Coated DRs have one big problem....

[Disc]

After taking off some flatwounds I put on my backup pair of DR black beauties, started playing a bit, wait whats that noise? Why is my amp humming? Oh yeah, theirs no damn contact between my fingers and the strings. So now my amp hums like wild even when Im playing. Even, worst, I use the pickup as a thumbrest so when my fingers contact the magnetic poles (all the time) I makes a popping sound! Seriously, why did anyone think these were a good idea? does the problem not happen with humbuckled basses (They are on my P) or something?

30$ wasted on dead flatwounds, now 30$ gone on these . These were pretty damn bright anyways (not my thing), but I feel pretty ripped off. I hope to god sunbeams wont screw me over when I go out and buy them.

[brandonwong]

The problem is most likely with inadequte shielding on the bass.
When that is done, you'll be good with what ever strings on it.

What bass is that btw?

[Risen Ashes]

I had the exact opposite result with those strings...so it may be your bass-

I was about to put Model Js from Dimarzio on my Geddy because I thought my pickups were giving me too bright of a tone...after I put on the DR Black Beauties-I got the tone I wanted and more my bass growls and sounds great with the pickups the bass comes with. I didn't find them that bright at all. Rotosound for me was brighter and GHS strings but not DRs so much.

[Disc]

Originally Posted by brandonwong

The problem is most likely with inadequte shielding on the bass.
When that is done, you'll be good with what ever strings on it.

What bass is that btw?

Its a MIJ Fender P-bass, 1994, got it on ebay a few months ago. Dont all basses come sheilded because both the MIJ and my MIM J make the same humming noise... With my old strings the humming went away (nearly) completely when touching any metal part of the bass.

Do I just open up the pickguard cavity to check, and see if its covered in tinfoil looking stuff? Im really a noob when it comes too the electronics and technical bass stuff, I should probly learn this stuff.

[Foamy]

I use DR Black Beauties on my Geddy, and on my Squier VM P/J and I have zero hum. Dead silent. Check your bass.
:-)

[Edwcdc]

Check you cable. Are you using a shielded cable?

[Tony G]

Actually, it sounds like a grounding problem. If you are touching metal on the bass like the pole pieces in the pickups and or the bridge, or uncoated strings, etc., it effectively closes the loop so you don't get that buzz. If you remove you fingers and it buzzes, this is definitely a problem with a ground somewhere.

[BetterBottomEnd]

Originally Posted by xgabriele

Actually, it sounds like a grounding problem. If you are touching metal on the bass like the pole pieces in the pickups and or the bridge, or uncoated strings, etc., it effectively closes the loop so you don't get that buzz. If you remove you fingers and it buzzes, this is definitely a problem with a ground somewhere.

Yeah also also grounding and shielding is not equal. There are certainly different more effective ways to do shielding and grounding.

[ibanezcollector]

I use DRs on all my basses never had a single issue with hum either..

its your gear not the strings.

[Disc]

So should I take it in for a setup and have that issue fixed? I truly have no clue about grounding or shielding or any of that stuff. Both my MIJ and MIM do it so I thought it was normal, and I have friends guitars who do the same thing.

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by Disc

So should I take it in for a setup and have that issue fixed? I truly have no clue about grounding or shielding or any of that stuff. Both my MIJ and MIM do it so I thought it was normal, and I have friends guitars who do the same thing.

You may want to check the ground in your outlet(s) then. Get one of those 3-prong outlet check devices. You can get them at WalMart or Home Depot there for just a couple bucks. They will light various LED's to show open, missing ground, or reversed neutral and hot. You could have a general grounding issue. If you do, I would strongly advise you not to play unless going wireless.
As far as fixing the guitar goes, you can do it yourself if you choose. It is not as difficult as you may imagine. You do need some decent soldering skills and some decent electrical troubleshooting skills. But if you are not confident with that, yes, let someone else do it who is.
But check your outlets first. Be sure you have good ground and properly wired outlets.

