Passive pickups, no onboard preamp or active pickups? Is there certain notes that appear more distorted than others?
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Distortion from P bass
- Thread starter grant c
- Start date
It’s stock. Really only happens on the E and A strings on notes below the fifth fret. It even happens at relatively low volumes on the amp. I’ve tried keeping the volume on the bass less than half way up and turning the volume up on the amp (or preamp gain on interface).
Now describe your signal path from the bass to the speakers.
In your intitial post you write of a Traynor 112, then later you say you're going straight into an interface.
Which of those two is it? If you're using both an interface and an amp, can you reproduce the distortion on both, playing straight into the interface AND playing straight into the amp?
Since you're using an interface, could you record a short clip of the distortion and post it?
Did it distort once you got it home? If yes, we found the variable. Curious as to what else resides on the circuit. Dimmers?
Every room in my house has dimmer switches. It does it no matter where I played in the house. That might explain why it didn’t happen at the music store though.
Darn tootin’! The dimmers were just one example and a plausible explanation. Your gear didn’t magically repair itself en route to L&Q. I’m not a residential electrician but common sense would dictate removing or turning off any shared device on the circuit. If the lights are turned off, I believe the rheostat (dimmer) is isolated but open to correction...ceiling fans maybe? I even had a Hitachi TV which played havoc with one device.
As you now realize, the change-in-location info is more critical than first imagined.
Riis
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The dimmers aren't an issue if the audio from the amp is quiet in between played notes. Also, if it was an external noise issue, it wouldn't only affect the notes on two strings.
I wonder about the power (AC) at your place.
Do you have a volt-meter that handles AC? There are a lot of issues a volt-meter won't pick-up, but if your AC voltage at home is way low (or even way high), that may be an issue. I do not know what the acceptable voltage range is, but an analog power supply like your amp likely has is going to be more finicky about voltage levels than a switching power supply like in a desktop computer.
Do you have a volt-meter that handles AC? There are a lot of issues a volt-meter won't pick-up, but if your AC voltage at home is way low (or even way high), that may be an issue. I do not know what the acceptable voltage range is, but an analog power supply like your amp likely has is going to be more finicky about voltage levels than a switching power supply like in a desktop computer.
True. All I know for sure is the distortion disappeared when taken to another location and demonstrated...and that's per the OP.
Riis
With a linear power supply, the voltage would have to sag considerably to create any distortion. As well, it would affect all the strings, not just the A and E.
Not exactly but thanks none the less. Your gear is less-likely culpable as it functioned without issue in another locale but distorts at your residence which, up to this point, defies explanation. We're missing something that may be glaringly obvious if somebody more knowledgeable were on-site.
In the meantime...think you can move?!?
Riis
Because it happens with both your amp And the recording interface, I think we can rule out power, dimmers, etc.
I think I would be looking for potentially loose connections inside the bass. If the lower frequency string vibrations cause some wires to sympathetically vibrate causing connections to make and break.
I think I would be looking for potentially loose connections inside the bass. If the lower frequency string vibrations cause some wires to sympathetically vibrate causing connections to make and break.
Did I hear someone say re-pot the pickups? No, I didn't see that, so I'll suggest it. The pickup wraps may be loose and need re-potting.
Today's "420" so re-potting anything is appropriate. I lost my scorecard: did we ever trial the home-based gear with another known good instrument?
Riis
Gently tap the pickups with a plastic screw driver handle with the volume up, and the amp on. You will probably hear a quiet thump. Anything more points to a possible bad pickup, or loose connextions within.
