Bad pickups or bad output jack?

[Sicel1304]

Hi all,

So I have an Ibanez sr375e bass with after-market Bartolini mk5cbc pickups installed by a local Guitar Center. Everything was fine for a few months until a few days ago, when I was playing I started getting loud "crackling" sounds coming from my amp. The only way to stop the crackling sound was to turn off the amp.

At first I tried to trouble-shoot the issue on my own by seeing if maybe the 9v pre-amp battery was dead, so I replaced the battery and that didn't help.

The only thing I can think is wrong is maybe the pick-ups have a bad solder connection, but I could be wrong. I took it to a local Guitar Center earlier today and the tech there thinks it could be the output jack, but he wasn't sure. I'd really like to diagnose and fix it myself, but I don't really have an idea of where to start looking on how to fix it. Any ideas? Thanks for your time.

 

[frankie5string]

Those barrel jacks can be an issue. The ones that are copies of the original Switchcraft tend to be less sturdy than the real Switchcraft barrel jacks. I've replaced a few noisy ones in a few basses and going to genuine Switchcraft solved the problem every time.

One other issue - are you using Planet Waves "American Stage" cables with those special "GeoTip" plugs? If you are, those can prematurely wear out a barrel jack. They claim it compensates for slightly out of spec jacks, but I found they do more damage than good. Better to use a good standard plug.

 

[Sicel1304]

Those barrel jacks can be an issue. The ones that are copies of the original Switchcraft tend to be less sturdy than the real Switchcraft barrel jacks. I've replaced a few noisy ones in a few basses and going to genuine Switchcraft solved the problem every time.

One other issue - are you using Planet Waves "American Stage" cables with those special "GeoTip" plugs? If you are, those can prematurely wear out a barrel jack. They claim it compensates for slightly out of spec jacks, but I found they do more damage than good. Better to use a good standard plug.

Hey Frankie,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using an el cheapo wireless transmitter + receiver that I got off of Amazon. This one to be precise. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5B64RG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One thing I don't like about the barrel jack is that I have to pretty much force the receiver into the bass in order to make it snug, so I worry that it'll eventually screw up the finish.

 

[frankie5string]

Hey Frankie,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using an el cheapo wireless transmitter + receiver that I got off of Amazon. This one to be precise. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5B64RG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One thing I don't like about the barrel jack is that I have to pretty much force the receiver into the bass in order to make it snug, so I worry that it'll eventually screw up the finish.

Oh interesting. That could be an issue. I'd suggest running with a wire to narrow down a fault with the wireless equipment. Some of those cheap wireless units are kinda quirky.

 

[Leigh Semmens]

Absolutely, use a cable to isolate the cause. You could be getting interference from another source that precludes any fault with your gear. A wireless transmitter/receiver just adds another potential noise source to the circuit. I'd also replace the batteries in the tx/rx pair too.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

If the "tech" at your local Guitar Center "thinks it could be the output jack but wasn't sure" you should bring the bass to a proper guitar tech instead. The crackling could be caused by a lot of different things but a faulty jack socket (or jack socket connections) should be easily identified by someone who calls himself a guitar tech.

From your description a faulty jack could certainly be the problem but so could a lot of other stuff. It's hard to say without testing the bass. If it's not the jack socket I would probably start by checking all ground connections but it's impossible to diagnose this sort of problem over the internet. Still, even just wiggling wires around a bit and doing a visual inspection might be enough to identify the problem. Make sure that potmeter terminals and open wires aren't touching each other (except where they're supposed to of course). Make sure all pots are fastened properly and that the potmeter terminals aren't touching the cavity shielding. Anything beyond this will most likely require soldering and more thorough troubleshooting.

You say the only way to stop the crackling is to turn off the amp? Does that mean the crackling is present even with the volume on the bass all the way down? If this is the case the problem might be somewhere else in your signal chain, maybe even the amp itself. Have you made sure the crackling isn't present when you unplug the jack from the BASS (not the amp)?

If the problem can't be identified by wiggling stuff around or by visual inspection it's time to bring out the soldering iron + multimeter and do more thorough troubleshooting. Most likely it's a minor issue, like the jack socket or a poor solder connection or a broken wire somewhere. But then again, it might be something worse like a problem with the preamp (or until we get further information, maybe even somewhere else in your signal chain).

