me too!

WashburnBasser · #17 05-05-2008, 03:30 PM

Pickup height actually helped a bit, but changed the sound pretty badly, so I put it back up. I think I'm just going to have to spring for a new pre eventually...

Epten · #18 12-24-2008, 09:35 AM

I have Force 5 connected directly into PC sound-card line input. No di box. The bass is boosted almost all the time and I never heard or recorded any distortion.

What about the volume knob on the guitar? Does this distortion appear on all volume levels and sounding equaly?

WashburnBasser · #19 12-24-2008, 01:37 PM

Well, I end up converting it to passive. I talked to somebody at Washburn, and they said the preamp distributer changes a lot, and the one I had in mine might have been a lower quality one. You probably have a higher quality one. I'm still rocking it passive though, and I love it just as much now.

Ach · #20 12-27-2008, 02:34 AM

My thoughts (sorry have not read other replies). In order of difficulty:
1) check input gain on your combo/head
2) check battery (you did it lot of times, i see, so next)
3) lower pickups, this will reduce output from pickups to preamp but might help with distortion
4) check wiring - solder joints could be sloppy
5) before decision of changing the preamp try out 18v instead of 9v, this may help. Its can be risky, but almost all contemporary op-amps could be powered up to 27v without any risk of damage (but dont check polarity!)
6) if the issue still exists - change the pre