EMG HZ High Frequency Feedback

PaulMacCnj · #1 07-22-2011, 09:42 PM

I picked up a used Spector ReBop4, which has the EMG HZ pups. While playing the bass near the rig, I get a nasty high frequency feedback sound. This is even with muting the strings. I've never had this problem with the EMG DC or the stock Fender P-bass pups. Is this expected with the HZ design or is one of them faulty?

woo10 · #2 07-23-2011, 01:06 PM

I have the HZ's in my Schecter (see sig.) and they're very quiet. I have never picked any noise with them from gear or anything else.

AHDBassist · #3 07-23-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woo10

I have the HZ's in my Schecter (see sig.) and they're very quiet. I have never picked any noise with them from gear or anything else.

I have emg hz's in my schecter as well and they're silent.

PaulMacCnj · #4 07-23-2011, 10:17 PM

This isn't noise as in a hiss. In that way, the HZs are very quiet. This is a high frequency feedback.

woo10 · #5 07-24-2011, 07:45 PM

Maybe I wasn't clear enough the first time

There is no other sound coming from the pickups other than what you hear from the strings, period. There is no feedback, and there is no hum, it's dead silent.
I'm no pickup expert so I don't know what kind of a problem you might have but there is definitely a problem w/ your pickups/preamp.

allexcosta · #6 07-24-2011, 08:39 PM

EMG HZ's are as quiet as they active brothers IME. You probably have a faulty pickup and since it's sealed there's no way to "wax pot" it.

PaulMacCnj · #7 07-25-2011, 09:49 AM

I'll check with EMG and report what they say.

staindbass · #8 07-25-2011, 11:42 AM

on one pickup or both? cab has a tweeter ? im gonna guess its feedback either way. does it only do it when you are in front of the cab facing the speaker? or does it do it even with your body between the bass and cab. does it do it when you are behind the speaker? i had a setup that would feedback through the tweeter crossover, it would feedback more when i was behind the rig. have you tried a different cord...

PaulMacCnj · #9 07-28-2011, 10:03 AM

I spoke with someone at EMG and did some more testing. The feedback occurs with both pickups, either both on or individually. It happens with more than one rig, without or without a tweeter in the cabinet. Of course, it's worse with the tweeter. Different cables have been used, but I never suspected them anyway. After talking about this with EMG, it seems that this is just something with the HZs. Specifically, I have the 35HZ pups in the neck and bridge positions.

The bottom line is that I either work around the feedback issue or I go the route of hot-rodding the bass with a couple of active EMG pups. I'm looking at installing the 35P4 at the neck and the 35J at the bridge. I think that's the best solution!

darkstorm · #10 07-28-2011, 02:25 PM

Ive owned several basses with the emg hz's none of them had that problem. All very quite.

dmusic148 · #11 07-28-2011, 02:29 PM

I had the exact same problem with my old MIJ Jazz bass. Pickups were defective, the wire wasn't potted well enough and vibrated, causing a squeal everytime I got near the amp. New pups fixed it.

PaulMacCnj · #12 07-29-2011, 06:57 AM

dmusic148: That's what I'm suspecting is the problem. EMG did ask if the pups are potted, they are. I guess there was an earlier version of the 35HZ without the potting.