The solder connections to the pickups would normally be one of my last suspects but if the person who installed the pickups is the same "tech" that can't seem to identify a faulty jack socket... who knows???

EDIT: I just saw the posts about the wireless. That would obviously be the first thing to check but didn't the "tech" test the bass at the store? I'm assuming he didn't use your wireless system for testing? Or didn't he even test the bass??? If it crackled at the store without the wireless I think we can rule it out, right???

 

[Sicel1304]

If the "tech" at your local Guitar Center "thinks it could be the output jack but wasn't sure" you should bring the bass to a proper guitar tech instead. The crackling could be caused by a lot of different things but a faulty jack socket (or jack socket connections) should be easily identified by someone who calls himself a guitar tech.

From your description a faulty jack could certainly be the problem but so could a lot of other stuff. It's hard to say without testing the bass. If it's not the jack socket I would probably start by checking all ground connections but it's impossible to diagnose this sort of problem over the internet. Still, even just wiggling wires around a bit and doing a visual inspection might be enough to identify the problem. Make sure that potmeter terminals and open wires aren't touching each other (except where they're supposed to of course). Make sure all pots are fastened properly and that the potmeter terminals aren't touching the cavity shielding. Anything beyond this will most likely require soldering and more thorough troubleshooting.

You say the only way to stop the crackling is to turn off the amp? Does that mean the crackling is present even with the volume on the bass all the way down? If this is the case the problem might be somewhere else in your signal chain, maybe even the amp itself. Have you made sure the crackling isn't present when you unplug the jack from the BASS (not the amp)?

If the problem can't be identified by wiggling stuff around or by visual inspection it's time to bring out the soldering iron + multimeter and do more thorough troubleshooting. Most likely it's a minor issue, like the jack socket or a poor solder connection or a broken wire somewhere. But then again, it might be something worse like a problem with the preamp (or until we get further information, maybe even somewhere else in your signal chain).

The solder connections to the pickups would normally be one of my last suspects but if the person who installed the pickups is the same "tech" that can't seem to identify a faulty jack socket... who knows???

EDIT: I just saw the posts about the wireless. That would obviously be the first thing to check but didn't the "tech" test the bass at the store? I'm assuming he didn't use your wireless system for testing? Or didn't he even test the bass??? If it crackled at the store without the wireless I think we can rule it out, right???

Hey there,

The tech at Guitar Center used a normal cable to make a collection between the bass and an amp, and there was still no sound. Hopefully I'll get an answer later today, but we'll see. I'll try and remember to keep you posted if I get the bass back later today.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Hey there,

The tech at Guitar Center used a normal cable to make a collection between the bass and an amp, and there was still no sound. Hopefully I'll get an answer later today, but we'll see. I'll try and remember to keep you posted if I get the bass back later today.

So now we've suddenly gone from crackling to "no sound"?

 

[Plain Old Barry]

One thing I don't like about the barrel jack is that I have to pretty much force the receiver into the bass in order to make it snug, so I worry that it'll eventually screw up the finish.

I've found that adding a few rubber O-rings on the jack threads between the body and washer / nut can extend the barrel jack enough to make it play far better with some transmitters. You'll also need to back off the nut on the inside to allow the jack to extend.

The power button on some all-in-one transmitters, like the Line 6 G20S, can be only partially depressed if not fully inserted in some Ibanez basses. I have an 875 that exhibited the exact same symptoms until I extended the jack.

O-rings can be had at any hardware store or home center, or Harbor Freight will sell you an assortment you can will to your heirs, as it contains every size you'd ever possibly need.

You may also have another problem, but this will help your wireless use once you've sorted out the connections and verified all good solder joints.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Hey Frankie,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using an el cheapo wireless transmitter + receiver that I got off of Amazon. This one to be precise. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5B64RG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One thing I don't like about the barrel jack is that I have to pretty much force the receiver into the bass in order to make it snug, so I worry that it'll eventually screw up the finish.

You are right to be concerned about the finish. The finish on standard series SR-basses is often very brittle. I took a chip out of the finish on an SR the first time I inserted a Vox Amplug. Still, there are worse things that can happen. After all, lots of people pay extra money to let someone else damage the finish for them. I prefer to "relic" my basses the natural way. Any signs of REAL use just adds to the character IMO.

