James....thanks for the extra feedback....
I'm actually surprised you experienced this.
Roger
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Coated Strings
- Thread starter Sadowsky
- Start date
James....thanks for the extra feedback....
I'm actually surprised you experienced this.
Roger
I was too, Roger. I definitely had expected to experience the reverse given the piece of yours I read and my own previous experiences.
I have another bass of a different make and with different electronics and I am gonna install the ones I had on the SB-2 on it and see how that goes.
If there is no buzz on that one, should I have the electronics of the SB-2 examined? I would think not since if there was something wrong it should have showed up with the regular XLs installed.
BTW, I had my Sadowsky Preamp/DI repaired last month and I have that wonderful sound back. Thank you for making that thing since it makes every bass sound so much stronger!
I have another bass of a different make and with different electronics and I am gonna install the ones I had on the SB-2 on it and see how that goes.
If there is no buzz on that one, should I have the electronics of the SB-2 examined? I would think not since if there was something wrong it should have showed up with the regular XLs installed.
BTW, I had my Sadowsky Preamp/DI repaired last month and I have that wonderful sound back. Thank you for making that thing since it makes every bass sound so much stronger!
If the string ground worked with the regular strings, your bass is fine.
Roger
I want to chime in and mention that I have also experienced the problem with hum on my Elixir's. Since that was a long time ago when i was just learning and never recording it didn't really get to me. I use Hi-Beams now so I don't have any problems. Thank you for your article Roger.
I'm wondering if the problem Bassfootballguy is having is maybe due to a bad batch or that Roger tested with a bad batch and they are normal non-conductive.
I'm wondering if the problem Bassfootballguy is having is maybe due to a bad batch or that Roger tested with a bad batch and they are normal non-conductive.
The main reason the D'Addarios and the Cleartones passed the test is they coat the wire before they wind the string and the coating is thin. The other strings are coated after the string is completely made. I cannot explain why Bassfootballguy had a nonconductive experience with the D'Addarios.
Thank you so much for the effort and article, Roger. Personally I like the feel of coated strings so I tend to defer to them when I can.
I've never really experienced any noticeable hum problems on any of my basses, but it should be interesting to see if it shows up with my next string change on my Carvin SB5000.
I had Rotosound Nexxus coated strings on one of my Schecters, didn't have a problem, and I really liked them a lot. Currently that bass has D'Addario groundwounds on it.
I have D'Addario ETB92's (black tapes) on my other Schecter, haven't noticed an issue either. I also have these same strings on a Squier Affinity P bass that I built/modified for my son.
All three are passive basses.
I just ordered a set of DR "Black Beauties" to go on my Carvin to replace the Chromes that I'm not overly fond of, so I'm interested to see if this "hum" is more noticeable with an active bass. I probably would have gotten Roto Nexxus again but could not find that they offered a 5 string set.
Good info! Thanks!!!
I've never really experienced any noticeable hum problems on any of my basses, but it should be interesting to see if it shows up with my next string change on my Carvin SB5000.
I had Rotosound Nexxus coated strings on one of my Schecters, didn't have a problem, and I really liked them a lot. Currently that bass has D'Addario groundwounds on it.
I have D'Addario ETB92's (black tapes) on my other Schecter, haven't noticed an issue either. I also have these same strings on a Squier Affinity P bass that I built/modified for my son.
All three are passive basses.
I just ordered a set of DR "Black Beauties" to go on my Carvin to replace the Chromes that I'm not overly fond of, so I'm interested to see if this "hum" is more noticeable with an active bass. I probably would have gotten Roto Nexxus again but could not find that they offered a 5 string set.
Good info! Thanks!!!
This is how cool D'Addario is and why I am inclined to remain a customer, besides just liking their strings:
I got an e mail today from Don Dawson, a representative of D'Addario, asking me if he could send me a new set of the EXP coated bass strings fresh from production in my preferred gauge to help narrow down why I had the electrical buzz issue when I installed a set of those a couple days ago.
That is service and attention to detail and listening to customers' voices. And that is another reason this is such a cool place.
James
I got an e mail today from Don Dawson, a representative of D'Addario, asking me if he could send me a new set of the EXP coated bass strings fresh from production in my preferred gauge to help narrow down why I had the electrical buzz issue when I installed a set of those a couple days ago.
That is service and attention to detail and listening to customers' voices. And that is another reason this is such a cool place.
James
Just to check in quick with my results;
I took off the D'Addario Chromes that were on my Carvin SB5000. Honestly, I really wanted to like those strings but I never really got into them or liked them the way that other people seem to.
I put on the DR Black Beauties and gave them a thorough workout last night. Plugged directly into my Carvin MB210 with no pedals, amplifier set for an active bass with my typical EQ settings.
I could not detect any unusual hum, noise, or any problems with these. I was hesitant as I have read differing reviews of them as far as quality but so far I am very happy with them.
So, currently I have 3 basses with coated strings from both DR and D'Addario and have not encountered any hum problems with any of them. Two of the basses have D'Addario Tapewounds and one has the DR coated strings.
Just figured I'd post up my findings/experience.
I took off the D'Addario Chromes that were on my Carvin SB5000. Honestly, I really wanted to like those strings but I never really got into them or liked them the way that other people seem to.
I put on the DR Black Beauties and gave them a thorough workout last night. Plugged directly into my Carvin MB210 with no pedals, amplifier set for an active bass with my typical EQ settings.
I could not detect any unusual hum, noise, or any problems with these. I was hesitant as I have read differing reviews of them as far as quality but so far I am very happy with them.
