Not a good day! MusicMan help......

First thing is change the battery and then give it another try.

 

Pickups adjusted too high?

 

Make sure the amp isn't clipping... How's the setup? Strings too low? Pickup too high? Neck too straight?

 

Sounds to me like the strings are hitting the pole pieces,or possibly the frets. The string action is too low,the pickup is too high,or you have a real heavy picking style.Might even be a combination of all 3. Do some trouble shooting and see what works.

 

make sure you don't have the knobs dimed! not even the volume knob! 50 to 75% is all you need for volume, start with the EQ knobs flat and make tiny adjustments from there.

 

+ 1 to all the above, I have 2 of the same MM's & never encountered that problem, did you ever have the bass set-up after buying?
Mine came from different stores but both were set-up properly, a good set-up should find your gremlin. I've never used them but I hear EB/MM's cust service is real good.

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Strange problem though, never had it with my 20th SR5... If you're sure it's the bass, contact EBMM Customer Service, one of the best in the business, they'll do everything to help you.

Maybe also post it on the EBMM forum (http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/). Maybe someone there recognises the problem...

 

Sounds like you're hearing the "clanking" noise that ceramic coil p/u's often created when played aggressively.

I too have a couple of Musicman 5 string basses. One's a SR5 and the other is a ST5. Both are single H configurations. I can very easily create this clanking sound if i'm not carefull how I play. One thing i'd suggest is to play directly over the pickup. The other thing I do is roll the treble and mid to the flat (middle) position and boost the bass.

I've been a long time RIC player and found Musicman basses a bit ackward at first, but a bit of trial and error soon made them my favourite instruments. Needless to say, my RIC is now history and i'll never go back.

You will find the Ernie Ball Customer Service staff the best in the business. Call upon them with any question you need answered. They're the best in the industry.

Good luck with your new SR5 20th.

TD

 

I believe the 20th Ann Ray 5 has an alnico pickup.

 

sounds like the action is to low and clicking on the fret ends..

 

Lots of great suggestions here:
Change Battery
Lower Pickups
Turn TREBLE down
Check it out at home!!!!!

 

sorry to hear about ya problems.i,ve had this issue with musicmans .treble boost on pick ups was the culprit for me.either turn it down or catch it at the amp end.active musicmans have a savage amount of treble boost if your used to passive basses.tone controls cut and boost.half way is no cut n no boost.amps with horns,tweeters exemplify this no end,if you can turn them off or turn them down this will help.once you get it sussed they are very versitile at the turn of the tone controls.glad to hear you are a ricky player as well.the only thing that sounds like a ricky is another.hope this helps

 

If the Cab has a tweeter TURN IT OFF.

 

I went through this with mySR4 30th. It's probably your attack coupled with too much treble. Truthfully, I hate that I have to adjust my amp to play the SR4 when I can play ANY other bass I own with the same amp settings. Hence I don't use the SR4 too much.