EMG BTC making strange noises

[vintage_ben]

My bass in making some strange noises and I wonder if anyone can offer up any guidance before I start looking at costly replace/repair options.

[b]The bass[/b] - 1989 Fender Jazz, Hipshot, Badass II bridge

[b]The Electronics[/b] - EMG J set, bought and fitted approximately 2007. EMG BTC active circuit, bought and fitted approximately 1997. Wired up in 18v configuration.

[b]The problem[/b] - After some time playing (20-30 minutes) the bass starts to make intermitent noises at irregular intervals. There seem to be two elements to the noise. A popping sound, and a rush (sounds like someone going shhhh, so lower than a hiss). Turning the volume down on the bass gets rid of the noise, and I don't think it goes when I pan the pickups (although it only lasts about a second, so it's difficult to catch it to work it out). So I'm guessing it's an issue with the circuit rather than one of the pickups' preamps.

I've checked all the connections and the batteries seem to have plenty of juice.

If anyone has come across anything like this before, or has any bright ideas as to how to address this I'd be most grateful.

Cheers,

Ben

[steve-soar]

A totally fresh pair of batteriers would be the best place to start. Happended to me the other week at rehearsals, oh how eveyone laughed when I had to remove my pbass scratchplate and sort this out.

[steve-soar]

Should say that I run EMG Pbass pups and added Jbass pup and EMG BTC pre.

[vintage_ben]

Thanks for that. I'll give it bash. Fortunately I had a 2x9v battery compartment fitted in the back of the bass after getting fed up with having to take the control plate off.