Silencing the Noise on a Marcus Miller Signature Bass

sixway · #1 03-31-2007, 03:06 AM

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DavidRavenMoon · #2 07-05-2007, 03:22 PM

When you shield pickups with copper foil, don't run the foil all the way around the pickup. It becomes a closed loop, and can dull the high end of the pickup.

What you should do is either leave a small gap, so the ends don't touch, or use some insulating tape where they over lap to stop from having a closed loop.

ricobasso · #3 03-12-2008, 05:09 AM

Please note that no amount of copper foil or re-wiring of grounds will help if you are picking up magnetic interference via the pickupcoils themselves (after all, that is what they are designed to do - pick up changes in the magnetic field). Single coil pickups can never distinguish between changes in the magnetic field due to string movement or from other sources (the lighting rig wiring say). Only humbuckers can do this due to their dual coil design. Just don't expect miracles and you won't be disappointed.

joemer · #4 12-18-2008, 10:48 AM

Does anyone know if this repair will also address the issue of static cracking/popping sounds that I experience with the MM? Or is this just something I have to live with during the winter ?

snoh52 · #5 01-11-2009, 03:38 AM

I have MM and I've been having the buzz problem too. So I finally decided to try this noise fix today. So far I'm at step #2 and waiting for the copper tape to be delivered so I can finish #3.

Anyways, when I plugged in the bass without completing #3, i still hear the buzz as same volume (if not louder) as before.

Although the pick-ups are not shielded yet, shouldn't the buzz be lower? all grounds are isolated already, so i was expecting some improvement.

did anyone tried this fix? did it work for you?

Mr.Joshua · #6 05-23-2009, 12:34 PM

I just finished steps one and two for this project, and I noticed about a 70% reduction in the ground noise for the pups. Before the mod, if i was playing with only one pup, I could touch the bridge or the two silver volume pots, and the buzzing would stop. After the mod, I don't need to do this. Before the mod I used to keep the volume pots at the same level to avoid the ground buzz from a single pup, and after the mod, the problem is much better. It's not perfect, and its definatly not silent (or humbucker quiet) but it is better. I'm wondering if the final step 3 mod will reduce the noise even futher ?

Parade · #7 08-14-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joemer

Does anyone know if this repair will also address the issue of static cracking/popping sounds that I experience with the MM? Or is this just something I have to live with during the winter ?

I also had the annoying crackling and popping,mainly when I was slapping and resting my hand on the metal pick guard.....I purchased copper foil and lined the entire back of the pick guard(plastic guard surrounding the neck pick up) I also lined both pick up cavities as well as line the entire control cavity,...not just a strip of foil like they have done here.
Then tack solder all the copper so it is all joint and conductive. Finally I tack soldered a wire in each of the pick up cavities ran them through the holes to the control cavaty and solderd them to the ground eyelet which screws into the side of the control cavity.
I didnt have to resolder and grounds from pots and I dont have the crackling and popping anymore.
Like some other guys said here 'you will not get rid of Hum...its what Single coils do!
Hope this helps.

Snerek · #8 12-15-2009, 12:49 PM

I recently have been experiencing issues with the wiring on my bass, if you could please read my email and either make some suggestions or refer me to someone else that can help, I would greatly appreciate it!

I just got off the phone with fender support regarding 2 wires that came loose on my preamp system while in a recording session...talk about bad timing!

My bass stopped working and when I got home, I took the preamp section apart to look and see what was wrong.
1st - The White wire in the middle of the ACTIVE/PASSIVE switch came undone. I reconnected it to the input section.

Now, the bass works, but there is still 1 wire that is not connected, it's black, appears to be a ground wire and is soldered to the Treble dial.

I have looked on the wire diagrams and none of them show more 1 ground coming off that Treble dial, my bass has 4 black wires at 2 solder points on that Treble dial! One of those black wires is not connected anywhere, can you please help me find out where this wire connects to.

Please see my photos attached and let me know if you have any advice please. I can be reached at derek@fhbmanagement.com[IMG]http...k/IMG00351.jpg[/IMG]

Snerek · #9 12-15-2009, 12:50 PM

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...k/IMG00351.jpg

SGD Lutherie · #10 07-20-2010, 07:52 AM

I'd like to add to this article by pointing out that you cannot have ground loops in a bass with a single ground connection to your amp. You need two ground connections to have a loop. Basses have only one ground connection... the cord to your amp. All the pots are on the same ground potential, so you can't have a ground loop. It's a myth.

So if you leave those black wires between the pots you are fine.

Because so many things were changed at the same time, there is no way to prove that removing the ground connections got rid of any noise. A ground loop noise is a low pitched 60Hz hum... not the high pitched electrostatic buzz.

Just using the foil under the pots to ground them is not a very good idea, as a pot can come lose or the metal on the pot can oxidize and that will ruin your ground connection.

The real things that helped this rewiring were adding the foil and bridging the conductive paint areas. Fender is notorious for painting down some shielding paint, and then not grounding it. Foil works better than carbon paint. Nickel based super shield paint is very good.