Distorted Problem, PLEASE HELP

[Placebo]

Last week I took my EB MM 5 to guitar center to try out some amps. I tried about 5 - 6 different cabs (Ampeg and Mesa) and noticed that they all sounded blown. Anytime I start to play heavy or above the pickup the sound would distort. I just assumed it was the guitar center cabs were all blown by the kids turning it all up. Last night I was playing into my SWR cab when the same thing happened. Anytime I start to play heavy or really get into a slap riff it distorts. I replaced the battery but that didn't help. It's also much more noticable when a tweeter is on.

Is it the pickups? Problem with the preamp? I've had this bass for about 4 or 5 years and have always played with a pretty heavy finger style cause I like the growl sound, but its not letting me anymore. Please help.

Thanks

[jongitarz]

Check the contacts in the battery box. They sometimes get flattened out and don't make contact with the battery

[maddog]

If jon's suggestion doesn't work, check the gain on the head.

[Placebo]

Ill try Jons thing after dinner, I dont think its the gain, cause I leave the amp setup the same way all the time and its never been an issue. Also, is very inconsistant, it will go 5 - 10 min with no problem then all of a sudden it sounds like the speakers blown, then it goes away again....

Thanks for the help so far.

[jongitarz]

Yeah...to me it sounds like a battery/battery box problem. You also should check to make sure the battery isn't too big to fit in the box. Batteries are VERY inconsistant in their sizes. Even from the same mfg company.

[Placebo]

No luck, i pushed up the battery pins and checked the box over. It seems to be fine. I even played my old Ibanez that hasnt been outta its cause in years just to double check my amp, no problems with it. The Stringray is still making this horriable static distorted sound every couple min. Do the pickups go bad? maybe a wire is loose?

[Placebo]

Jon, i started moving the battery around myself while playing. I think that might bethe case. My hip is bumping the battery case and moving the battery causing the really bad distortion. Im using a Duracell battery, anyone ever have problems with those before?

Im gonna go pick some other brands up and try them out. Also does anyone like wedge anything int he battery case to hold it in place?


Thanks for the help

-Bill

[jongitarz]

If you wedge something behind the battery you will just make the problem worse. We use duracell at the factory, and they seem to be pretty consistant in size, but every now and then we get one that is tight. Make sure the battery bottoms out when you drop it in. It should sort of spring back after hitting the contacts.

[Placebo]

Hmm, see I thought the battery was too loose and disconnecting during play. Ill mess around with it more tonight.

Nothing worse then to have your expensive gear not function

[strummer]

Nothing worse then to have your expensive gear not function

That's what I keep telling my computer

Hope your battery problem gets solved!

[Placebo]

Well I took it to a local guitar tech, hopefully he can fix it. Did get to play into a mesa boogie amp so it wasnt a total wasted trip. Ill update in about a week.