buzzing amp with non-active pickup bass vs active pick up

[ABNJbassplayer]

I get a strong electronic buzzing sound when I plug in my Rickenbacker 4001 into my Ampeg B2RE (playing through Eden 4-10 cabinet). Rick doesn't have active pickups. When I plug my Guild Pilot bass with active pick ups into the amp, there is no buzzing whatsoever. Is this normal with active versus non active pickup guitars or there is something wrong with my Rick?

[bongomania]

It's not an active/passive thing. There may be a grounding wire loose/disconnected in the Ric.

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, +1^.

[BassmanPaul]

How close to your amp are you??? If you move away from the amp does the noise diminish? Single coil pickups can be affected by the ambient AC fields at your location. Humbuckers are less prone to this and thus the name. It's not an active passive thing, as you have been advised, but the construction of the pickup. It also could well be that your Ric could do with some TLC and perhaps shielding.

[ABNJbassplayer]

Thank you everyone for your replies. In Bassman Paul's answer, he mentions shielding. Can Paul or anyone else explain what that is?

[bongomania]

Look at the FAQ and stickied threads in the "pickups & electronics" forum.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

How close to your amp are you??? If you move away from the amp does the noise diminish? Single coil pickups can be affected by the ambient AC fields at your location. Humbuckers are less prone to this and thus the name. It's not an active passive thing, as you have been advised, but the construction of the pickup. It also could well be that your Ric could do with some TLC and perhaps shielding.

+1

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by ABNJbassplayer

Thank you everyone for your replies. In Bassman Paul's answer, he mentions shielding. Can Paul or anyone else explain what that is?

Usually the cavity of the electronics is shielded with Al foil or metallic paint which shield the electronics from external signals. The Ric is not that quite when you stand close to the amp or a TV due to the nature of it's pups. But if it is more then just some hiss sound (that should decrease when you roll off the volume) then I think it is a ground issue.