new 2012 American jazz .. has hum/buzz

[lifeson70]

I just got my bass today.2012 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass . I love it.. but it has a humming noise and or buzz. my other bass a Jackson concert bass that has active emg pick ups doesn't buzz on either of my amps. Ampeg 350t or 1973 bassman 100. i treid the ground switches and it does get quieter.

if i turn the controls different ways it get a little louder. the buzz does get quieter when i touch the strings.
is this something i should be concerned about? it is not real loud but i hear it when i am not playing.
Should I return it? I bought it from Musician Freinds.
Thanks for any help.

[DeliriumTremens]

does it still hum even when both volume knobs are set the same?

[lifeson70]

Originally Posted by DeliriumTremens

does it still hum even when both volume knobs are set the same?

i just checked it at different settings and it almost disappears when the two are the same setting(you can still hear it a little bit though). you hear is more when the are set differently .

[greggster59]

Originally Posted by lifeson70

i just checked it at different settings and it almost disappears when the two are the same setting(you can still hear it a little bit though). you hear is more when the are set differently .

This is normal though
It should be almost silent when both are set the same like fully on.

[DeliriumTremens]

Originally Posted by lifeson70

i just checked it at different settings and it almost disappears when the two are the same setting(you can still hear it a little bit though). you hear is more when the are set differently .

yeah that's normal for a Jazz, single coil pickups hum. When the two volumes are set the same it's essentially a wide spaced parallel wired humbucker so the hum goes away. Turn one down and the hum will return

[lifeson70]

Originally Posted by greggster59

This is normal though
It should be almost silent when both are set the same like fully on.

Ok, I just messed with it some more. When i have the all the way up i have a buzz, but when i touch the strings it almost go away completely.(like a ground problem.) Turning the tone back helps too..
i think i have had buzz noise like that before when my gibson explorer with humbuckers in it,until i put emgs in it.

my Jackson concert bass with emgs doesn't buzz at all..

I just wanted to see if this was a normal thing with the 2012 mia jazz bass.with these pick-ups I love the bass!! and it sounds awesome!!I really dont want to go through the hassle of sending it back.. She is beautiful and I dont want to let her go!! haha

[DeliriumTremens]

EMGs aren't grounded like regular passive pickups so you'll never get ground hum from them

[lifeson70]

Originally Posted by DeliriumTremens

EMGs aren't grounded like regular passive pickups so you'll never get ground hum from them

Ok, Thank you for the info and the reply.. I can just relax now and go practice! haha

You were a great help!

[DiabolusInMusic]

You can remove the hum if you give the bass a proper shielding job as it is getting outside interference right now. It is a shielding issue that is extremely common on all Fenders. Some folks call it the Fender hiss.

Active pickups are way less likely to have hum in my experience, in fact I have never seen any active basses hum.

If you touch metal/strings/bridge and the noise goes away you have a shielding issue.

If you touch metal/strings/bridge and the noise gets louder you have a grounding issue.

[pacojas]

those pups are worth it, IMO!

[Troph]

Search for threads about Jazz bass shielding. There are several. (Avoid the threads about "star grounding", as they'll make your head spin and won't accomplish anything.)

[DiabolusInMusic]

[quote=Troph;13846389]Search for threads about Jazz bass shielding. There are several. (Avoid the threads about "star grounding", as they'll make your head spin and won't accomplish anything.)[/QUOTE]


Good call. Good call.