Pickups have a bad hum

EADG mx · #1 10-01-2006, 12:55 PM

I didn't know whether to put this here or in Setup & Repair, so move it if necessary.

Both of my basses have an annoying hum in the pickups. I have a 4 string Samick (bridge pickup hums) and a 5 string Schecter Studio 5 (neck pickup on this one). Both of them hum so loudly I can't use them at all while playing.

What is the problem here? My Samick has always done it, but my Studio just started recently. It's new (I got it in March) and it's never had any problems except for a backbow after I changed the strings.

My Samick is cheap and I think discontinued so I don't have a problem trying to fix it myself if it's an easy repair. For the Studio I won't risk it though. Am I going to have to send it back to the company? I don't know if anyone is qualified to fix it at the store where I bought it.

Thanks for your help guys.

saxnbass · #2 10-01-2006, 01:28 PM

J-bass pickups will have a hum, but if it's a big problem you may want to either check yourself or have someone check for good connections and/or the phase.

EADG mx · #3 10-01-2006, 01:35 PM

It always had a bit of a hum but it was never this bad. Like I said it's so bad I can't even use those pickups.

Stan Hinesley · #4 10-01-2006, 02:31 PM

Does the noise stop or decrease when you touch the strings? Does it change when you face a different direction?

-Stan

EADG mx · #5 10-01-2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by has-sound

Does the noise stop or decrease when you touch the strings? Does it change when you face a different direction?

-Stan

Actually other way around, I can only hear the noise well when I am playing or the strings are ringing out.

EADG mx · #6 10-01-2006, 06:18 PM

Ok I admit I was skeptical.. but I tried facing the other way when playing and the hum did go away. What does this mean?

Stan Hinesley · #7 10-01-2006, 07:27 PM

Your bass is picking up RF interference. You could try shielding the control cavity with copper tape. That usually helps.

-Stan

bishopthomas · #8 10-01-2006, 08:27 PM

Make sure everything is properly grounded to the bridge. If you don't know what this means or don't know how to do it then take the guitar to your local music store/tech.

EADG mx · #9 10-02-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by has-sound

Your bass is picking up RF interference. You could try shielding the control cavity with copper tape. That usually helps.

-Stan

What's RF interference/where can I get copper tape?

saxnbass · #10 10-02-2006, 04:05 PM

Check out www.stewmac.com for shielding

Searcy · #11 10-02-2006, 07:42 PM

"What's RF interference"

It's Huummmmmmm. It's what a Humbucker bucks.

eots · #12 10-03-2006, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

Make sure everything is properly grounded to the bridge. If you don't know what this means or don't know how to do it then take the guitar to your local music store/tech.

Using star grounding properly and even the bridge not being included in the string should bring quiet results.
Check Jazz Shielding Pictorial (Big Images Warning) this sticky . An excellent resource.
Some pups will hum more than others even with shielding. Other factors to consider are computer monitors, flourescent lighting, standing in front of your amp, and using single coils solo as opposed to blending them when 2 are available.

EADG mx · #13 10-05-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searcy

"What's RF interference"

It's Huummmmmmm.

I realize that. I mean, what does RF stand for, and what causes it?

EADG mx · #14 10-05-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eots

Using star grounding properly and even the bridge not being included in the string should bring quiet results.
Check Jazz Shielding Pictorial (Big Images Warning) this sticky . An excellent resource.
Some pups will hum more than others even with shielding. Other factors to consider are computer monitors, flourescent lighting, standing in front of your amp, and using single coils solo as opposed to blending them when 2 are available.

What is star grounding?

My pickups have never hummed badly before, and I pretty much always play in front of my amp. I do not play near computer monitors or flourescent lighting.

The hum actually comes when I do blend them. I have to solo one pickup to make it stop.

Stan Hinesley · #15 10-05-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I realize that. I mean, what does RF stand for, and what causes it?

RF stands for radio or radiating frequencies. It is caused by the electrical components in your bass acting like an antenna, picking them up and reproducing them, usually as a hum. This is why facing a different direction sometimes stops it. Some really bad circuits will actually pick up radio stations and walkie-talkies!

A good shielding job is the best fix.

-Stan

saxnbass · #16 10-05-2006, 02:22 PM

For shielding, check here:

Jazz Shielding Pictorial (Big Images Warning)

SurrenderMonkey · #17 10-05-2006, 03:42 PM

Had a friend who could pickup short wave radio with his cheap Fender Telecaster copy. Well funny

eots · #18 10-06-2006, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

What is star grounding?

My pickups have never hummed badly before, and I pretty much always play in front of my amp. I do not play near computer monitors or flourescent lighting.

The hum actually comes when I do blend them. I have to solo one pickup to make it stop.

If you take a wire attached at one end to the base/case of each component and attach the other end to a common point, it in essence, forms a star. The point of which prevents rf from completing a loop which can be amplified by your system.
Standing in front of your amp, meaning, like within a foot or two. 5-10 feet shouldn't affect it too much.
Read Lyle Caldwell's thread. Well explained.A must read and costs less than $10 to do yourself if you have a soldering iron.

SirGus · #19 10-09-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

J-bass pickups will have a hum, but if it's a big problem you may want to either check yourself or have someone check for good connections and/or the phase.

why j-bass pickups have a hum?

laboitenoire · #20 10-09-2006, 12:50 PM

They're single coil. The reason a jazz bass doesn't hum is because either the pickups are wound in opposite direction, or one is wired in the opposite way. That way when both are set to equal volumes, they cancel the hum. Split-coil pickups solve the hum without sacrificing too much of that single-coil tone. A humbucker is nothing more than two reverse-wound single coils mounted right next to each other.