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My bass started making weird, rhythmic noises--what's happening?

S

Soidanae

Apr 10, 2014
3
0
#1
Hello!

Here's a link to a video which shows what's happening:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtTeRvuXZv0

The bass did this with that pedal setup, with that same setup but different cables, plugged directly into that amp, plugged directly into a different amp, and plugged into my friend's pedalboard then a different amp. His guitar did not make these noises.

At some point in the video I move the lower eq knob, that affects the frequency of the tone. Top eq does nothing. Volume also does not, nor the pickup knob. The tone does, however, affect the tone.

With all the pedals on, I can play over it, but once I stop its right back to the noise.

Also, the noise doesn't begin right away: It happens after a few seconds.

Can anyone tell me what might be going wrong? I haven't opened it up yet to look inside.

Its an ibanez SR375.
 
#2
That's crazy!

Have you checked the batteries and such? Is the amp that you're plugged into clipping or anything? I've had my bass make some odd sounds when the batteries are going in the active electronics, but usually it just gets quieter and starts cutting in and out. Might be something to try?

That, or get an exorcist.
 
#3
You seem to have done the appropriate tests to confirm that the problem is in the bass itself, not in the pedal chain or amp. Seems to me the obvious suspect would be the preamp, but beyond that I don't know enough about electronics to hazard a guess.

I'm curious now, though, so I'll be staying tuned in hopes someone else can explain it!
 
#5
Well, good news is, you don't need a drummer in the band anymore. Or spend money on a tremolo pedal. ;)

In all earnest though, I think it's problem in the preamp. Probably something with chipsoldering being loose, but my guess is that it's micro-electrical.

EDIT: AND it's in the start of the chain as well.

EDIT #2: It's the battery allright. a battery either over or underpowering the pickups.
 
#9
So last night played again, tried to drain the battery a bit too. but I'd forgotten to bring a new one.

Bass played fine for max 15 minutes, but not a hint. Then it started clipping, and gradually that turned into the same staccato noise above. This time I had a big bass amp that had a "mute" button, so I had it muted for while we planned out the song. When I un-muted it the staccato was more pronounced and faster frequency than it ever reaches in the video above.

I changed it out for the only other 9-v we had, but it was dead, so still no word on that.

Guy on youtube mentions it might be the pre-amp.

Assuming it's not just the battery, is this something I with minimal electronics experience could open up the bass and fix myself, or will I need to shell out for diagnostic and repair?
 
#11
Soidanae said:
So last night played again, tried to drain the battery a bit too. but I'd forgotten to bring a new one.

Bass played fine for max 15 minutes, but not a hint. Then it started clipping, and gradually that turned into the same staccato noise above. This time I had a big bass amp that had a "mute" button, so I had it muted for while we planned out the song. When I un-muted it the staccato was more pronounced and faster frequency than it ever reaches in the video above.

I changed it out for the only other 9-v we had, but it was dead, so still no word on that.

Guy on youtube mentions it might be the pre-amp.

Assuming it's not just the battery, is this something I with minimal electronics experience could open up the bass and fix myself, or will I need to shell out for diagnostic and repair?
Click to expand...

I'd try running the pickups direct to the jack if that's possible.

BawanaRik said:
I have a Fuzz Face clone that I used to be able to listen to radio stations back in the day.

Different cables different stations.
Click to expand...

My Dunlop GCB-95 does that.
 
#13
Try another battery. Alternatively you can check how good a battery is by licking the two contacts. No, I'm not joking and no it won't hurt you. I use this method a lot. The stronger the tickle on your tongue the stronger the batt.

It does sound like its the preamp. The stock pre in those are pretty rudimentary. You can pull it out and inspect it to see if there's a poor solder joint or lifted trace but I suspect its not really repairable. You can take pics and upload them here if you like for us to analyze. Show very close ups of both sides of the board.

As a work around you can remove the pre and wire the pups right to the volume and balance knobs then direct out to the jack. I have an SR500 wired like this currently. Just know it will sound a little bit different. More than likely if you want to keep a pre on that bass you will need to buy a replacement. If you like the stock I still have my stock pre that you might be able to use that I can possibly sell you, I'm not sure what I'm doing with it currently.
 
#14
Soidanae said:
Guy on youtube mentions it might be the pre-amp.

Assuming it's not just the battery, is this something I with minimal electronics experience could open up the bass and fix myself, or will I need to shell out for diagnostic and repair?
Click to expand...

If it's not the battery, it's hard to imagine how it could be anything other than the preamp.

If you get a similar or identical replacement preamp, swapping out the one for the other should be a straightforward job that doesn't require any great knowledge of electronics. I think the only real skill you'd need is the ability to solder.
 

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