Possible Ground issue

Arlof · #1 04-05-2007, 03:13 PM

I have a 1991 American Standard Jazz Bass. When i plug it into an amp i hear a buzz that stops when i touch the strings or bridge. I took my amp and bass into a shop and it didnt buzz there. This leads me to believe that its either a probelm with my house's electricity or interference from something( maybe a radio station? ). Your thoughts?

Selta · #2 04-05-2007, 03:33 PM

Title says it all, bro. Bad ground someplace.
Now the fun part is finding where

.
Open the control cavity and look for loose wires there, to start.

**WoodyG3** · #3 04-05-2007, 04:38 PM

If it buzzes at home but not at the shop, it's probably something in your home. I have certain outlets in my house that I can't use without getting noise, while other are almost completely quiet. I actually run an extension cord to my amp so I can use a "quiet" outlet without moving all the furniture in my basement.

It could also be anything electric in your home, like a refrigerator, a TV, or even a nearby radio station as you said.

Baleen · #4 04-06-2007, 12:06 AM

That the buzzing stops when you touch the strings says that atleast the ground wire to the bridge is good.

Does it buzz when both pickups are at the same volume? Easiest way to test is both vols all the way up. It shouldn't because the pickups should cancel each other's buzz. If not, check that they are both working and that the pickups are reverse polarity of one another

This of course doesn't help if you want to play with only one pickup or with the two at different levels.

What you need is improved shielding. Search these forums for a huge thread on the subject. Shielding will not cure all single coil buzz issues, however, but it will minimize them.

You may find that facing a different way eliminates/reduces the buzz. Not playing near a computer monitor will help also. Playing in a club/theatre with a light dimmer rack will definitely cause buzz. The only real way out of that is to get hum canceling pickups. I've thought about that for my 62RI, but I'm afraid to alter the sound. So if it's really bad I just set both vols the same and work around the tone (I prefer the neck pickup soloed).

I did add shielding to mine. While it did help, it did not eliminate the problem.

Good Luck.