Noisy Electronics

[Andy_D]

I have a Chinese made counterfeit Rockbass that is an amazingly good player and gets really good tone. It has controls setup as Neck Vol - Bridge Vol - Neck Tone - Bridge Tone. It has 2 single coil pickups that are stamped as MEC's but are likely clones as well.

My problem is this bass is very noisy. To date I have added copper shielding to the control cavity and plate, as well as having soldered a 100 pf cap across the input jack. I have reduced the noise from being extremely annoying to just annoying. The strange thing is that most of the noise emanates from the neck tone pot advanced to treble (expected) even when the neck volume is turned off. I'm curious as to why most of the noise comes from this tone pot and not equally from both. Does anyone have a clue as to why or what I should test(bad PU or pot).

Noise aside everyone who has heard this bass compliments the tone so hopefully it is not completely inherent in the pickups. I know single coils are noisy but usually not this noisy. The bass itself is definitely a keeper since it plays so well and has great tone. Should I not even try to figure it out and just replace the electronics with some quality components and be done with it?

[Andy_D]

OK, No replies so let me include some more information. Here is a wiring diagram of my bass. The setup looks quite odd to me as I've never seen 2 tone controls in series like this.

Has anyone ever seen a bass wired up in this fashion? It is the middle tone pot that seems to generate noise which would seem to make sense since rolling it off would negate the effect of the outside one in any event.

To answer my own question I'm guessing now that noise is likely coming from the pickups. However, I do like their tone so I guess changing out pots and caps is probably he first order of business. Any suggestions for a good passive wiring arrangement that will make use of the 4 shaft holes in the body? I've included a pic of the control cavity, I don't know if there would be room in there for a pre-amp and batteries.

[Andy_D]

Again, has anyone ever seen a tone configuration like this? Considering what I paid for this ($140) and how well it plays, and it does have a good tone. I'm trying to figure out what to do to make this a great bass. What do you experts think? Should I stay passive and just replace the pots with some quality components? If so what would be the best way to wire this thing up. The 2 series wired tone pots sure look funky to me. How about going active? That certainly opens things up in the control/EQ department. Is there a pre-amp small enough that might fit the control cavity(along with a battery)?

Ideas?

[bigbadbob76]

Hi Andy.
I've not come accross a wiring setup like this before. you dont say what value the tone pots are but i'd recomend either cutting out the wiring to the noisier pot or wiring it as per one of the wiring diagrams that are all over the net. emg website shows lots of variations, take your pic of the 2 vol 2 tone or 2 vol 1 tone.
I'd also recommend checking with a meter that your bridge is earthed properly.
i can't see from your pic if the foil has a wire soldered between it and the pot bodies but i wouldnt rely on the pot nuts to give a proper earth. same goes for the cover plate foil, it needs a wire too.
Hope this helps.
Bob.

<bass newbie/electronics oldie>

[Andy_D]

Hey bob,

Thanks for the suggestion, Isolating it down to a single pot and using one might be a good way to go. The foil does not have a wire soldered between it an the pots. That is an easy easy one to try as well. I will try both.

I searched around however and found the "official" Warwick wiring diagram. My best bet is probably to order some quality pots and caps and wire per the diagram. Thanks so much for your help.