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Grounding problems with new american deluxe jazz

J

johng999

Jul 14, 2008
138
3
#1
I had originally attached this to the "2010 American Deluxe" thread and realize it probably won't get the same attention if I start anew. I hope this is OK:


This is frustrating. My first 2010 American Deluxe Jazz had to be returned as the bridge pickup went dead. I exchanged for a new one, (Zzounds was great) and this one seems to have a grounding problem.
There is a loud buzz at all times in either active or passive mode, on three different amps, tried at two different homes. If I touch a string to any pole piece on the neck pickup (didn't try bridge pickup) the bass becomes dead quiet, and plays normally with no buzz when striking the strings not touching the pickup. I like this bass and don't want to send it back - it sounds like a pickup grounding issue to me, but wanted some advice on how to fix.
Thanks in advance, and

Fender, fix your quality control!!!
 
#2
I had the same issue with the dead bridge pup and I had to send it back TWICE!! Before it was fixed, I haven't a chance to test it yet in a proper gigging situation but I have noticed (through headphones) that in passive mode the bass is totally silent but in active mode there is a noticeable buzz.. I was expecting this as Its common knowledge there is a shielding issue with the 2010 models...
The only reason I'm keeping the bass is because it looks amazing, the finish is fantastic, it's not too heavy and is balanced very well and is the most comfortable 5er I've ever played..still I'm a bit annoyed that I have to spend extra money correcting problems on a brand new instrument which is supposedly the flagship model
 
#3
The answer to this question is in that old thread. Mine did the same thing. A grounding issue that was so bad, I thought it might be unplayable. Instead of sending it back, I shielded every cavity in the bass. Pickups, preamp, and battery. It took me about an hour to do and now it is mt main player. If you don't want to do this yourself, I believe Fender has finally recognized the issue and will have it fixed for you, if you send it to a certified Fender repairman in your area. Good luck.
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#4
I bought an American Jazz Deluxe (08 or 09 build ?, bought in 10) and found the neck pick up sensitive to electric field buzz, from things like dimmers and bad electrical power.

Similarly if I touched the strings the buzz reduced. The buzzing pickup was buzzing + 12 dB hotter than the other pickup.

I took it in to a service center and the tech said Fender has sent him instructions on some changes to make to pickup and bridge grounding. I hope to have it back this week. We'll see.
 
#6
I'm having a frustrating time. The American Deluxe V (2008 by s/n) spent a month at a servicer before they tried reaplcing the pickups. No Change. They told me to take the bass they didn't know what else to do.

I took it to another Fender servicer and he said, 'that's probably the way it is".

I find it frustrating that Fender won't talk to me directly about it.
 
#7
I want to follow up on this as it has been a long time...

First thing I found when removing the chrome control cover was that a green ground wire from the jack was loose. I solder that to one of the ground points and hum and noise was reduced substantially.
However, I still had occasional noise and static. Not always, and not consistent, but still there. A hashy kind of sound, together with a static "pop" now and then. I ended up putting the bass aside for a couple of months as I was too busy to fool with it.
About 4 weeks ago I decided to get back into the problem. I took off the pickguard and the chrome cover, and with bass plugged in to an amp I found out that it was dead silent! Net result of this trial is that the bass is really sensitive to the routing of the wiring in the cavities. By carefully reassembling while listening I was able to route the wiring in such a way that the noise is gone. Now the bass is as silent as any I have owned and it is my main player.
Just wanted to pass this tip along in case others are still struggling with noise.
 
#12
If you are touching the pole pieces to the string and it goes quiet then that tells me that the pole pieces are injecting noise into the pick-ups. I had a seventies jazz in my shop that was extremely noisy even after extensive shielding of the cavities. In the end I had to run a ground wire from the bottom of the pole pieces to ground. This solved the problem completely.
 
#13
I am on my third one! I returned the first cause of the grounding hum. Second one had the same problem but worse. Fender had me bring it to a repair shop. After 2 months and 7 different attempts new preamplifier, scn pickups, shielding, new wires ect. Not fixed. Fender decided to send a 3rd one... Yup... Grounding hum. ***. Finally fender approved the 3rd bass for repair at there regional facility. I should have it in a week. They guarantee 100% fix, no noise. You would think for $1600 and 'american' that's what you would get day 1.
:mad:
 
#14
F this bass!

DO NOT BUY THE 4 String American Deluxe Jazz. Just got it back from the 'regional repair' shop. All they did was shield it and switch the pickup to 100% neck. You use any part of the bridge pick and buzzzzzzzz. F off fender. You jerked me around for 4 months!

Bass is fine if you just want to play at home at low volumes. Buzz is hidden at 70% volume or less.
 

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