Electronics problem

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Hey there, this is my first post here I'm having a bit of a problem with my streamer stage one 5 (from 2002 bought second hand)...it suddently started to make an irritating noise whenever I switched to passive but I didn't pay it much atention because I rarelly use it in passive mode. Anyway, a few weeks later I was doing a soundcheck for a gig and when I got close to my amp it made a LOT of noise, like intereference or something and the soundman said it was probably because of my pickups. :S ...it doens't end there...now it makes noise unless I'm touching the strings or the hardware and I think I might have got a couple of small electric shocks in my right hand :S :S ...it also makes noise when I rotate the knobs. ...and that's it...so, does this sound familiar to you? Can I fix it or should I just take it to a luthier? Thanks

 

[Son of Bovril]

not sure about it, but it could be a grounding problem or maybe one of the wires inside has come loose or is shorting or something...

 

[Escobon]

From how you described it, I would agree that it's a grounding problem, particularly if touching the hardware reduces the noise. The main grounding point on the bass will be the output jack, although ground connections can come loose elsewhere in the bass. A cold solder on the jack, a bad cable with an open ground connection on either end can cause this. Also, the input jack on the amplifier can develop a bad ground connection. Even the third prong on the AC connector (if broken off) can be an influence.

There are several mechanical connections in the control cavity associated with the wiring harness. They are usually made of white plastic and have a group of wires bundled together. These connections can tarnish and cause trouble. Moving these around a bit serves to burnish the contacts and restore a good connection.

When there is a bad ground, the bass begins to behave much like an antenna and is susceptible to magnetic fields (like transformers in the amp) and AC line noise that often comes from flourescent lights and light dimmers.

If substituting the bass with another fixes everything, then the problem is local to the bass. I would start with wiggling harness connectors in the control cavity and substituting cables. If moving the cable produces intermittence, I'd suspect the jack itself, or the connections to it.

The contacts in the Active/Passive switch are also suspect if they have become dirty. In that case, moving the switch on and off can polish the contacts, but in worst-case scenarios, a shot of contact cleaner in the switches and pots would help.

FWIW,

O

 

[Stroud]

also see if your your bridge has a wire connected to it

 

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Thanks for the help =) I tried what you suggested...just about anything I do or touch in the bass makes noise. I'd say it's the bass because I've tried it with many different amps and it's the same with all of them. I don't know what you mean by "wire connected to bridge" Stroud...is that possible? :? lol I think I'm gonna search for someone to fix it...but thanks for all the help

 

[Stroud]

there should be a little hole in the body of the bass which allows a wire to be run from the electronics cavity to the bottom of the bridge...

 

[space]

Ah...I'll check it out, thanks!

 

[Florin]

If the noise is reducing when touching the hardware, it means the bridge is grounded. It seems to me to be some problem outside the bass, maybe the cable.
In general you have more noise on passive, and when you come closer to the amp, so this is normal behavior.
Try this: unplug the bass and see if you have the same noise without it. If the noise appears when you plug the bass in( while touching the strings) , then you know where is the problem. If the noise is still there without da bass, try to remove the cable from the amp, etc etc. Sometimes the light's dimmer bring the noise .
And welcome to the forum mate, I hope you will visit us everyday from now on, there are a bunch of nice people here. And Thumperton who is playing a Washburn, it seems ...
Come to the Warwick Caffee too, I'll make you a virtual cappuccino.

 

[Grgzilla]

Yeah I think Jay must've been 3 sheets to the wind when he thought that little gem up.

 

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Hey =) thanks, I'm feeling confortable round here! The noise dissapears when I touch the hardware or the strings...it's just irritating, not a real problem if I'm careful enough and keep my hands on the bass ehehe but I'm gonna have someone take a look at it anyway and try to learn with him.