Terrible HUM

**Mulebagger** · #1 03-26-2010, 01:06 PM

Hi Everyone,
Sorry if this is an issue that has been beaten to death already, but I'm looking for some help. My new Status S2 Classic 6 string has a terrible hum. I've talked to Rob Green of Status and he is helping me out and trying to problem solve the issue. I was hoping someone out there may have some experience with the issue and offer some additional advice as we have not solved the problem yet.

I'm not new to bass: 20 years plus, so I've tried some obvious things to trouble shoot such as:
using different amps
using different cables
plugging into different outlets
plugging into different houses
Using different basses

Still the hum is present on my bass but not with any other bass I have.

I've also changed batteries 2x
opened up the control cavity and tested for ground between all of the different ground connections with a multimeter and they checked out fine.

The hum increases with my volume and decreases with volume. It is present with the only exception being when I'm perpendicular to my speaker/amp.

Any help would be appreciated.
If this is posted in the wrong location feel free to move it.

Derrick

ewimsatt · #2 03-26-2010, 01:08 PM

Does the buzz roll off when you turn the tone knob down?

So it change when you touch the strings?

Is the jack an open style or barrel?

**Mulebagger** · #3 03-26-2010, 01:13 PM

The buzz does change in tone when I roll off my treble knob. But the hum is still there, just appears quieter because the high end if missing if that makes sense.?

It makes no difference whether or not I am touching the strings.

The jack is an open style I believe.

Thanks

LoveThatBass · #4 03-26-2010, 01:22 PM

Make sure each item grounded has only one path to ground. If more than one path you can get what is termed as a "Ground Loop" and this causes hum.
Make sure all grounds are properly soldered and no dull gray or cracked solder joints exist.

**Mulebagger** · #5 03-26-2010, 01:23 PM

I should mention that these are factory Status Humbuckers and the 302 Status 18v 3 band eq board. Volume, blend, treble, mid ( with a cut/flat/boost switch and freq knob) and bass.

**Mulebagger** · #6 03-26-2010, 01:25 PM

Ive looked at the solder joints and none of them appear to be cracked. they are a bit dull from oxidation perhaps.

How could I test to find a ground loop with a multimeter?

ewimsatt · #7 03-26-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveThatBass

Make sure each item grounded has only one path to ground. If more than one path you can get what is termed as a "Ground Loop" and this causes hum.
Make sure all grounds are properly soldered and no dull gray or cracked solder joints exist.

Ground loops are a myth in guitars. There is only one path to ground which is the jack. You would need another path to ground to have a loop

ewimsatt · #8 03-26-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulebagger

The buzz does change in tone when I roll off my treble knob. But the hum is still there, just appears quieter because the high end if missing if that makes sense.?

It makes no difference whether or not I am touching the strings.

The jack is an open style I believe.

Thanks

Sounds like a grounding issue to me. To check components, use a multimeter that checks continuity. Basically it emits a tone when you touch the leads together. Then touch the back of components with one lead on the jack ground moving the other lead between components. That is how you check components for grounding issues.

**Mulebagger** · #9 03-26-2010, 01:33 PM

I tested the resistance of all ground sources including the metal sheilding in various combinations and the meter always read 0.00 after a second.

I touched the "earth" as it is labled on all components (including the bridge as well) and it always came up the same.

Should I try it with a different multimeter?

ewimsatt · #10 03-26-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulebagger

I should mention that these are factory Status Humbuckers and the 302 Status 18v 3 band eq board. Volume, blend, treble, mid ( with a cut/flat/boost switch and freq knob) and bass.

If everything else is grounded, all the solder joints are good, etc My next suspect would be the preamp. I assume it buzzes no matter which pickup you select, front, back, both.

LoveThatBass · #11 03-26-2010, 01:34 PM

I have to ask:

A. is this a "String through the Body" Bridge?
B. If so, are you using coated strings?

If you answered yes to both A and B then it is likely the string ferroles are not grounded to the bridge and since the strings are coated You will not ground the strings at the Bridge either.
I remove string ferroles and the bridge on my basses and run a ground (sandwiched between ferrole and body wood) to the Bridge on each ferrole then it can ground the ball at the end of the string. The only other way to get a ground in this situation is to scrape some of the coating where the string makes contact with the bridge. I do not like to do this as the coating can begin to flake away faster.

IF NOT then disreguard.

**Mulebagger** · #12 03-26-2010, 01:37 PM

DR Black Beauties and top mount bridge. I've never had any issues with this combination on any other bridge.

Yep, it buzzes or hums no matter which pickup I select. Oddly enough, it hums louder when I have both pickups on and a bit less when I'm on the neck or bridge pickup alone.

**Mulebagger** · #13 03-26-2010, 01:43 PM

BTW,
Thank you guys for your time and expertise. I really do appreciate it.
Derrick

Bevo1995 · #14 03-26-2010, 01:48 PM

Are you playing near household light dimmer switches? These create enormous amounts of hum, especially when they are not fully on.

**Mulebagger** · #15 03-26-2010, 01:55 PM

Yes, but I've experimented with them fully on and like I mentioned in the original post, I've even tried the bass in a few different locations ( houses and work). Also, if I plug in any one of my other basses, I have no hum under the same circumstances.

Good call on the dimmers though.

**Mulebagger** · #16 03-26-2010, 02:00 PM

And Fellas, this hum is quite loud. I mean it is in competition with the bass.

ewimsatt: If it was a bad jack, how could i go about testing it without unsoldering it? I am thinking that I should plug in a 1/4 cable and run a multimeter from the cable of the ground back to the cavity somewhere. I don't experience any change in the sound though if i wobble around the plug.

ewimsatt · #17 03-26-2010, 02:04 PM

You can try the jack, but you said it rolled off when you turned the tone down. Usually that doesnt happen if it's a jack issue. It's past the tone in the signal chain.

**Mulebagger** · #18 03-26-2010, 02:06 PM

Ok. Man I should have learned more about electronics!

So is this looking like a preamp issue perhaps?

ewimsatt · #19 03-26-2010, 02:08 PM

Looking that way.

**Mulebagger** · #20 03-26-2010, 02:09 PM

I know this may sound painfully uneducated but...

I would assume the jack was the last part of the signal chain. right? Or are you going in the direction of the pickups being the end of the signal chain?

God, I'm shaking my head as I even ask such a question