New Ibanez SR505 having electronic noise issues.

[Reflective]

This bass comes with 3 knob active EQ. I'm finding that the 'highs' knob makes a really high pitched buzz, even at 12 o'clock, that gets louder as the highs are turned up. Similar phenomenon with the mids, but its not as intense and its of a mid range pitch. If i turn the bass knob to either side the noise from the other knobs gets slightly quieter. With bass at 12, mids all down and highs maxed, the noise is nearly as loud as my playing.

I just recently noticed that when I face the bass pickup-side up or down as opposed to forward, the noise reduces intensity significantly.

I do plan to talk to the shop i got it from, but I have already tested multiple cords amps/input devices and even 2 other basses of the same model at another shop (they had a very similar thing happen, maybe not exactly the same, or as loud, but still unacceptable noise associated with EQ nobs), and unfortunately they are not a certified ibanez repair shop.

Any ideas about my problem are great, but I was especially wondering if anyone else has had a sr500/5/6 bass and could tell me what there experience has been. In fact, I believe 500, 600 and 800 series are relevant to this.

Thanks!

Edit: Bartolini MK1 passive pickups

 

[JustForSport]

I've an SR800, SR885, SR506, (all '90's) And have this issue with none of them.
Must be a bad (not connecting) bridge ground or other ground, as your strings are acting as antennas, and the signal is not being grounded out.

 

[Reflective]

I also just found out that the problem is strongly affected by wiring outlets/ surge protectors (and possibly electronics). I walk up to the light switch on my wall pointing the pickups towards it, and the sound gets like 500% louder as i get right up to it. Would this support idea of a grounding problem as mentioned above?

 

[JustForSport]

Having the strings perpendicular to the noise source increasing the noise from the bass seems like a string-to-ground issue, or internal wiring is picking up the interference.

The control cavity should be factory shielded/grounded.

 

[Dan Bass]

This bass comes with 3 knob active EQ. I'm finding that the 'highs' knob makes a really high pitched buzz, even at 12 o'clock, that gets louder as the highs are turned up. Similar phenomenon with the mids, but its not as intense and its of a mid range pitch. If i turn the bass knob to either side the noise from the other knobs gets slightly quieter. With bass at 12, mids all down and highs maxed, the noise is nearly as loud as my playing.

I just recently noticed that when I face the bass pickup-side up or down as opposed to forward, the noise reduces intensity significantly.

I do plan to talk to the shop i got it from, but I have already tested multiple cords amps/input devices and even 2 other basses of the same model at another shop (they had a very similar thing happen, maybe not exactly the same, or as loud, but still unacceptable noise associated with EQ nobs), and unfortunately they are not a certified ibanez repair shop.

Any ideas about my problem are great, but I was especially wondering if anyone else has had a sr500/5/6 bass and could tell me what there experience has been. In fact, I believe 500, 600 and 800 series are relevant to this.

Thanks!

Edit: Bartolini MK1 passive pickups

Check the ground and it also sounds like you need to shield the back of the pickups and control cavity. When you have the back of the bass up against your body it buzzes, so I think it needs to be shielded.

 

[TitaniumRx]

I have an SR705,and i was in the same situation like you when i got her brand new.The reason was a bad/loose ground connection witch i fix.The loud buzz was gone,but the preamp is a little sensitive to high treble settings.I always notice a little buzz if i crank up the treble,witch is a lot of treble by the way.

 

[Reflective]

I have an SR705,and i was in the same situation like you when i got her brand new.The reason was a bad/loose ground connection witch i fix.The loud buzz was gone,but the preamp is a little sensitive to high treble settings.I always notice a little buzz if i crank up the treble,witch is a lot of treble by the way.

It's great to finally find someone who experienced the same problem. I had been scouring the problem with no luck. Do you have any suggestions for applying your fix (ground connection)? Any tutorials or videos you can point me to? Or should I just try to get the store i bought it from to work on it? They aren't a certified Ibanez repair shop so it would likely end up costing me.

 

[TitaniumRx]

It's great to finally find someone who experienced the same problem. I had been scouring the problem with no luck. Do you have any suggestions for applying your fix (ground connection)? Any tutorials or videos you can point me to? Or should I just try to get the store i bought it from to work on it? They aren't a certified Ibanez repair shop so it would likely end up costing me.

If you are good with soldering you can fix it yourself very easy.In mine SR the disconnected cable was the ground black cable from the balance pot.It was the most difficult cable in the cavity,very deep and all the other cables was above it but i managed to solder it with help from my wife.Sorry no video or pics.

If your not good with soldering the fix is easy for the store service,is not something Ibanez related,every bass is the same in that area.Go there and tell them to find the missing connection.It 's a five minutes work for them.

Good luck

 

[TitaniumRx]

I was reading the Ibanez site about our Srs,and i realize that we have split coil humbuckers pickups.This maybe is the reason that a little buzz is there when we crank up the treble.The Bartolini Mk1 sounds like single coils but with less buzz than the real singles.