• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Help! : Super bad humming and hissing from Precision Bass

H

historyprof

Jun 14, 2011
7
0
#1
Hi guys, I need your help terribly. A few days ago, I was experimenting with my Squier CV precision bass by wiring my pickup (Duncan SPB-2 Hot) straight to the jack. When I plug the bass in, there was a terrible loud humming and hissing from the amp. It gets much worst when I touch the pickup poles and bridge. I check my grounding and soldering, everything seems fine.

Just tonight, I decided to wire the pickups back to the existing pickup configuration (vol, tone) using some of my old pots from my jazz bass, thinking it would be back to normal. The grounding and soldering was good but the loud humming and hissing still exist!!! It didn't quiet down or got worst when I touch the pole pieces and bridge. The hissing volume stays constant throughout.

What exactly is wrong with my bass? Is the pickup spoilt? Or are the pots faulty?

Big trouble! Please help me guys.
 
#2
Hi guys, I found that the humming and hissing was worst when I touch the strings and bridge. THe bridge wire wasn't long enough, so I solder another wire to the existing wire and wrap scotchtape around the joint. Could that be the problem?
 
#3
historyprof said:
Hi guys, I found that the humming and hissing was worst when I touch the strings and bridge. THe bridge wire wasn't long enough, so I solder another wire to the existing wire and wrap scotchtape around the joint. Could that be the problem?
Click to expand...

I'm not an expert, but I'd think that might be the first place to start. If the humming gets worse when you touch the bass it's a ground issue. I think either the tape might not be tight enough or it's not conducting the flow well enough. Generally heat shrink tubing should be used.

Someone feel free to correct me :)
 
#5
While you're in there I would suggest replacing the ground wire with one continuous wire. The heat-shrinked repair will never be quite as good. It means taking the bridge off but it's going to be worth it in the long run.

And, if you haven't already, why not shield the bass? It's probably nothing to do with the current problem but, again it's a good job to get out of the way while you've got the pickguard, strings etc off.

Just a thought.
 
#6
Soldering a wire and heat shrinking it is the same as a continuous wire. How wouldn't it be? Solder connections are fine. If not, your bass and amp would stop working.

Since the bass didn't make this noise to start with, something has changed when the mod was done.

Because it makes a loud noise when the strings are touched, it means the strings are now "hot". If the strings were grounded, the noise would go away when they are touched.

Check the output jack and see if the hot and ground didn't get mixed up. That would cause these symptoms even with the controls reattached.
 
#7
SGD Lutherie said:
Soldering a wire and heat shrinking it is the same as a continuous wire. How wouldn't it be? Solder connections are fine. If not, your bass and amp would stop working.

Since the bass didn't make this noise to start with, something has changed when the mod was done.

Because it makes a loud noise when the strings are touched, it means the strings are now "hot". If the strings were grounded, the noise would go away when they are touched.

Check the output jack and see if the hot and ground didn't get mixed up. That would cause these symptoms even with the controls reattached.
Click to expand...

I'll defer to your greater knowledge on that one. Just thought it might be worth eliminating the repaired ground wire as a factor.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back