Where's that noise coming from?

jasonb

I just got a new Bass ( Aria SWB-Lite Bis ) and my happiness at having it is being somewhat dampened by a noise that I can't pinpoint or get rid of!

I only bought it on Saturday so I'll be getting in touch with where I bought it, but I'd like to at least narrow the cause of the noise down first.

Anyhow, what happens is I plug it into my Ashdown Mag 300 Head + 4x10 Combo, and everything's fine for a few minutes. Then this really low, bassy 'grumbling' ( for want of a better word ) starts. It gets louder and louder and drives me mad. It kind sounds like a really bassy version of a boiling kettle, if that makes sense?

Obviously, if I lower down the Amp completely it goes away, and if I lower down all the Pots on the Bass ( Active Bass, Active Treble, and a Volume pot for each pickup ) it goes away. But turn any of them back up again and it's back. If I turn off the Amp and turn the amp back on again, sometimes it's still there, sometimes it takes a minute or two to come back. If I turn off the Amp and unplug the lead from both ends, then turn it all on again, it's normally fine for a couple of minutes, and then it's back.

To potentially rule out a few things, it happens if I use either the High or Low input on the Amp, and whether I have the EQ on, or the Deep, Bright or Sub-Harmonics on. I've a standard fretted bass ( also active ) and that has no problems at all, using the same lead and amp. I'm thinking I could try another lead, or maybe replace the battery in the bass?

So, any ideas what's causing it? I'm really hoping it's not just a badly shielded bass, though normally ( in my experience ) that causes more of a hissing sound, and is lessened by touching the strings, and that's not happening here. Any advice appreciated, thanks!

Jason.

Doctor J

First thing with any problem on an active bass, change the battery.

If it still comes back the preamp in the bass might be ****ed. Bring it back.

jasonb

Thanks for the reply.

I've a new battery in my pocket, I'll try it when I get home. Really hoping it's that simple!

J.

Dord

jasonb wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

I've a new battery in my pocket, I'll try it when I get home. Really hoping it's that simple!

J.

I'm gonna say it's probably the battery too. Hopefully that fixes the issue for ya. If not I'd say give Aria UK a call.

Parsley

The same thing's been happening with my active bass for quite a while, except it's a really high pitched whine. Everything else you describe is spot on though... Haven't figured out what the fúck is wrong with it at all.

jasonb

Well, I'm kinda reluctant to definitely give it the all clear, as I didn't get to play too much last night, but it looks like changing the battery did the job! I'll know for certain after the weekend, but I couldn't get that sound to come back last night. I like it when it's an easy fix...

As for your Bass Parsley, I'm guessing you've replaced the battery? My other bass used to have shielding problems ( a lot of hissing, especially the louder it was turned up ), but I got that reduced by getting the guitar / wiring shielded properly. My new Bass has some hissing too, but only if I increase the treble a lot, which I don't do anyhow!

So, hopefully that's the problem fixed, if it isn't I'll be back on here! Thanks for the advice...

J.