Do Precision basses have noisy pickups?

[seven ate nine.]

Hey, everyone. Yesterday I bought a Fender deluxe active jazz bass from the Labor Day sale at GC. I brought it home and wasn't too happy when I heard that annoying electronic buzzing sound when I plugged it in to my amp (it didn't do that when I played it in the store. ). I'm taking it back, partially because of that. And I don't have the money right now to replace the pickups. But mainly because it was $600, which was way out of my pricerange to begin with . I wasn't really planning on buying a bass that day, anyway. But when I was checking out I saw a used P bass hanging on the wall, and for a lot cheaper. I was just wandering if P basses have the same noisy pickups like the jazz basses cuz I'm thinking about getting it when I go back. Thanks!

 

[Shadi]

P-basses have humbucking pickups so there shouldn't be any noise.

 

[stflbn]

Your standard Precision pickups are some of the quietest pickups out there. Either somethings up with your power, somethings up with the wiring on the bass, etc.

 

[bassist4dalord]

These two basses are very different! I love P-Basses, and Jazz Basses. Have you played a P before? They are two very different animals.

 

[gckat]

Maybe your instrument cable fizzled out.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

do u have any florescent lights in your house or practice space?? This always makes buzzing when I'm trying to jam with my band, so we turn the suckers off. Also, try different outlets maybe?

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Does the bass hum at the store???

 

[dannybuoy]

Might be an earthing issue - does it quieten down when you touch the bridge / strings?

 

[Rattman]

P-basses have humbucking pickups so there shouldn't be any noise.

Yep: humbucks... My first Fender Pbass was as quiet as could be... Sounds like to me you need to examine all of your solder joints, but most especially the wires to the output jack. You may try swapping out your playing location and/or your cable too (just for verification purposes).

 

[seven ate nine.]

Thanks for your help, everyone! And to answer some questions.... it's not my instrument cable or my amp. Cuz I plugged in my Schecter last night and it was quiet as could be. I also tried two different amps in two different rooms of my house, and I was having the same problems with the jazz, but the Schecter remained silent on both. However I haven't tried playing with the lights off yet. But the bottom line is I'm taking my jazz back and might be getting the P bass, partially for financial reasons. I'm not working at all this semester, and I kinda have to watch what I buy. So apparently I didn't really think thru that when I bought the jazz! Haha. Plus I have to basses already, so I don't really 'need' another one right now.