Dimarzio Model J noise

[jonathanhughes]

I just had model Js installed in my fretless Jazz bass in the hopes of eliminating all hum/buzz. Although the hum/buzz is greatly reduced, there's now a constant very low level buzz, no matter what the level of the pickups. The old pickups, as well as the pickups (the original Fenders) in my other Jazz bass are dead silent when both knobs are on full volume. It doesn't matter if I'm touching the strings or what direction I'm facing. And since my old pickups and my other bass don't experience this issue, it's not my house wiring or my amp or anything like that.

Does anyone else experience this with Model Js?

Jonathan

 

[bearshimmy]

mine have 0 hum, even with one pickup turned all the way off and one on

 

[CB3000]

you may have to ground the polepieces.
i have had hum issues with many humbuckers-mainly from the wiring in my house and some clubs i play. i figured out that i have to ground the polepieces to fix it. on my model Js i solder a wire to a piece of copper foil shielding and stick that to the middle of the underside of the pickup so that it contacts both pieces of steel that the polepieces screw thru. then the other end of the wire is soldered to ground (of course). i've done this with many kinds of pickups and it works well. it's tricky and a bit of a pain.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Did you get them as a pair with opposite phases?

 

[stevellss]

if the cavity, pickguard, and control plate aren't shielded that might be your problem. I have model J's and I experienced increased hum/noise upon installation, and after shielding it is silent.

 

[jonathanhughes]

They were purchased as a pair.

The guy who did the work said the pickup cavity is shielded, but I don't know about the control plate. I doubt my pickguard is, since the one on my other Jazz bass is not.

I'll have to check into that. How do you shield the pickguard? Do you just put the copper foil on the underside?