Excel hissing and clipping/distorting

[Dm1]

My Excel has developed some hissing lately and last saturday it started distorting.

I've put in a new battery - it distorted even more, like a damaged speaker

Hissing goes away when closing the highs.

I've checked and ressoldered the input jack. And tested in 3 different amps.

Edit: Reducing the volume pot makes it worse.

Where should I look next? I have a gig on friday and no other basses 

[jazzyvee]

Well, I don't know for sure what the reason for the hissing is but one of the things you can do first is to exercise the knobs. That means rotate them fully open and closed about 50 times for each one. They are self cleaning pots and this will clear any gunk that may have accumulated during use.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=220.0

Other than that it might be an idea to do a search on hissing or wait for one of the more knowledgeable members to chip in. I hope you get it sorted before your gig.

[edwardofhuncote]

Also, check inside the electronics cavity to make sure none of the circuit boards are contacting the shielding paint, or each other. 

[rv_bass]

I found this with a quick search:

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4538.msg54493#msg54493

If you have a gig on Friday, you might want to take it to a local repair shop and see what they think.

[Dm1]

Well, I don't know for sure what the reason for the hissing is but one of the things you can do first is to exercise the knobs. That means rotate them fully open and closed about 50 times for each one. They are self cleaning pots and this will clear any gunk that may have accumulated during use.
http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=220.0

Other than that it might be an idea to do a search on hissing or wait for one of the more knowledgeable members to chip in. I hope you get it sorted before your gig.

I've done that when I bought the bass. The pots don't crackle anymore. Its like EM interference or something

[Dm1]

I found this with a quick search:

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4538.msg54493#msg54493

If you have a gig on Friday, you might want to take it to a local repair shop a and see what they think.

Yeah, I looked through that thread, bu he's got different electronics than I, and some mods too. The Excel is a simpler bass.

[Dm1]

Also, check inside the electronics cavity to make sure none of the circuit boards are contacting the shielding paint, or each other. 

Good idea. Just did a quick check, and nothing is touching anything it isn't supposed to.

ps: is there a multi quote option here in the forum? Thank you all for your suggestions.

[JimmyJ]

Double check that "new" battery to make sure it's got juice.  Try another cable / amp input / amp...
Jimmy J

[tx196059]

Maybe some other things to consider. Have you recently changed the light bulbs in the area you play to the new LED's, or have you installed a digital solar panel/charger/inverter system? Those 2 things increased hiss in my system.

[Dm1]

Double check that "new" battery to make sure it's got juice.  Try another cable / amp input / amp...
Jimmy J

Done. Problem still persists

[Dm1]

Maybe some other things to consider. Have you recently changed the light bulbs in the area you play to the new LED's, or have you installed a digital solar panel/charger/inverter system? Those 2 things increased hiss in my system.

No, nothing changed at home. The problem started at the venue I was playing at. The worst of it is the distortion coming from the bass that makes it unplayable.

[StephenR]

Have you checked the wires from the battery and the part the battery clips onto to make sure nothing is damaged and that there is no short at the junction of the battery leads and electronics?

[adriaan]

ps: is there a multi quote option here in the forum? Thank you all for your suggestions.

Actually there is. When you click the REPLY button, it takes you to the Post Reply page with the edit window on top, and the posts in reverse order under Topic Summary. For each post listed there, you should find an "Insert Quote" button. You can insert the quotes as you write your response.

Happy quoting!

[growlypants]

 

[Dm1]

Have you checked the wires from the battery and the part the battery clips onto to make sure nothing is damaged and that there is no short at the junction of the battery leads and electronics?

Thank you!

Have you checked the wires from the battery and the part the battery clips onto to make sure nothing is damaged and that there is no short at the junction of the battery leads and electronics?

I did. My luthier just cleared out some time for me to bring it in. I will be back with answers. Thank you everyone.