How difficult is it to shield a bass?

grifff · #1 08-07-2009, 03:31 PM

Is it very difficult to shield a bass? I have basic soldering knowledge, is it pretty easy to do?

I know theres a link to a website that has excellent knowledge on how to shield a Marcus Miller Jazz, but my fretless Warwick Corvette STD is passive and doesn't have as much wiring and it gets confusing. Is there a link on how to shield a bass that has less steps, or should I just learn how to do it from that website? I don't think I need to fix the ground loops or anything like that since there are so few wires, but some input on this would also be helpful.

Here's the link: http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.p...Signature_Bass

Thanks.

**JxBass** · #2 08-07-2009, 03:51 PM

I have a local luthier that I use on occasion. I recently had him put some shielding in my passive P-Bass. It cost $40 and it's dead quiet.

blendermassacre · #3 08-07-2009, 03:51 PM

You can buy sticky backed copper shielding. Just peel and stick. Depending on the model and how its routed, you may or may not need to unsolder things.

Foamy · #4 08-07-2009, 03:56 PM

Not very difficult. I've done it with heavy-duty aluminum foil and with metal duct tape (not the cloth stuff). Works just fine.

blackba · #5 08-18-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

Not very difficult. I've done it with heavy-duty aluminum foil and with metal duct tape (not the cloth stuff). Works just fine.

Did you shield your jazz bass or another of your basses?

I just got done shielding some Fender strats and am looking at shielding my geddy lee jazz bass, the neck pickup and tone controls look easy enough, but not sure how to get the ground wire to the bridge pickup cavity to ground the shielding if I put it there.

I got my shielding from stemac, they have a kit with 3 different sizes....

Foamy · #6 08-18-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackba

Did you shield your jazz bass or another of your basses?

I just got done shielding some Fender strats and am looking at shielding my geddy lee jazz bass, the neck pickup and tone controls look easy enough, but not sure how to get the ground wire to the bridge pickup cavity to ground the shielding if I put it there.

I got my shielding from stemac, they have a kit with 3 different sizes....

I've done my Jag (which is a Jazz) and a strat. Both had the bridge wire run. I used a shielded wire (1 conductor plus the metal shielding). You can also wrap the tape or foil into a tube - that can be a real pain in the butt though.

kraigo · #7 08-18-2009, 11:34 AM

It's not hard at all. I use copper foil from a stained glass shop. I 12"x12" sheet can be had for ~$5. That's about enough for two basses. The adhesive conducts, so you don't have to electrically join the various pieces. Copper solders nicely, aluminum foil doesn't.

Consider putting a cap on the grounding wire between the bridge and the ground plan. It could save your life.

KO

flea claypool · #8 08-18-2009, 11:40 AM

on a gauge of 1-10.. 1 being easy.. 10 being hard.. id give it.. 1.4

i do all my basses passive or active makes a huge difference

BlizzardBass · #9 08-18-2009, 11:54 AM

I've used shielding paint I got on ebay and never had a problem

Selta · #10 08-18-2009, 12:27 PM

piece of cake really.

bassbenj · #11 08-18-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlizzardBass

I've used shielding paint I got on ebay and never had a problem

1. personally I've had variable results with paint. Sometimes it works great. Sometimes not. Even factories seem to have this problem. I've had factory painted basses that were shielded fine and other factory paint jobs (even on expensive basses) that for some reason did not and you had to put foil in there. Copper foil always works and you can solder to it (unlike aluminum)

2. Stew-mac or Carvin adhesive copper foil works well and is very easy to use. I do advise tacking the various pieces you use to each other with solder for a positive connection because people have reported that the conductive glue can dry out and lose contact over time.

3. Google "shielding instructions". There are some excellent "how-to" sites online.

4. I always shield ALL my basses with copper foil no matter what they cost unless the factory shielding is really working perfectly. (It happens!) Usually there is a large improvement in hum and noise level.

5. Good luck!

blackba · #12 11-12-2009, 11:18 AM

Just thought I would update this thread. I decided not to shield my Jazz bass. I shielded 3 of my strats with the stew mac copper foil and did not like the result. The tape seemed to remove resonance from the body and suck some of the life out of the guitar. The tape seems to be acting as dynamat type.

If I had to do it over, I would have used the shielding paint. anyway, just thought I would share my findings.

debassr · #13 11-12-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackba

Just thought I would update this thread. I decided not to shield my Jazz bass. I shielded 3 of my strats with the stew mac copper foil and did not like the result. The tape seemed to remove resonance from the body and suck some of the life out of the guitar. The tape seems to be acting as dynamat type.

If I had to do it over, I would have used the shielding paint. anyway, just thought I would share my findings.

+1, although of all the basses I would shield, it would be a Jazz. Why are those suckers always so damn noisy?

M0ses · #14 11-12-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackba

Just thought I would update this thread. I decided not to shield my Jazz bass. I shielded 3 of my strats with the stew mac copper foil and did not like the result. The tape seemed to remove resonance from the body and suck some of the life out of the guitar. The tape seems to be acting as dynamat type.

If I had to do it over, I would have used the shielding paint. anyway, just thought I would share my findings.

Turns out you like the fuzz, eh? It happens.

**Eric Perry** · #15 11-12-2009, 11:52 AM

It's easy, although a little time consuming. I would recommend tape over paint. Also, I'd strongly recommend getting tape made specifically *for* shielding, as the adhesive is conductive as well, and it assures you create a true Farady cage around the internals. If the tape's adhesive isn't conductive, it's like a pinhole in a condom!

bassgod76 · #16 11-12-2009, 12:03 PM

I'm not that great at it, but shielding is relatively easy, but does take some time. Here are some of my builds in which I shielded.

I used the Stewmac adhesive shielding and have not had a problem. With firm pressure, the shielding sticks and molds to any cavity. I'd suggest the 3-size pack they sell.

blackba · #17 11-13-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

Turns out you like the fuzz, eh? It happens.

There is something to be said for the hum, noiseless pickups never seem to sound as good as the traditional single coils in my experience.

I think though the issue with the strats is the area under the pickguard is very large that needs shielding, thus adding the tape really seems to affect the resonance of the instrument, I notice it vibrating less after I shielded it. With a typical Jazz or P bass, the area to shield is alot smaller, so I would think the tape would have less of an effect. The shielding helped the noise, but its still there, so I figure I might as well pull it back out.

I have a tendency to tinker, in this case I just wish I had left well enough alone, which is what I am doing with my Jazz bass. My amp has a mute button that is footswitchable, so I can always kill the hum in quiet parts if I need to....