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'65 Jazz Bass buzz

solarplexus

solarplexus

Oct 21, 2010
514
2
New-Brunswick, Canada
#1
Hi guys,

I have a '65 Jazz bass that has some buzz. It is there only some of the time. It is there when I play, so it doesn't go away with my hand on the strings. It is not that bad, but still noticeable, especially compared to my Mustang. I goes away as soon as I touch the control plate or the jack plugged in the input. I don't want to modify the circuit, I want to keep it original, but is there anything I could do to solve this?

Any help would be appreciated.
 
#3
A quick test would involve attaching a wire from the bridge (any metal part) and attach the other end to your jack sleeve or control plate. If that fixes the problem, you want to make sure there is a wire soldered to any ground point in the control cavity - then that wire should make good contact with the bottom of the bridge (you'll have to remove it). There should already be a hole routed.
 
#4
scotch said:
A quick test would involve attaching a wire from the bridge (any metal part) and attach the other end to your jack sleeve or control plate. If that fixes the problem, you want to make sure there is a wire soldered to any ground point in the control cavity - then that wire should make good contact with the bottom of the bridge (you'll have to remove it). There should already be a hole routed.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Could it be possible that the bass was wired wrong at the factory?
 
#10
solarplexus said:
So I should unscrew the bridge and have a look?
Click to expand...

Yes, but also make sure that ground wire is hooked up either to the back of a pot, or the 'sleeve' lug of the output jack!

That bridge-ground wire is what grounds you to the shield via the bass strings. Without that, your electrolytic body is a giant antennae introducing interference into the pickups!

For even less noise - consider a pickup & control cavity shielding job. Search tb for jazz bass shielding.
 
#14
Zentner said:
Toothpicks + wood glue.
Click to expand...

That will do the job!

If you want to go full-monty, tape off where the bridge is (so you can replace it exactly later), drill out the old screw holes (carefully), cut and glue tight-fitting hardwood dowels into the holes, replace bridge, mark & drill pilot holes into dowels, reinstall bridge.
 
#15
Also check the exposed ground wire under the bridge. Is it clean? It's likely that it has corroded/oxidized over the last 47 years. A little fine grit sandpaper will clean it up and get you better contact. Or, you could cut the exposed wire and push back the cloth wire jacket for a new surface... my first choice.

If you have access to one, or a friend who does, check the resistance from the bridge ground wire to the jack ground with a volt-ohm meter before and after. Less resistance is better.
 
#16
ExaltBass said:
Also check the wire under the bridge. Is it clean? It's likely that it has corroded/oxidized over the last 47 years. A little fine grit sandpaper will clean it up and get you better contact. Or, you could cut and push back the cloth wire jacket for a new surface... my first choice.

If you have access to one, or a friend who does, check the resistance from the bridge ground wire to the jack ground with a volt-ohm meter before and after. Less resistance is better.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I did check the wire and sanded exactly as you said. It was a bit corroded. I have a multimeter. Reading from bridge ground to jack ground fluctuates from 0.0 to 0.3. Normal?
 

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