Planet Waves directional cable hum

[Li Youwei]

I have a Cort Curbow fretless. Every time I use my Planet Waves cable, I get a strong buzz. It doesn't do this with other cables, and the Planet Waves cable doesn't buzz with other basses and guitars. Could this be because the cable is directional and there is an issue with the active preamp in the bass? Any idea what is happening?

[Hoover]

99% of the cables that are "directional" are set up with 2 conductors plus a shield that's only tied to the negative conductor at one end...most of the time the sending end (i.e., the bass). But there is a chance that Planet Waves does it the other way, with the shield tied to the negative conductor at the recieving end (the amp). And there's also a very good chance that I have it backwards!

In any case

I suppose there could be something about the ground scheme on your Curbow that's not compatible with a plug that has a floating shield at either end...but I can't for the life of me imagine what that would be or what could cause that.

In short: remember the joke about the guy who goes to his doctor and says "Doc, it hurts when I do this!" and the doctor says "Well, don't do that!" ?

Don't use that cable with your Curbow. Problem solved.