What's that buzzing noise?

[CrushFan41]

Hello, I am looking for a little insight to a small problem which I hope will not turn into a big one. I recently purchased a Galveston 7-string bass which I am very happy with. I found this past week that there is a low buzzing noise that would indicate to me that there is a short somewhere in the electronics. If I touch the active/passive knob (regardless of setting) the buzz stops, if I touch the strings the buzz stops, if I touch any of the other knobs, the buzz stops. I was hoping to avoid having to take it to someone who could repair and go without it for a couple of weeks and perhaps do this myself, but my familiarity with electronics is somewhat limited. A little guidance would extermely helpful. Thanks. -BW-

[uaudio]

Are you using a non-grounded power plug anywhere in your signal chain?

Check this out: http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/

[KeithPas]

Definitely sounds like a grounding problem.

[guylewis]

I've had a similar problem with certain venue's flourescent lights; some places its really bad but at others I don't have any problem at all . . . even using different amps . . . I don't let it worry me too much though it can be very annoying!

[CrushFan41]

I don't think that it is a problem with any venue's lighting, because it happens regardless of whether I play at home or practice or a gig, it still buzzes. So I think it's definitely in the guitar itself, not my rig or any other outside phenomena. I was hoping that it would be something simple, like a loose or disconnected ground wire but I didnt see any. What I was hoping to avoid was having to take it somewhere to have all the electronics overhauled.

[akane2]

perhaps the ground wire came loose from the bridge. Or maybe you could wrap some copper around the pup wires.

[Fetusyolk]

definately grounding

[dmusic148]

It's a shielding, not grounding, issue. If touching metal parts helps, like the strings, then the bridge ground is intact. Most of the noise you hear is actually coming from you-your body collects from the environment it and reflects it to your bass. See this:
www.guitarnuts.com/technical/noisebucket.php

[Solarmist]

I had a similar problem before because of a bad cord

[KeithPas]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

It's a shielding, not grounding, issue. If touching metal parts helps, like the strings, then the bridge ground is intact. Most of the noise you hear is actually coming from you-your body collects from the environment it and reflects it to your bass. See this:
www.guitarnuts.com/technical/noisebucket.php

Very helpful info, thanks.

[CrushFan41]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

It's a shielding, not grounding, issue. If touching metal parts helps, like the strings, then the bridge ground is intact. Most of the noise you hear is actually coming from you-your body collects from the environment it and reflects it to your bass. See this:
www.guitarnuts.com/technical/noisebucket.php

--Thanks for the info. Now for the $64,000 question. How do you remedy a shielding problem? Any suggestions?

[Rick Auricchio]

Shielding requires that the control cavity and pickup cavities be lined with conductive paint or metal.

Stewmac sells both the paint and the copper foil to do the job. There's a sticky post in this forum telling you how to do the job. It applies to a Jazz bass, but the principles are the same for any bass.