Intermittent Static on my Precision

[slobake]

I have a MIM Precicion Bass from 1990. Been playing it about four months and keep getting this static sound when I play a note. Instead of a clear tone it sounds kind of like a radio station that is not tuned in , or even a little like someone crinkling paper. I have tried 5 different amps, 3 of them brand new and get the same problem.
The bass was a mess when I bought it, terrible set-up, bowed neck . I have checked all the connections under the pickgaurd. When I pulled off the bridge there were splotches all over the finish that came right of with guitar cleaner. They may have been water spots. I made sure I had a good ground connection to the bridge and put it back togehter.
The problem happens itermittently and only happens when I play at home. It may be my power but I have never heard of bad power causing this problem. It is not a 60 cycle hum or anything like that.
Could it be the pickups? Any one else ever experiece this.

 

[pgk]

if it has a 3ply white/black/white pickguard does it make a "tkk" static-y sound when you tap it? if so it's the pickguard itself: the black middle ply is storing a very slight electrical charge, just like when you drag your feet across a carpet on a very dry day. sounds completely crazy but it's true; certain early 60's 3ply strat 'guards that had the shielding plate (just like a P-bass' plate btw), that also had pickup springs instead of rubber grommets were notorious for that static charge. and yes it's a head scratching, aggravatingly intermittent sound, and it is indeed audible thru an amp. the answer is slightly enlarging All pickup mouting screw holes slightly to make sure that no metal touches that inside middle black ply. either that or go to a single ply pickguard in any color besides black. hope this helps....

 

[Russell L]

I have a Squier Strat that makes the same noise. It's what pgk said.

 

[slobake]

Thanks pgk and Russel. Yup, I have a w/b/w pickguard. Of course now I can't duplicate the problem., it comes and goes. No unusual noises when I tap the pickguard. Does the tkk sound only happen when you already have the static noise while playing? Anyway I have been thinking about changing the pickguard to a different color anyway. I wonder if I can find a gray mother of toilet seat pickguard in single ply?

 

[Russell L]

Well, my Squier Strat has a solid white pickguard (I think? I'm at work right now). I think the static works up as I play, my hand brushing the pickguard, like rubbing a balloon in your hair.

 

[slobake]

Thanks Russel. I tried creating static on the pickgaurd, nothing happened. Wondering if it could be a combination of the pickgaurd static and a power source with a bad ground. Tonight I will try a power source where I have had the problem before.

 

[David Jayne]

Its none of that stuff. Not the pickguard, I have a p, and a strat with that guard and no problems ever. And power can't do it. Its a bad connection, on a pot, or at the jack, or on the pickup itself. That you have only noticed it at home is a fluke.

 

[JimmyM]

Got any Deoxit contact cleaner? If not, get some and try cleaning the pots and jack.

 

[Russell L]

Its none of that stuff. Not the pickguard, I have a p, and a strat with that guard and no problems ever. And power can't do it. Its a bad connection, on a pot, or at the jack, or on the pickup itself. That you have only noticed it at home is a fluke.

Beg your pardon, but it COULD be. It's a fact that my Strat does it. I can actually work it up and run my fonger along the pickguard and listen to it.

 

[1958Bassman]

I have a MIM Precicion Bass from 1990. Been playing it about four months and keep getting this static sound when I play a note. Instead of a clear tone it sounds kind of like a radio station that is not tuned in , or even a little like someone crinkling paper. I have tried 5 different amps, 3 of them brand new and get the same problem.
The bass was a mess when I bought it, terrible set-up, bowed neck . I have checked all the connections under the pickgaurd. When I pulled off the bridge there were splotches all over the finish that came right of with guitar cleaner. They may have been water spots. I made sure I had a good ground connection to the bridge and put it back togehter.
The problem happens itermittently and only happens when I play at home. It may be my power but I have never heard of bad power causing this problem. It is not a 60 cycle hum or anything like that.
Could it be the pickups? Any one else ever experiece this.

Are you using effects when this happens? I was getting the same thing until I removed all of my effects and it stopped, completely. In my case, it was the Alesis MicroVerb.

 

[Brian_L]

If it is static, rubbing a drier sheet over the PG and any other areas of the instrument that triggers the noise will solve it.

I first encountered this in the spring when I bought a new Geddy. Funny thing is, I have a Les Paul that I bought in the mid 90's, and while it was not as bad as the Geddy, it too had the same issue which the drier sheet resolved. I never realized what it was.

Living in a high desert climate, static is not a stranger.

Brian

 

[slobake]

Not using effects. I have also done a visual on all the solder connections , but I could have missed something. I have cleaned the pots and jack with contact cleaner but it wasn't deoxit. Worth a try to clean the contacts and jack again. Thanks Jimmy and everyone else for your suggestions.

 

[will33]

Some stuff just labeled "contact cleaner" can sometimes damage pots, it's ok for jacks and switches. Get "De-Oxit" or stuff at radio shack labeled "Tuner Control" cleaner. It has a small amount of oil mixed in to lube the pots.

I've never run into, or heard of the pickguard static thing but yeah, it could happen....dry climates, winter, etc.

 

[slobake]

Finally figured it out. When the music stopped I took it to the shop. It was the volume pot. Replaced with a higher quality pot than the original and it sounds better then ever. Thanks again for all your suggestions.