[Disc]

Originally Posted by Enchanter_Tim

You may want to check the ground in your outlet(s) then. Get one of those 3-prong outlet check devices. You can get them at WalMart or Home Depot there for just a couple bucks. They will light various LED's to show open, missing ground, or reversed neutral and hot. You could have a general grounding issue. If you do, I would strongly advise you not to play unless going wireless.
As far as fixing the guitar goes, you can do it yourself if you choose. It is not as difficult as you may imagine. You do need some decent soldering skills and some decent electrical troubleshooting skills. But if you are not confident with that, yes, let someone else do it who is.
But check your outlets first. Be sure you have good ground and properly wired outlets.

Thanks for the info man! I plugged it into an outlet (it was in a power strip before, yeah Im an idiot ><) and now the humming has gone from annoying to only very slightly audible (Im guessing thats normal, correct?). Also, when I touch a pickup pole piece is still makes a very loud humming sound, anything I can do about that? Im such an electronics noob I need to buy a guitar electronics for dummies book or something

As for the sound, now that the hummings gone, yeah I like them. ME saying they were bright is because I was using flats for a month before these. :P The only thing Im noticing is that they are more "clanky" then other roundwounds, meaning more fret noise. That might die down a little later though.

[JAUQO III-X]

It's not a string problem at all,it could be a ground problem and sometimes the problem is usually caused by playing to hard so when the strings touch the pole pieces you get a loud pop or cracking sound or the pickups are extremely high and when you play no matter how soft or hard you will get the annoying loud pop or crack that you are experiencing now when the strings touch the pole pieces.

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by Disc

Thanks for the info man! I plugged it into an outlet (it was in a power strip before, yeah Im an idiot ><) and now the humming has gone from annoying to only very slightly audible (Im guessing thats normal, correct?). Also, when I touch a pickup pole piece is still makes a very loud humming sound, anything I can do about that? Im such an electronics noob I need to buy a guitar electronics for dummies book or something

As for the sound, now that the hummings gone, yeah I like them. ME saying they were bright is because I was using flats for a month before these. :P The only thing Im noticing is that they are more "clanky" then other roundwounds, meaning more fret noise. That might die down a little later though.

I'm glad you like your DR's. I love mine, and they will be the default string. I just posted some soundclips from a P to PJ conversion I did and I put new DR's on at the same time, and I love the way they sound on this, the second bass on which I've installed them.

As for wiring, checkout stewmac.com. You can find some great stuff in the "free information" area, and there are some good books you can purchase. But there is also a ton of stuff on the web.

Also, depending on your pickups, shielding, and blending of pickups if more than one, some hum may be all but unavoidable.

OK, man. Good luck!!

[Edwcdc]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

It's not a string problem at all,it could be a ground problem and sometimes the problem is usually caused by playing to hard so when the strings touch the pole pieces you get a loud pop or cracking sound or the pickups are extremely high and when you play no matter how soft or hard you will get the annoying loud pop or crack that you are experiencing now when the strings touch the pole pieces.

I played a show once where one of the other bands had a bass player that was pummeling his bass and all I heard was click clack their whole set. Worse part was he had decent equipment.

[fishtx]

does DR make a coated string thats not colored?..I wanted to try some but couldn't find any that weren't some funky color.

[pickles]

There IS a reason that bass builders ground the bridge. It is for the exact reason the original poster stated.

Yes, the bass is the source of the noise, but previously he had a fair solution using his body as a ground sink for the noise. I've played many instruments like that. Sure he can do a bunch of work on the bass to kill the buzz (mostly) ... or he can just buy a pack of hi beams, which sound better anyway.

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by pickles

There IS a reason that bass builders ground the bridge. It is for the exact reason the original poster stated.

Yes, the bass is the source of the noise, but previously he had a fair solution using his body as a ground sink for the noise. I've played many instruments like that. Sure he can do a bunch of work on the bass to kill the buzz (mostly) ... or he can just buy a pack of hi beams, which sound better anyway.

Or....he can now enjoy his bass as he figured out the problem (that was not the strings or the bass).

[FunkyFrosty]

Just put some Black Beauties on my new Geddy.

Just because the Geddy and the Black Beauties, visually is such a striking combo!!!

So I was interested to see how they sounded. I have to say they sound great IMO, I won't be changing the PU's in this "two tone" monster.

[masprague]

Originally Posted by fishtx

does DR make a coated string thats not colored?..I wanted to try some but couldn't find any that weren't some funky color.

Yeah they make some that are not colored. I believe the Boosty signature strings are coated and not colored....plus they tear da roof of da mother sucker