This might already be resolved, but I hate it when things 'fix' themselves... because it usually happens again.
Last night I pulled out the Persuader 5-string, hadn't played it in a while... plugged up and played a few minutes, all was good. I started hearing a kind of *thump* coming through the speakers, like the signal chain was being interrupted, you know like a bad cable or something. Then a minute or so later, distortion. Bad distortion. Okay, I got a battery dying. I changed the battery and went back to playing. A couple minutes later, same thing happens... speakers farting, and eventually the output goes to nothing. Okay, that's really weird, but I can't remember when I bought those batteries. I just bought some a few weeks ago though, so I open a new set and install one. And... nothing. Barely any output at all from my bass. I bypass everything, tuner, chorus, and go straight to F-2B input. Still nothing.
I grab another bass. My cable is fine, my rig is awesome... my Persuader is acting wacky. Never had this before, so I lay it face down on the floor and open up the electronics cavity, and start gingerly moving things around, listening to see if I hear anything. I try plugging and unplugging the battery a couple times, and I hear it power up. I notice that tugging the battery leads occasionally produces that mysterious *thump* sound like I heard right before the distortion sadness started. Really nothing conclusive. Nothing is loose. Nothing is touching.
I put the battery, (same new one) back in, the Persuader roared back to life, I screwed the backplate back on, and that's where we left things. I just won't be surprised if it crops up again.
Anybody got an idea? I've already done the obligatory exercising of pots, Q switch, even trim pots. (I have the new pan preamp in my bass...)