Weird Distortion with Ibanez Bass

[no_flags]

I have an Ibanez SRX3EXQM1 (http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....Top?sku=514311). It has passive humbuckers but an active preamp. Often, when I pluck the low string especially hard it creates a weird, harsh distortion. I know it's not the battery because I just replaced it 5 minutes ago and it didn't fix it. It seems to get worse when the lows are boosted and/or the bass is in drop D. Could I be overdriving the bass's built in preamp? I'm playing through at Hartke LH500 going into the active jack so I don't think it is overdriving the amp.

[TrooperFarva]

The strings might be too close to the pickups. Try lowering the pickups.

[MNAirHead]

Is this a bart preamp? I have the same issue today.

[XtheDeadPawn]

Can't be a Bart I don't think? Maybe the bass's onboard bass boost combined with your bass amp's EQ setting is making distortion.

[Nick Kay]

+1 on the pups being too high. The 'buckers Ibanez use in the SRX series are all pretty damn hot, but they've got a wide sweet spot so you can afford to bring them back into the body a few notches.

[ksandvik]

The strings do not touch the open magnetic poles? That's one of my few gripes with SRX, otherwise they are fun bass guitars.

[MNAirHead]

I have this issue.. no settings have changed.

Still confused where the distortion came from.

Timmy

[ksandvik]

Might be worth checking the cabling inside, battery et rest... Especially if it happens now and then.

[MNAirHead]

Thanks..

Ended up being a silly/mysterious thing.

I practice through a recording mixer.. I'd never used the mid range IE-10 IEM with them (just cheap ear buds) ..

Swapped back to cheap ear buds.. bass fixed.. unsure why this happens.. or really care enough..

Just following through.

[XtheDeadPawn]

Wait you don't own a bass amp?