Help! Just bought a brand new Stingray Classic - slight noise issue with treble knob

[41hz]

I just got a really nice brand new 4 string Stingray Classic. It's an amazing bass, really. I am loving it. Only little problem is there is a rather clear high pitched noise that I notice when I wear mixing headphones and record. I did not notice it in the store through an amp, but I do a lot of session work and need a clean signal. Engineers will notice this sound as well (especially when they compress), so I'd like to get it fixed. If I turn the treble all the way off it goes away, but it appears at a low treble setting and gets pretty loud at max treble. Bass channel causes no noise.

Interesting part - If I touch any knob on the bass it goes away (some kind of weird grounding thing?)

Few other things to cover that may help :

I have a high quality signal chain and 3 other basses with no noise issues so it is not my signal chain.

I did change the battery. The original duracell in it seemed about dead. The battery connections on the bass had some corrosion on them I scraped some of it off, but could that cause the problem?

The new battery is a duracell quantum. Maybe that's an issue, too much juice?

Just throwing out some ideas here. If there is an easy fix I can do on my own that would be nice, as opposed to going back to the store and waiting god knows how long to get it fixed.

I can PM a serial number to an Ernie Ball Rep if that helps

 

[Golem]

You could try spray cleaning the treble pot.
Some hiss is normal, but not a high pitched
tone. You might have a circuit problem cuz
you point out that grounding to your body
cancels the noise.

And acoarst the Universal Advisement:

EBMM Customer Service is the Best in the
Business. Contact them.

 

[41hz]

You could try spray cleaning the treble pot.
Some hiss is normal, but not a high pitched
tone. You might have a circuit problem cuz
you point out that grounding to your body
cancels the noise.

An acoarst the Universal Advisement:

EBMM Customer Service is the Best in the
Business. Contact them.

Thanks for the reply. I have an update :

I changed the battery to an alkaline Duracell. I also swapped the strings from TI rounds to Dunlop super brights.

The sound is completely gone now. I suspect it must have been the quantum battery driving the preamp too much. It is the only thing I can figure. Fingers crossed that it will not come back, but so far the bass sounds fantastic.

 

[Golem]

What is different about Quantum batteries ?

 

[41hz]

What is different about Quantum batteries ?

I have no idea. Maybe nothing. I will run it through my chain again to see if the noise comes back, and maybe I just got lucky for a bit. All I know is I changed the battery and strings and the noise went away. I hope it's not some intermittent thing, that would drive me nuts.

If the noise doesn't come back, all I can figure is the battery may have a little extra juice and that affected the pre. I really don't know if that is even possible, but I have no explanation.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

...The battery connections on the bass had some corrosion on them I scraped some of it off, but could that cause the problem?...

I would replace the battery connection completely.

They are available through EB Customer Service:

[email protected]

 

[41hz]

I would replace the battery connection completely.

They are available through EB Customer Service:

[email protected]

Hi Rod,

Thanks. I will email them. Is this a pretty easy thing to do, or will I need a tech?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

.
Whoops...I over looked that you bought it new! Take it back to the store and explain the problem.

 

[Patrick DiCicco]

Hello 41 , There are several of us out there with EBMM grounding issues. My Luke 3 HSS is back at EBMM getting this looked at. I am a retired controls tech. Did a complete check of the ground integrity OK !! I dont believe it is your battery. I would clean those contacts real good with a small brass brush and electronic cleaner . Depending on its condition you might want to replace it. Join the club with this issue. I have talked to several outside tech and an Engineer who lead several teams at Leads and Northrup satellite program who was involved with high tech grounding issues. There is more to this than meets the eyes and ears of our Beloved guitar company. It is in their hands and I hope for the best of course. Peace to all. Lord be with us.

 

[41hz]

Hello 41 , There are several of us out there with EBMM grounding issues. My Luke 3 HSS is back at EBMM getting this looked at. I am a retired controls tech. Did a complete check of the ground integrity OK !! I dont believe it is your battery. I would clean those contacts real good with a small brass brush and electronic cleaner . Depending on its condition you might want to replace it. Join the club with this issue. I have talked to several outside tech and an Engineer who lead several teams at Leads and Northrup satellite program who was involved with high tech grounding issues. There is more to this than meets the eyes and ears of our Beloved guitar company. It is in their hands and I hope for the best of course. Peace to all. Lord be with us.

Thanks, I have a new connector coming from EB Support. You make it sound pretty dire! lol.

Also, FYI - Ernie Ball suggested not to use the quantum batteries.

 

[41hz]

The high pitched sound is back with the Duracell battery. It goes away when I touch the control plate, so I suspect this a grounding issue.

I will get the connector changed, but I suspect that may not do it. I really don't want to be without the bass for very long, since I am using it a lot for work. Fingers crossed.

 

[jones4tone]

The high pitched sound is back with the Duracell battery. It goes away when I touch the control plate, so I suspect this a grounding issue.

I will get the connector changed, but I suspect that may not do it. I really don't want to be without the bass for very long, since I am using it a lot for work. Fingers crossed.

