Noisy StingRay

[Ox Boris]

I've sent this to the customer service chaps, but I want to lob it here, too, just in case someone's up late and knows what the problem is

Today my Neck-through StingRay suddenly started making a noise like the thoka-thoka of helicopters.
The sound has settled down into a random scratchy crackle, sound file here.
Further observations:
1. I've tested it with a different lead and a different amp, it's definitely the Bass.
2. The noise is constant and is not affected by any lead jiggling. In other words, left alone, the bass makes this noise constantly. The sound file is with the bass just sitting on the table, no jiggling.
3. The noise is affected by the Bass's EQ and volume.
4. Under the noise, the Bass sounds fine.
5. I've opened up the back plate and there's nothing that looks obviously unattached.

That's as far as I've got.

Does any of that ring a bell? Any idea what it could be?
I'm not comfortable rootling around in the electronic bowels of anything, so layman's terms, if you please

Time is tight if I need parts from the USA. Next gig is 5th May.

 

[Bert]

Start with simple things. Have you tried a new battery?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Start with simple things. Have you tried a new battery?

My first thought as well.

 

[Ox Boris]

Yeah, I tried a new battery, no change.

 

[kinopah]

To me, that sounds like dirty pots, but since you are hearing it all the time without adjusting anything, I'd default to thinking it's the input or the preamp itself. Hopefully something as simple as some electronics contact cleaner could take care of it. I'd think if something had come unsoldered you'd either be hearing pops or nothing at all. But I defer to the more knowledgable peeps around here.

 

[mynan]

This is just a stab in the dark, but when you said "helicopter", it reminded me that I had to learn to remove my phone from my front right pocket when playing because it was causing strange noises to come from my bass.

 

[jlepre]

EBMM Customer Service. That's what BP always says.

 

[MrMusashi]

EBMM Customer Service. That's what BP always says.

+1

give them a call or send an email

details in my signature below

MrM

 

[Ox Boris]

This is just a stab in the dark, but when you said "helicopter", it reminded me that I had to learn to remove my phone from my front right pocket when playing because it was causing strange noises to come from my bass.

I thought that too. Phone or wireless interference.

It turns out to be one of the 2 chips on the board, which is being replaced once it arrives.
I can't be more specific, as soon as the word "chip" was mentioned, my tech knowledge was exhausted.

 

[mynan]

Glad you got it sorted.