Noisy Jaguar Preamp?

Thinkarogadum · #1 01-03-2007, 06:15 PM

My Fender Jag seems to have a pretty annoying hum when I use it in active mode. In passive mode it doesn't hum, and when I use it in active mode, it goes away if I touch one of the control plates or the bridge, which leads me to believe its a grounding problem. Any advice on how to fix it?

darthplagis · #2 01-03-2007, 06:32 PM

get the bass grounded or follow the steps on the great thread up here.

i used aluminium foil tape (used for air duct/conditioner repairs) for mine and it only cost me £1 per roll (i only used 1/4 of it)

i also switched the pickups cos the single coil hum drove me crazy ( i LOVE bridge solo, little bass boost sweet)

guidedbassman · #3 01-03-2007, 08:34 PM

I own two jags my red one started doing the same think so i took it into the store i got it from and fender had to replace the preamp in it. the turn around was really quick and it came back supper quit just like my black one.

I would have believed it was just a ground but the fender tech at the store told me the preamp they started putting in the jags was kind of cheap they have now replace it with a better one and now the red one i have sound alittle warmer than my black one. i hope this helps....John

Basshole · #4 01-03-2007, 08:45 PM

If the noise goes away when you touch the bridge, then it should also go away when you touch the strings. This is normal. That's why there is a wire going to your bridge - to ground the instrument to YOU.

All basses make noise when you let go of them. You just notice the hum more when the preamp is on, because the preamp is also boosting the hum.

Changing the pickups may improve the hum, but it may change the sound too.

Personally, I love my Jags, and wouldn't risk screwing up the sound by changing a thing. I just make sure I'm diligent about staying grounded to the strings.

darthplagis · #5 01-04-2007, 07:06 PM

well when i swapped out the stock pickups for stacked vintage basslines, the tone was pretty much the same but a little thicker due to extra coil i imagine, and lack of hum.

i also made a common ground (as in lyles cool sheilding thread) also called a star ground, this helps eliminate the hum from sheilding.

Thinkarogadum · #6 01-05-2007, 02:21 PM

I bought it from a fellow TB'er, so I would probably have to pay to have one replaced by a tech. My jazz bass is dead silent all the time, and I had the control cavity shielded. Maybe a shielding job could help reduce the hum.