So, currently I have 3 basses with coated strings from both DR and D'Addario and have not encountered any hum problems with any of them. Two of the basses have D'Addario Tapewounds and one has the DR coated strings.
Just figured I'd post up my findings/experience.
As an aside, I still find it hard to believe that so many manufacturers don't feel it necessary to shield their basses.
My Lakland (£1100 had none, and was fairly unusable with the single-coil Aeros in it. After I shielded the control and p/u cavities, its as quiet as a mouse (unless I'm standing directly under flourescent lights etc. Even then it's not bad.
My Lakland (£1100 had none, and was fairly unusable with the single-coil Aeros in it. After I shielded the control and p/u cavities, its as quiet as a mouse (unless I'm standing directly under flourescent lights etc. Even then it's not bad.
Some basses are supplied without grounded bridges, some basses are supplied without shielded cavities, some basses are supplied without shielded cavity backplates, some basses come without shielded pup covers, some basses come without shielded pup cavities, some basses come without a star ground, some basses come with noise inducing badly routed, poor wiring technique or excess wiring, and some basses even ship with hum inducing single coils.
And you want warning labels on coated strings?... oh please...
And you want warning labels on coated strings?... oh please...
I guess I'm resurrecting this thread but it certainly confirmed my suspicions.
I started using DR neons on a Peavey Millennium and didn't hear any extra hum, once I switched to a jazz bass there was a huge difference. Any way I could have saved myself the time of my own trouble shooting if I had done a search....lol.
Thanks for the info Roger.
I started using DR neons on a Peavey Millennium and didn't hear any extra hum, once I switched to a jazz bass there was a huge difference. Any way I could have saved myself the time of my own trouble shooting if I had done a search....lol.
Thanks for the info Roger.
I am constantly amazed at how people are stuck in their belief systems (alternative facts) here. Here are the facts based on 45 years experience with the issue:
1) the string does not act as an antenna to attract noise. The string does not cause hum in any way.
2) The string connects the players hand to the parts of the guitar that are connected to ground (bridge, output jack, control plate).
3) Contrary to what EMG recommends, I have always had to shield and install bridge ground wires for hum control for musicians playing in noisy environments, especially stage lighting (vari-lights) and old building wiring.
4) The risk of shock with having a bridge ground is so low, in it a non issue. If it happens, it is in when the player has his hands on the strings and simultaneously touches a powered microphone with his lips or hands. Dealing with pros for 45 years, I can tell you it is a non issue.
5) For those who say I never get hum, it is only because you have not had to play in environments that produce it.
6) Shielding can reduce the hum by 90% but a string ground in still needed in noisy environments.
7) Shielding and proper grounding cannot eliminate 60 cycle (single coil) hum.
8) The single most important part of the equation regarding shunting "noise" to ground is the human body. When you touch the strings, your body completes the ground and shunts the hum. This would also happen if you touched the bridge, the control plate or the output jack.
9) Given #8, in order for you to complete the ground while touching the string, the string MUST be electrically conductive, otherwise, no connection is made between the string ground via the bridge.
10) Most coated strings are NON Conductive, defeating the connection to the bridge ground. As a result, there is no hum reduction when touching the strings.
1) the string does not act as an antenna to attract noise. The string does not cause hum in any way.
2) The string connects the players hand to the parts of the guitar that are connected to ground (bridge, output jack, control plate).
3) Contrary to what EMG recommends, I have always had to shield and install bridge ground wires for hum control for musicians playing in noisy environments, especially stage lighting (vari-lights) and old building wiring.
4) The risk of shock with having a bridge ground is so low, in it a non issue. If it happens, it is in when the player has his hands on the strings and simultaneously touches a powered microphone with his lips or hands. Dealing with pros for 45 years, I can tell you it is a non issue.
5) For those who say I never get hum, it is only because you have not had to play in environments that produce it.
6) Shielding can reduce the hum by 90% but a string ground in still needed in noisy environments.
7) Shielding and proper grounding cannot eliminate 60 cycle (single coil) hum.
8) The single most important part of the equation regarding shunting "noise" to ground is the human body. When you touch the strings, your body completes the ground and shunts the hum. This would also happen if you touched the bridge, the control plate or the output jack.
9) Given #8, in order for you to complete the ground while touching the string, the string MUST be electrically conductive, otherwise, no connection is made between the string ground via the bridge.
10) Most coated strings are NON Conductive, defeating the connection to the bridge ground. As a result, there is no hum reduction when touching the strings.
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^ it does still surprise me what an ongoing debate this is on this forum.
- EMGs are the only solution that I've ever encountered with coated strings/tapes the seemed to have resolved the hum issue for me. I do believe you that there's probably stillhum, though I've never detected any in a variety of environments.
The biggest misconception in these subjects is that we are somehow grounding the bass by making contact with the instrument's circuit ground.
We are not grounded ourselves. If we were, then it would make no difference if we touched the bass circuit ground, since the bass is already grounded.
In fact, we are the noise source. Our bodies act as collectors for any electrical fields in the room. This noise that is present on us is then coupled into the bass circuitry due to our large surface area and proximity to the bass.
This can be easily demonstrated by simply comparing the noise level when one is close to the bass as if playing it, and then moving away from it. And all this is of course without being grounded oneself.
Anyone who has used an oscilloscope has likely noticed this noise signal that is present on us, by touching the 'scope probe tip.
What actually happens when we touch a grounded point on the bass, is that we become grounded ourselves, and are no longer a noise source.
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This goes back a few years, so there may be newer strings that would pass the test.
R
