Sound of a bass dying?

  • Thread starter Thread starter anonymous_vkfan
  • Start date Start date
A

anonymous_vkfan

New member
Over the weekend I plugged in my Fender American deluxe bass and started getting some strange artifacts. Tonight I plugged it in again and recorded what I heard. Basically the output is extremely weak for about 10 seconds, and then the artifacts kick in.



I think the electronics are dying. I'm more than comfy opening it up but I wouldn't know what to look for. I wouldn't think it'd be an issue with the pickups given it doesn't matter what pickup is active. Is there something obvious I should observe or is this an immediate "take to shop" sort of situation?

Any suggestions would be appreciated - thanks in advance.
 
Tried it plugged into a different interface, or at least different channel of the interface?
You could try it plugged into an amp.
 
Fender american deluxe?

Is your battery good (google says it has an active/passive switch I assume=battery)?
 
Steenamaroo - yes, I get the same results when plugging the bass into an amp. Other instruments work fine so I've narrowed the issue to something with the bass itself.

Guitargodgt - Wow, I was oblivious to the fact that this thing has a battery. I've had the bass for about 5 years now and I've never replaced the battery, so this is the likely cause. I'll check after work tonight and report back. Thanks for giving me hope :).
 
Amazing it might be something so basic. Not ragging on anyone, just sayin'.
 
moresound said:
We should all record with dead batteries!
Click to expand...

There was an old yellow boss overdrive pedal I had that sounded great with end of life carbon batteries. I used to leave them on on purpose to wear it down. Alkalines did not have the same effect. I have no idea why.
 
OK, I'm officially an idiot. The battery is all it was. I honestly had no idea the thing had batteries. Sorry everybody :) .
 
I recorded someone with an EMG 85/81 equipped guitar and he was like "why does my guitar sound like shit"

Well we plugged it into a clean source and it was distorted. lol

End of story, he had no idea his guitar took a 9v either.
 
Funny how some guys don't seem to realize that their guitars need batteries. I know because I am married. Never known a woman that didn't know her batteries were dead. Maybe that is a different thing......
 
5 years on a single 9v battery? I am impressed. I will be even more impressed if things are not corroded inside the battery compartment.
 
chuckduffy said:
There was an old yellow boss overdrive pedal I had that sounded great with end of life carbon batteries. I used to leave them on on purpose to wear it down. Alkalines did not have the same effect. I have no idea why.
Click to expand...

I've heard this before.

Apparantly Jimi Hendrix had a couple of pedals he only ran on almost empty batteries.
 
chrisghost said:
I've heard this before.

Apparantly Jimi Hendrix had a couple of pedals he only ran on almost empty batteries.
Click to expand...

yeah - someone was actually marketing dying batteries for musicians for awhile - although I can't find any evidence of the company now...
 
aaronaycox said:
5 years on a single 9v battery? I am impressed. I will be even more impressed if things are not corroded inside the battery compartment.
Click to expand...

Yeah, one of the batteries was busted open in the back, so you are correct :) .
 
As dumb as it may sound, sometimes the sound of a guitar on a dying battery surpasses what it sounds like normally. If you like that kind of sound.
 
aaronaycox said:
5 years on a single 9v battery? I am impressed. I will be even more impressed if things are not corroded inside the battery compartment.
Click to expand...

If you keep the cord plugged into the guitar while not in use the battery will die in no time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top