Distorted Fender Jazz Bass

[Funkbass27]

I have a distortion problem with my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. The bass is 10 years old and has been fine until now. Distortion comes and goes . This happened at 3 different locations with 3 different amp heads and 3 different cabs. All cables have been replaced with new ones. So I am pretty sure it's the bass. Any ideas of what is wrong with it ?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have a distortion problem with my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. The bass is 10 years old and has been fine until now. Distortion comes and goes . This happened at 3 different locations with 3 different amp heads and 3 different cabs. All cables have been replaced with new ones. So I am pretty sure it's the bass. Any ideas of what is wrong with it ?

That's just the Geddy Lee sound finally emerging from the bass.

Hope this helps.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

So a little more information would be helpful. How close are the strings to the pickup? Were the controls on the bass all the way up? How were the amps set up? Were you running through any pedals? Any other useful information?

 

[rockdoc11]

Does it happen with the neck pickup only, or with the bridge pickup only, or with both pickups running wide open?

 

[grouse789]

That's just the Geddy Lee sound finally emerging from the bass.

Hope this helps.

That! Totally that. Lol JK
My Early run 1998 Geddy J bass doesn't do that. Sounds like a loose wire somewhere, probably the input jack.

 

[4sight]

That! Totally that. Lol JK
My Early run 1998 Geddy J bass doesn't do that. Sounds like a loose wire somewhere, probably the input jack.

I need to get me one of these input jack's everyone's always talking about, I'd never need to play!

 

[Funkbass27]

So a little more information would be helpful. How close are the strings to the pickup? Were the controls on the bass all the way up? How were the amps set up? Were you running through any pedals? Any other useful information?

Strings are not too close to the pickups. Set up is good. Controls tested at different places and it still does it. Doesn't always do it. Comes and goes. Settings flat. No pedals. I am thinking a faulty wire, pots or possibly a pickup. Wires are all secure.

 

[Funkbass27]

That! Totally that. Lol JK
My Early run 1998 Geddy J bass doesn't do that. Sounds like a loose wire somewhere, probably the input jack.

Wires are secure. It's been a great bass until now. Thanks, I will check the input jack .

 

[jdaunt]

How old are the strings? Is it possible they’re a bit older and have gotten stretched out a little and are buzzing on the frets? Either that or check the neck to see if it’s gotten convex a little over time and is causing fret buzz (which on a Jazz can sound like distortion sometimes). Might just need a truss rod adjustment if that’s the case.

 

[Funkbass27]

That's just the Geddy Lee sound finally emerging from the bass.

Hope this helps.

Haha! Been thinking about getting a Sansamp bass driver. Do you have one ?

 

[Funkbass27]

Does it happen with the neck pickup only, or with the bridge pickup only, or with both pickups running wide open?

Both pickups individually and both wide open. Comes and goes not constant.

 

[JGbassman]

Sounds like a cold solder joint. I'd start by re flowing the solder on the output jack, hit a few places, especially where the leads are connected to the pots.

Factory grounds those jazzes to the control plate to save money, you might try running a dedicated ground to the output jack as well. This is probably not the issue, but it seems to have tamed a noisy jazz I used to have.

 

[MattZilla]

Did the disrupted signal occur during 100% of your last three times playing it or 3% of the last hundred times you played it?

 

[Funkbass27]

Did the disrupted signal occur during 100% of your last three times playing it or 3% of the last hundred times you played it?

75% of the last 3 times

 

[Jeff Scott]

Haha! Been thinking about getting a Sansamp bass driver. Do you have one ?

I used to own a VT Bass, but these days I like the GT2 better that I have had for several years. Attached are some songs that I used the VT Bass on years ago in a cover band.

As to the problem, one thing I'd do is clean the OUTPUT jack's contact areas on the tangs that the cable's plug connects with. They could be oxidized and not making good contact.

 

[grouse789]

75% of the last 3 times

snansamp bass driver does the modern Geddy if that is the sound you are looking for. And by that I mean the 2000 to the present. Alot of guys dont dig that tone of his. I had the sanamp bass driver for years, its good, but not for the classic geddy.
The VT pedal will get you there. After all, Geddys live rig back in the seventies, included a direct signal to the house, and you will notice in pics, an Ampeg V4 Mic'd up(probably his overdriven tone).
on this link, im playing the VT pedal on the various pages.check it out.
Am I in the Geddy Lee ballpark with this sound?

I also have the Vintage Microtubes pedal. Its a cool pedal, but I think the VT does the early Geddy Lee better.

 

[Fender_Bender]

The symptoms likely are the result of something going on with the output jack. Could be a cold solder joint or just plain corrosion inside. Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to replace the jack with a new one.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

I would agree with reflowing the solder connections where ever you can get at them. Just don't heat the Pickup leads too much or you will burn them open and be replacing them. I always use heat sinks when soldering anything connected to the Pickups.

 

[pht2356]

My vote is for a jack issue. Fairly simple fix. Respectfully vote against truss rod adjustment although here in los Angeles fall has arrived wit2 a fury;i believe that the temperature did not reach 80 today. (£).

 

[chadds]

Plucking too hard? That can cause distortion when bass volumes, gains, eq, and pickup height are just right for great tone and then you dig in.