Grounding problem on J-bass

[Evan]

My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.

What is this and how can I get it fixed?

It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..

thanks

[M5Yates]

I used copper shielding from Michaels on my P-bass and followed these
instructions. The hum is almost completely gone.
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php

Bill

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[pd]

Here are some more pics:

http://www.peterduncan.net/J-Bass_Grounding/

Post by M5Yates
I used copper shielding from Michaels on my P-bass and followed these
instructions. The hum is almost completely gone.
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
Bill

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[M5Yates]

Who built the bass in the last picture - the one "done right"?

Post by pd
http://www.peterduncan.net/J-Bass_Grounding/

Post by M5Yates
I used copper shielding from Michaels on my P-bass and followed these
instructions. The hum is almost completely gone.
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
Bill

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[pd]

Sadowsky

Post by M5Yates
Who built the bass in the last picture - the one "done right"?

Post by pd
http://www.peterduncan.net/J-Bass_Grounding/

Post by M5Yates
I used copper shielding from Michaels on my P-bass and followed these
instructions. The hum is almost completely gone.
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
Bill

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[Harpo Barx]

Thanks for the article. My 'J' does it too.

--

[tdodge]

It's the nature of the beast, not a grounding
problem. If you rotate your body, and you'll find a
null spot where the noise is at a low point.
Anyway, your hands are on it while your
playing. Welcome to the world of single
coil pickups.

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[pd]

This is incorrect Tdodge.

Single coil hum is BARELY audible. What this fellow is describing is RF
interference from a poorly shielded bass (including under the pickups). It
can be fixed quite easily, and there is no reason Fender can't do this
properly to begin with.

It is common to mistake 60 cycle hum from RF noise.

Post by tdodge
It's the nature of the beast, not a grounding
problem. If you rotate your body, and you'll find a
null spot where the noise is at a low point.
Anyway, your hands are on it while your
playing. Welcome to the world of single
coil pickups.

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[Chris]

Fender does sheild unde pickups with a ground plate, at least the
vintage ones too. I play with the covers on and you get a quite sound
and cool look.

superchargedband.com

[pd]

Yes, they shield like this...el cheapo and it you are lucky if it actually
works, i.e., stops the RF interference noise when you take your hands off
the strings.

http://www.peterduncan.net/J-Bass_Grounding/

Post by Chris
Fender does sheild unde pickups with a ground plate, at least the
vintage ones too. I play with the covers on and you get a quite sound
and cool look.
superchargedband.com

[Dope mcSmoke]

Post by tdodge
It's the nature of the beast, not a grounding
problem. If you rotate your body, and you'll find a
null spot where the noise is at a low point.
Anyway, your hands are on it while your
playing. Welcome to the world of single
coil pickups.

My P-pu's does it too.

[pd]

Post by Dope mcSmoke

Post by tdodge
It's the nature of the beast, not a grounding
problem. If you rotate your body, and you'll find a
null spot where the noise is at a low point.
Anyway, your hands are on it while your
playing. Welcome to the world of single
coil pickups.

My P-pu's does it too.

By nature, P-bass pickups don't make any noise. This is a shielding issue on
the bass, not a pickup issue.

[pd]

See my link for how to do this...you need to shield the bass thoroughly and
also shield under the pickups. The whole process takes about an hour.

Post by Evan
My brand new Hwy. 1 series Jazz bass seems to have a grounding problem.
when my hands are completely off the bass and not touching any metal
parts it has a buzz to it...but this is only when the treble is turned
up a bit. But when I touch the bridge, strings or tuners it stops the
buzz.
What is this and how can I get it fixed?
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..
thanks

[Al]

Post by Evan
What is this and how can I get it fixed?

Maybe the earth connection to the bridge is broken.

Check the resistance from the earth of the output jack to any part of the
bridge. Any resistance over a fraction of an ohm means that the bridge and
strings aren't earthed.

Post by Evan
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..

I'd call that an issue!

Al.

[pd]

While that can cause this, it isn't usually the case. What I have found
almost always is that the bass needs a better shield job.

Post by Al

Post by Evan
What is this and how can I get it fixed?

Maybe the earth connection to the bridge is broken.
Check the resistance from the earth of the output jack to any part of the
bridge. Any resistance over a fraction of an ohm means that the bridge and
strings aren't earthed.

Post by Evan
It's really not THAT big of an issue, but it is somewhat annoying,
especially when recording..

I'd call that an issue!
Al.