New P/J - How do i Fix 60 Cycle Hum?

[faulknersj]

I just got a new Fender P/J bass and I've got some 60 cycle hum issues. The bridge jazz pup is a single coil. I am going to have the bass sheilded, but am also wondering if throwing a split coil in the bridge might help. Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Thank You!!

[awilkie84]

Split coil pickup, or just dial in the P pickup ever so slightly. Also, once you start playing, you should barely hear the hum. Sometimes grounding with your hand can reduce it a bit, too.

[RCCollins]

You can shield it yourself, which will HELP reduce the hum. A split coil pickup, however, would SOLVE the problem.

[faulknersj]

Sounds like a split coil is the way to go.

[RCCollins]

A Split coil won't ever sound exactly like a single coil, but the hum problem will be eliminated completely.

[MeLikeDaLowNote]

What gives? In this day and age, why would they still manufacture basses that a plagued by such a simple problem? Is the single coil sound impossible to get any other way?

[CPplaysBASS]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

A Split coil won't ever sound exactly like a single coil, but the hum problem will be eliminated completely.

+1

To the OP, I know that hum can get inside your head at times, but you will lose the true characteristics of the single coil that, to me, makes my P/J the "go to" bass in my collection. My P/J hums ... in between songs ... but I know it's going to song sweet and punch through with the full band going, and it does. Can't hear any hum when playing.

[mystic38]

nope.. there is no sort of hum reducing pickup that sounds like a single coil..

and if you put a split coil, or hum cancelling pickup in the bridge position, then quite simply, it is no longer a P/J

Originally Posted by MeLikeDaLowNote

What gives? In this day and age, why would they still manufacture basses that a plagued by such a simple problem? Is the single coil sound impossible to get any other way?

[Musiclogic]

So the Fender J's with noiseless pickups are not really J's?

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by mystic38

and if you put a split coil, or hum cancelling pickup in the bridge position, then quite simply, it is no longer a P/J

PJ's come with all kinds of pickups. As long as one of those is a P pickup and the other is a J pickup...it's a PJ.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

So the Fender J's with noiseless pickups are not really J's?

Not if you want single coils in your J.

[CPplaysBASS]

It comes down to why you want a P/J in the first place ... I added a single-coil J to my P-Bass to add some top-end clarity and crispness. Other pickups that are not true single coils will fit without modification, and they may sound great, but they won't deliver the same kind of top-end clarity that compliments the P split coil so well (in my opinion). I've learned to embrace the hum personally

[ShowLow]

I could not stand the 60 Hz hum on my first jazz bass. [I have come to embrace it more fully now.] So my solution was to install DiMarzio DP123 Model J pickups. Those are some excellent sounding split coils IMHO...it still sounds just like a Jazz...and the hum is GONE.

[faulknersj]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm definitely dropping a split coil in and the buzz is not an option for me with the venues I play. I need a output split coil jazz pup. I really prefer the 'stacked' single coils like Fender Noiseless (SCN).

[WoodyG3]

Just remember that the humbucking bridge pickup you choose will need to match up well with the P pickups output.