SR5 with NOISY preamp - Help

[jlaplante]

I am quite sure this is either the pickups or preamp in my SR5. When I turn up the volume on the bass, the hiss factor goes up considerably (I get hissy noise from my amp). Likewise, turning up the treble on the bass increases it more.

Can anything be easily done that would correct this? Clean stuff, replace an opamp, resistors, etc? Is there something that routinely wears out in the electronics on these things?

It is a beautiful 2000 turquise+white+rosewood I bought used.

BTW, it does this with new batteries too.

 

[5Stringer]

Question: Does it do this in all positions? If it does it primarily in the single-coil (middle) position, then something may have happened to the phantom coil. If not, have you checked your EQ settings? Start out flat and see how it sounds, and go from there. For any EQ system, for every increase there should be a decrease. Be careful not to turn all 3 EQ knobs up past the center detente position.

If nothing else helps, you will probably need to send in your bass to take a look at it. Please give me a call at 866-823-2255 extension 126 if that is the case. We will take care of you promptly!

Dan McPherson
Music Man Customer Service

 

[Dr Stankface]

Now that's what I call customer service!

Andrew

 

[jongitarz]

He looks just like his avatar

 

[Beth]

He looks just like his avatar

Is the pot calling the kettle black?

 

[Musicman Nut]

Question: Does it do this in all positions? If it does it primarily in the single-coil (middle) position, then something may have happened to the phantom coil. If not, have you checked your EQ settings? Start out flat and see how it sounds, and go from there. For any EQ system, for every increase there should be a decrease. Be careful not to turn all 3 EQ knobs up past the center detente position.

If nothing else helps, you will probably need to send in your bass to take a look at it. Please give me a call at 866-823-2255 extension 126 if that is the case. We will take care of you promptly!

Dan McPherson
Music Man Customer Service

I Have Personaly repaired Many of the same issues before, In 90% of the cases it has been that the bass owner had his tweeter's set much higher for a Passive Bass tone, Once your active then everything gets boosted. Just an Idea but check your horn levels.

 

[jlaplante]

Question: Does it do this in all positions? If it does it primarily in the single-coil (middle) position, then something may have happened to the phantom coil.

Yes it does. Plus I never use the single coil setting - it's always either series or parallel for me.

If not, have you checked your EQ settings? Start out flat and see how it sounds, and go from there. For any EQ system, for every increase there should be a decrease. Be careful not to turn all 3 EQ knobs up past the center detente position.

I almost always run treble and mid flat, bass boosted about 1/8 turn. I'll tweak the treble up or down maybe a 1/4 turn at most depending on the song, but the hiss is always there, it just gets louder with treble up. But with it flat it is very noticeable, enough that when the guitar is unplugged or my guitar volume is turned down, about 3/4 of the hiss goes away.

If nothing else helps, you will probably need to send in your bass to take a look at it. Please give me a call at 866-823-2255 extension 126 if that is the case. We will take care of you promptly!

Would it be possible to just send the pickguard/pickup or some subset like that to save on shipping?

 

[jlaplante]

I Have Personaly repaired Many of the same issues before, In 90% of the cases it has been that the bass owner had his tweeter's set much higher for a Passive Bass tone, Once your active then everything gets boosted. Just an Idea but check your horn levels.

Thanks for the feedback. My cabs are custom made and have no horm control - the builder compensates the horns for flat response, so I would assume it is probably like midway on an average cabinet. The tone is not super trebly at all, because I really don't like a lot of treble.

When I run my amp without the SR5 plugged in, there is slight hiss. Then when I plug in the bass with the guitar volume up, the hiss basically triples. Would this still indicate a horn level problem?

BTW, I am running an Alembic F-1X preamp through a Crest CA-9 amp, no effects or anything else.

 

[jongitarz]

Is the pot calling the kettle black?

Beth looks just like her avatar













Just kidding Beth!

 

[5Stringer]

[/QUOTE] Would it be possible to just send the pickguard/pickup or some subset like that to save on shipping?[/QUOTE]

The problem with that is that we are able to thoroughly diagnose the instrument. We need the whole bass back in order to fix it properly .. otherwise, Mr. Jonguitarz is "shootin' in the dark and hopin' for the best".

Thanks,

Dan

 

[jongitarz]

Dan is 100% right. Send the whole bass in. Really.