Buzz with no strings on

[Earth Tones]

Just looking for some quick advice. I just finished installing/assembling new pots, jack and pickups on a SX P-Bass. I haven't string it yet, but I plugged it in the hit a tuning fork over the pickups to check for activity and signal flow. There is a constant buzz. Pretty standard type, when touching the brige with my hand it goes away. Should I be concerned with the wiring or should I just string it. I don't want to string it and then start second guessing something. All of the solder joints are good, wires are routed properly.

I guess the basic question I am hoping to have answered is: how much, if any, of an hum-reduction effect can I expect from installing the strings. I am assuming that the hum will still be there. Damn

 

[Parabolic Box]

Yeah, hum will be reduced. String ground.

 

[Earth Tones]

Oh, praise all. That is what I was hoping to hear, just so I could string her up and hear these Fralin pickups. Thanks for the quick response!

 

[Parabolic Box]

No prob. Just remember you have to be touching the strings for the string ground to work.

 

[Earth Tones]

Is there something specific causing this, other than the inherent qualities of single-coil pickups?

 

[Parabolic Box]

It's not only single coil pickups. It's an inherent quality in circuits that a length of wire will have a current induced in it because of constant EM fluctuations in the surrounds such as radio, and mains power. If you shield your pickups and control cavity VERY well (ie. epoxy coating your pickups, and shielding the entirety of the circuitry), you might be able to get away with no string ground.