Low E suddenly distorting.

[Sean Parsons]

Hi Guys,

Just picked up a new bass and I’m having a few teething problems.

First problem was an ungrounded bridge causing hum and that was fixed.

Now, the low E string is distorting and I’m unsure how to check the cause.

The bass is an Ibanez TMB600 so it has an active circuit. I replaced the battery with a fresh one but the E string still distorts. This happens with the active switch in the on and off positions.

Could it be the amp? I’m using a Roland Cube 40 guitar amp but only play at very low volume.

Any ideas for running some tests so I can determine if its the bass or amp.

I have noticed that when I engage the compressor pedal, the problem is much less obvious.

Cheers
Sean

 

[tsverrir]

The first thing I would check is if the pickup is too close to the E string. Try lowering the pickup and see if it goes away.

 

[dax21]

^above, also if your compressor (or any other pedal) has an output/volume knob, try turning it down and turning the amp up to compensate the volume. Could be that the active bass is clipping the amp's input. Also check the E string tuning peg and bridge saddle for loose screws, as well as if the string itself sits into the nut slot well. That can cause the string to rattle subtly and it can easily be mixed up for distortion.

 

[Sean Parsons]

I haven’t moved the pickup and it wasn’t making that noise for the first ten days so i’m a bit sceptical about that.

Im starting to thinking the electronic and wiring in my bass arent right.

 

[Warpeg]

The distortion is only on one string? Can you post a sound clip of the distortion?

 

[Sean Parsons]

The distortion is only on one string? Can you post a sound clip of the distortion?

Yes, just the E string. That's what made me think maybe I'd damaged the amp and it can't handle the low notes.

I'll see if I can put a short video together.

 

[lz4005]

Yes, just the E string. That's what made me think maybe I'd damaged the amp and it can't handle the low notes.

Lower notes will make a guitar amp distort easier than higher strings will.
Does it distort evenly no matter how hard or softly you play?
Try the bass in another amp to see if the problem is in the instrument or the amp.

 

[ctmullins]

As @lz4005 said, a guitar amp is not designed to handle the low bass notes. You need to find a “real” bass amp to try.

Also, just in case you’re new to active basses, do not dime all of the knobs, as many people like to do on passive basses.

 

[Sean Parsons]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I spent some time looking at the pickup heights. Nothing improved.

This morning I was having an early morning unplugged jam and I could hear a strong vibration coming from somewhere when playing the E string.

If I plucked the E string in the middle or near to the bridge it was obvious but less so when I plucked closer to the neck.

So I’m starting to think the amp, pickups and eletronics are all OK and doing a very good job of replicating some adverse vibration.

So it would seem that the E and A strings when played open sound fine but when fretted and producing some kind of strange vibration. I’ve checked the neck releif and that is fine and the action is medium.

I might try increasing the neck releif slightly and see if that works.

Definately a weird one!