Have you checked that there's a ground wire in one of the control cover's screw holes to ground it? They are just held in place by friction, so if you're not careful they can get out of place when you have the cover off. Just a thought of something simple to check based on what you reported about touching the cover silencing the hum/noise.

 

[41hz]

Have you checked that there's a ground wire in one of the control cover's screw holes to ground it? They are just held in place by friction, so if you're not careful they can get out of place when you have the cover off. Just a thought of something simple to check based on what you reported about touching the cover silencing the hum/noise.

No, I have not. That would be great. Is there a link to photos of the guts before I open it up? I'm not great with wiring.

 

[jones4tone]

No, I have not. That would be great. Is there a link to photos of the guts before I open it up? I'm not great with wiring.

I can get a couple of pics of one of my guitars, but it will be later this evening before I can do so. Someone else may have something they can share sooner?

There's just a grounding wire with about the last 3/8" or so stripped bare, and that stripped tip is positioned so that it's in one of the screw holes, and serves to then ground that control cover once it's screwed in place. I certainly can't tell you that's it, but it's a possibility, and easy to check.

 

[41hz]

I can get a couple of pics of one of my guitars, but it will be later this evening before I can do so. Someone else may have something they can share sooner?

There's just a grounding wire with about the last 3/8" or so stripped bare, and that stripped tip is positioned so that it's in one of the screw holes, and serves to then ground that control cover once it's screwed in place. I certainly can't tell you that's it, but it's a possibility, and easy to check.

Ok, I will open it up and have a look. What you are saying makes sense. The reason why is that this is an intermittent grounding issue. Would love it if it's just a simple fix!

 

[Patrick DiCicco]

Hello 41 !
EBMM Customer service is the best around ! But I also like to be Hands On. My Luke 3 Hss is there now. What does the sound do when you touch a pole piece on the pickup? You can check the integrity your ground with an ohm meter. From anything that has a ground wire on it ,to the output jack ground. I did this with my L3 and found no problem. CS has been in contact with me every step of the way. If I find out anything from the techs at EBMM ,I will let you know. Good Luck and Good Sound to you !

 

[41hz]

Hello 41 !
EBMM Customer service is the best around ! But I also like to be Hands On. My Luke 3 Hss is there now. What does the sound do when you touch a pole piece on the pickup? You can check the integrity your ground with an ohm meter. From anything that has a ground wire on it ,to the output jack ground. I did this with my L3 and found no problem. CS has been in contact with me every step of the way. If I find out anything from the techs at EBMM ,I will let you know. Good Luck and Good Sound to you !

Hi Patrick, thanks. When I touch pole piece on the pickup, nothing happens. Interested in hearing how it works out for you.

 

[ufomammut]

Hi guys, hi 41Hz!

It is my first post here. I registered because I have the exact same issue with a brand new old smoothie 40th anniversary stingray.
from time to time, I get a high pitched noise (like a tinnitus? not sure about the right word in English for that)
that can be cancelled by touching any metal part of the guitar (string, bridge, control plate).

It also tends to happens when I boost the treble.
My other basses are passive (rickenbacker and warwick) and do not generate that high pitch sound.

I would be very interested to see a pic of the grounding cable that jones4tone mentioned.

thanks

 

[jones4tone]

Sorry, folks - I have the attention span of a



That is the ground wire for the control cavity cover. (It's a bare wire, not a stripped end as I'd said - sorry) It has just enough of a "hook" to the end to stay in place while you screw the cover into place, so it is possible for it to get out of place when closing the cavity if you're not conscious of it. It's a simple check to make sure that it's where it should be on your guitar if you're having issues that could be explained by a grounding issue, and if it's not held in place under a tight cover, it could wiggle around enough to give you intermittent issues.

Good luck!

 

[ufomammut]

Sorry, folks - I have the attention span of a

View attachment 31283

That is the ground wire for the control cavity cover. (It's a bare wire, not a stripped end as I'd said - sorry) It has just enough of a "hook" to the end to stay in place while you screw the cover into place, so it is possible for it to get out of place when closing the cavity if you're not conscious of it. It's a simple check to make sure that it's where it should be on your guitar if you're having issues that could be explained by a grounding issue, and if it's not held in place under a tight cover, it could wiggle around enough to give you intermittent issues.

Good luck!

Thank you for the pic

Well my bass does not have such a wire. But I am not sure if it should have one, it is supposed to be the replicate of the 1978 2-bands EQ and the electronics does not look like yours.
There are only three holes in the cavity one for the battery and another to the pickup and another that connect the jack toward the bridge (ground?) . There is no conductive paint in the cavity as far as I can see.

It is my first active bass, I read that the volume and the EQ should not be pushed to max. It sounds weird to me because in such a case I have less output than a Rick 4003.
Well, I like the old smoothie a lot so I'll keep it.

I wonder if shielding the bass would improve the situation since touching a metal part cancel the noise.
But I also wonder if it void the guarantee?