 

[GreyBeard]

Hi all,

So I have an Ibanez sr375e bass with after-market Bartolini mk5cbc pickups installed by a local Guitar Center. Everything was fine for a few months until a few days ago, when I was playing I started getting loud "crackling" sounds coming from my amp. The only way to stop the crackling sound was to turn off the amp.

Did you unplug your guitar from the amp while the amp was still on and it continued to "snap crackle and pop"? If so, the problem is not with the guitar but with the amp.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hi all,

So I have an Ibanez sr375e bass with after-market Bartolini mk5cbc pickups installed by a local Guitar Center. Everything was fine for a few months until a few days ago, when I was playing I started getting loud "crackling" sounds coming from my amp. The only way to stop the crackling sound was to turn off the amp.

At first I tried to trouble-shoot the issue on my own by seeing if maybe the 9v pre-amp battery was dead, so I replaced the battery and that didn't help.

The only thing I can think is wrong is maybe the pick-ups have a bad solder connection, but I could be wrong. I took it to a local Guitar Center earlier today and the tech there thinks it could be the output jack, but he wasn't sure. I'd really like to diagnose and fix it myself, but I don't really have an idea of where to start looking on how to fix it. Any ideas? Thanks for your time.

Wiggle the cable. If it's the jack, it'll start and stop when you do so. If it's the pickups, slapping your bass around the controls will do the same.

 

[ardgedee]

Before you lavish Guitar Center with money for a repair the tech doesn't sound qualified for, try to rule out everything in the signal chain: Amp, cables, wireless transmitter, any effects pedals.

 

[Krizz]

Hey Frankie,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using an el cheapo wireless transmitter + receiver that I got off of Amazon. This one to be precise. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5B64RG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One thing I don't like about the barrel jack is that I have to pretty much force the receiver into the bass in order to make it snug, so I worry that it'll eventually screw up the finish.

Like others said, the easiest way to eliminate the wireless is to just use a cable. I will tell you that I have had the Getaria set, and one other cheap set before that. Neither set lasted a full year, and they did do strange things like crackling, dropping in and out, and low volume,in the couple weeks before they died all together. Currently using an Xvive that was fortunately on sale at Sweetwater for $100 when the Getarias died. Eight months, so far so good with the Xvive

 

[Sicel1304]

So now we've suddenly gone from crackling to "no sound"?

There was crackling when the issue started at home. When the tech at GC tried it, I couldn't hear anything. Now whether that was because there were other customers playing instruments and the store was loud, I'm not sure.

 

[sawzalot]

My #1 suspect is the wireless. Don’t pay anybody anything until you try it without the wireless.

 

[Sicel1304]

My #1 suspect is the wireless. Don’t pay anybody anything until you try it without the wireless.

I tried it without the wireless system. I have a few cables laying around that I plugged the bass and amp into. No change in sound.

 

[sawzalot]

Actually, my #1 suspect is incomplete troubleshooting. You need to test these scenarios:

—no wireless, same bass, same amp (if the crackling goes away, the problem is the wireless)
—Different bass, same amp (if you still hear the crackling, the problem is the amp)
—Same bass, different amp (if you still hear the crackling, the problem is the bass)

Only if you get through all those steps do you start focusing on what part of the bass is the issue.

having said all of that, I have a fender MM signature where the stock wiring had the pickup ground and bridge/string grounds reversed and, even though it made sound and the preamp worked, it made a crackling sound until I fixed that. But don’t go there till you go through the above steps first.

 

[Sicel1304]

Actually, my #1 suspect is incomplete troubleshooting. You need to test these scenarios:

—no wireless, same bass, same amp (if the crackling goes away, the problem is the wireless)
—Different bass, same amp (if you still hear the crackling, the problem is the amp)
—Same bass, different amp (if you still hear the crackling, the problem is the bass)

Only if you get through all those steps do you start focusing on what part of the bass is the issue.

having said all of that, I have a fender MM signature where the stock wiring had the pickup ground and bridge/string grounds reversed and, even though it made sound and the preamp worked, it made a crackling sound until I fixed that. But don’t go there till you go through the above steps first.

Before going to guitar center, I tested the bass on a different amp, and the result was the same. No sound came from the amp. I also tried the bass without the wireless, same amp, with a cable. No change. The only thing I didn't try was a different bass and the same amp.

 

[sawzalot]

No sound came from the amp.

Do you mean no crackling, or no sound at all?