EMG pickups hum WHEN i TOUCH the strings

[Emsy]

hey guys,

i've looked through the forums but have seen answers for problems opposite of mine.

my bass is a schecter with 2 active humbucker EMG pickups. There is a lot of pickup buzz with my fingers off the strings, and even more when I touch the strings. Is it the ground? Pole pieces? Internal Cavity problems?

Any advice will be appreciated

[kyral210]

1) Schecter's generally come with EMG HZ's (non active) pickups.

2) If you DO NOT have active electronics, then connect the ground wire that runs from the bridge to the top of your pots. This may have come loose, or not have been connected at all!

3) If you DO have active electronics, check that the ground wire is not connected, clip it (near where it touches the pot) and coil up to the side of the chamber for later. I stuck my bridge ground wire down with gaffer tape, magic stuff.

4) Are all your pot values correct, and is all your wiring correct?

[TEDFENDER]

Originally Posted by Emsy

hey guys,

i've looked through the forums but have seen answers for problems opposite of mine.

my bass is a schecter with 2 active humbucker EMG pickups. There is a lot of pickup buzz with my fingers off the strings, and even more when I touch the strings. Is it the ground? Pole pieces? Internal Cavity problems?

Any advice will be appreciated

You are suffering from EMI learn what this is.Electro Magnetic Interference, this is the phenomenon, when magnetic waves interact within the confined space of your guitar. You need to shield the magnetisim with copper lining.
This is common in the electronic industry, there are copper foils with adhesive sold to cure this problem, there is also an article in the Talk Bass forum describing a fix for this problem.
If you do not want to perform this work yourself, then take your guitar to a store who will shield the pickups form causing hum, buzz,etc......
Look up EMI on GOOGLE and you will be able to read about this affliction.
Good Luck

[JustOpenYourMind]

I'm guessing the wire that grounds your bridge came loose. you should check it and resolder it if you need to.

This is clearly not a shielding problem. the fact that the noise is worse when you touch the strings indicates that your body and strings act like an antenna to EMI and that they are not grounded. Properly grounding your bridge should eliminate your problem.

[Emsy]

kyral210, are you saying that if my pickups are active i should disconnect the ground wire and tape it inside the cavity?

thanks for the advice already guys. i'm pinpointing the issue a bit better.

[Searcy]

Sounds like the output jack is wired backwards.