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Ibanez SR800 Pickup Problem

Z

zootjeff

Aug 10, 2006
11
1
#1
Hi,

I have an SR800 bass guitar with active pickups. It has a bridge/neck select knob, two tone knobs and a volume knob.

So basically I got this thing used and everything was fine, but after it is plugged in for a while it starts rumbling really low, the tone knobs seem to make it sound different, the neck makes more noise than the bridge but they both do this rumbling stuff. It sounds a little like distant thunder. If you crank all the knobs it gets really bad, if you crank it the other way it gets a little softer, but so does the strings.

Any idea what this could be? I played around with the wiring and an oscilliscope to try to trouble shoot it. It looks like the active pickups have 3 wires going to them, a shield, a white wire and a red one. The red wires of the pickups seem to be connected to 9 volts. Does this mean the pickups have a preamp in the pickup casing near the coils?

I replaced the battery but the old one wasn't dead and didn't have an effect. I checked all the wires and they are not loose or unsoldered.

Any ideas here?

Thanks,

Jeff
 
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#2
I unsoldered the P/Neck pickup and when the 9 volts is connected to the pickup and the white wire just connected to my scope, I see the problem. So I'm pretty sure the pickup is messed up. Has anyone disected one of these pickups? Do you think it might be the coils shorting out, or do the electronics start to fail?
 
#5
johnnydeep said:
Checkt out my post regarding SR400
we seem to have similar problem. I'm still waiting for an answer from Ibanez - I 'm wondering if they ever gonna reply.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268002

I checked all electronics and they seem to be OK. DOn't know what's the problem, but it seems Ibanez has some issues.:confused:
Click to expand...


I don't have a hiss or any high pitches. Just low rumbling.

I'll take some pictures.
 
#6
zootjeff said:
I don't have a hiss or any high pitches. Just low rumbling.

I'll take some pictures.
Click to expand...


They say
AFR-P
and
AFR-J

Active Full Range is in small letters.

So I verified that it is not the preamp. It is the active pickups themselves. I disconnected them from the wiring and connected the 9 volt battery + directly to the red wire, the ground to the - of the battery to the shield and the white wire to the amp cord and sure enough, the rumbling.

Looks like these pickups die after a while? The built in amp that is molded into the epoxy sucks?

What is the best way to get replacements that are the same quality only not broken? I paid 250 for the guitar, I don't want to spend another 200 for new pickups. Is that my only option? Can I get Stock P,J pickups from Ibanez?

Jeff
 
#9
Tbirdbassist said:
There are tons of replacement pickups, you will only improve on the Ibanez ones. Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, Bartolini, Nordstrand, Lindy Fralin... you've got tons of choices.
Click to expand...


Can I get a new set of actives for less than 100 bucks?

I just bought some nice humbuckers for my strat for 40 bucks! Why do they take you to the ringer for the Bass pickups?


Also, where do you suggest getting them? Online? or support your local GuitarCenter...

Thanks,
Jeff
 
#10
Dude don't go active, if you want active go with a preamp with passive pickups, it'll work better and you'll have the option of having a active/passive switch.

Guitar Center carries Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio I think. Sam ash caries the same I think as well. P and J pups are usually 50 bucks each so no matter what unless you go with used pickups your going to end up spending 120 or so, including tax.
 
#11
Tbirdbassist said:
Dude don't go active, if you want active go with a preamp with passive pickups, it'll work better and you'll have the option of having a active/passive switch.

Guitar Center carries Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio I think. Sam ash caries the same I think as well. P and J pups are usually 50 bucks each so no matter what unless you go with used pickups your going to end up spending 120 or so, including tax.
Click to expand...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/DiMarzio-DP126-PJ-Neck-Bridge-Bass-Pickup-Set?sku=302285


Do you think I'd be happy with the DiMarzio-DP126-PJ replacements for the AFR Ibanez Active stock pickups, if I used the stock preamp and existing knobs and treble/bass knobs?

-Jeff
 
#13
Oh I almost forgot about this thread.

Those are a good choice but a better would be the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz bridge pickup and a Split P neck pickup. You'd have a wide array of tones available to you.


I honestly think that you'd be better off with getting a new preamp if that's what you want. You will only improve on your tone and the money put into it would be well worth it. The SR800' s are badass basses as is and you can only improve on them.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Now I'm still confused about the SR800's electronics stock. What year and version of the SR800 is yours? Do you have the 800, 800LE, 800L, 800F, or 800A?

Does your bass have two stacked knobs and two regular knobs? As far as I know all the SR800's came with the Vari mid EQ; Volume, Blend, Bass/treble stack and low mids/high mids stack. is your's any different to this?

Does your bass take two batteries or one? And are you sure your pickups are active? Ibanez made basses at one point that said "custom made" at the 24th fret when they weren't so I wouldn't be surprised if they pickups on sr SR800 arent really active. Is there are wire going to the battery from the pickups?

Can you take pictures? I'd really like to help you but I'm not very familar with the insides of the SR800's. I do not believe has ever used active pickups, only active 9 and 18 volt preamps with passive pickups.
 
#16
Ok still a lot of confusion. This is a SR800 Made in Japan. Maybe 10 years old.

Here is the guitar:
DSCF0394.jpg

It is an SR800:
DSCF0379.jpg

Made in Japan:
DSCF0381.jpg

4 total knobs. 3 pots that are single wiper, Volume, Bass, and Treb. 1 select pot which is stacked (double wiper) that selects between the P and J active pickups.
DSCF0376.jpg

DSCF0377.jpg

DSCF0378.jpg

The pickups are Active. They have a red wire, white wire and a ground wire. They say right on them "active full range"
DSCF0382.jpg

DSCF0386.jpg

DSCF0387.jpg

DSCF0388.jpg



So, I still have the problem with the pickups them selves that they put out rumbling noise when 9.0volts is applied (fresh battery). What is my best bet for a 4 knob upgrade?

Can I do an upgrade for under 100 bucks? This is my first starter bass and I don't want to spend anymore on it, but I can't stand the weird rumbling that gets louder and louder the longer the bass in on. It is a problem with the active pickups. You can see from the picture there is a preamp on the volume knob. It has a 8 pin IC on it.
 
#18
This is confusing.


You have a stacked pot in there. Stacked pots control two different things in the space of one pot. Why is it that your stacked pot has one large knob and not a lower and upper for adjusting both?


My best guess is that since you got this thing used, whoever had it before you changed the insides. Check out this page on Ibanez register...

http://ibanezregister.com/Gallery/basses/sr/gal-sr800.htm


Your SR800 is like NO OTHER SR800 on that page.If you really like and want to keep your bass, then you won't mind spending more than 100 bucks. Whatever the problem is, it's going to cost more than 100 bucks. Or you could sell the bass for 250 or so and buy something else.
 

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