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Static noise when output vol on 100% on bass - help! Advice?

#21
Watch this . Carey talks about how Singles are wound with as big a coil as can be done. That makes for a high output. You've got active EQ as well? That will give even more output. I have Big Breaks, the split Singles made for Ibanez. I have to back the volume off if I want to boost the bass or mids. There is nothing wrong with your new bass. You have a wider tone range than many, that's all. Play at 80% or bring the EQ down.
 
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#22
So, you dime all the knobs, the 2i2 shows green yet the there is crackling? And when you turn the instrument's vol knob down a bit things get clean?

There's your answer. Turn down the volume control a bit and rock on. One knob tweak and you get all your tone and none of the noise.
 
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#23
themickster said:
Watch this . Carey talks about how Singles are wound with as big a coil as can be done. That makes for a high output. You've got active EQ as well? That will give even more output. I have Big Breaks, the split Singles made for Ibanez. I have to back the volume off if I want to boost the bass or mids. There is nothing wrong with your new bass. You have a wider tone range than many, that's all. Play at 80% or bring the EQ down.
Click to expand...

... and we have a winner!

I am certain that the cause is the combination of those big wound Nordys (excellent, clip, thanks for sharing it mickster) and the stock preamp, which I've identified as an EMG B64 3-band active EQ and they aren't playing together well. I think the Nordy's are causing the 9v EMG pre to clip when everything is up.

I can see why wind these YUUUUGE sounding pickups might cause noise in the designed-not-to-run-this-hot-stock-preamp - it's like putting a 1700 horsepower engine on a stock Camry gearbox. Let off the gas and things will break (OK, try and start that and things would probably break).

Same general idea though.

In the meantime, I'll double and triple check batteries and recheck the string height - excellent suggestions.

So I'll be talking to a luthier soon about upgrading the preamp (I am not a soldering guy) and find some recommendations for preamps to pair with the Nordys.
 
#24
Sounds like overdriven distortion plain & simple. Depending on how the bass is wired, it could be the Nordstrom pickup is overdriving the preamp in the bass rather than the bass output overdriving the 2i2, which also explains why the 2i2 isn't showing the level as too hot. The distortion is happening before the signal is getting to the interface.

The simple solution is to turn down the vol knob. The more complex solution is up to you.
 
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#25
rtav said:
... and we have a winner!

I am certain that the cause is the combination of those big wound Nordys (excellent, clip, thanks for sharing it mickster) and the stock preamp, which I've identified as an EMG B64 3-band active EQ and they aren't playing together well. I think the Nordy's are causing the 9v EMG pre to clip when everything is up.

I can see why wind these YUUUUGE sounding pickups might cause noise in the designed-not-to-run-this-hot-stock-preamp - it's like putting a 1700 horsepower engine on a stock Camry gearbox. Let off the gas and things will break (OK, try and start that and things would probably break).

Same general idea though.

In the meantime, I'll double and triple check batteries and recheck the string height - excellent suggestions.

So I'll be talking to a luthier soon about upgrading the preamp (I am not a soldering guy) and find some recommendations for preamps to pair with the Nordys.
Click to expand...
It might be worth getting an Ibanez active EQ, as in the SR600E, or seeing if Nordstrand do one.
 
#26
rtav said:
stock preamp, which I've identified as an EMG B64 3-band active EQ
Click to expand...

The B64 is capable of running at up to 27V. Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed

Although, since you're not actually using the tone-sculpting capabilities of it, you might as well just yank it and go passive.
 
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#27
ctmullins said:
The B64 is capable of running at up to 27V. Invalid Link Removed

Although, since you're not actually using the tone-sculpting capabilities of it, you might as well just yank it and go passive.
Click to expand...
ctmullins said:
The B64 is capable of running at up to 27V. Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed

Although, since you're not actually using the tone-sculpting capabilities of it, you might as well just yank it and go passive.
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting this. I've tried the passive setting but it just felt meh on this bass (good idea for another bass).

The idea of running at 18v is interesting i am going to see if that helps (someone earlier in the thread made mention that he had a similar situation and that resolved it.
 
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