Where's that noise coming from?

jasonb · 18-03-2009 08:51PM #1

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 · 19-03-2009 02:19PM

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 · 19-03-2009 04:18PM

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 · 19-03-2009 05:06PM

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 · 19-03-2009 05:36PM

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 · 20-03-2009 09:18AM

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.

Where's that noise coming from?

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