• 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.

Major Buzz when Lights Turned On

CoffeeLove

CoffeeLove

Supporting Member
Aug 4, 2013
1,507
1,712
California, Central Coast
#1
Hey all. My Stingray Ray25ca (upgraded Nordstrand pickup and Johne East pre) has an incredibly nasty buzz when the lights are on in any location in my house, or garage, or granny unit out back. The buzz gets worse when I touch any metal on the body of the bass. My USA Stingray plugs into those same locations with "ZERO" buzz, absolutely silent. I did not do the install on the upgrades, it came that way, purchased super cheap.

Took it to the local luthier who I have been going to for decades, and ZERO buzz, but had not discovered as of yet the "lights on" problem so did not communicate that to him.

What the heck, any thoughts?

Thanks
 
#6
Normally if your bass/guitar hums or buzzes when you touch the stings you most likely have a grounding issue, check your grounds and make sure the output jack isn't reversed as opposed to a shielding issue which would cause the bass to quiet down when you touch (ground) the bass with your body.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CoffeeLove
#8
C Stone said:
Normally if your bass/guitar hums or buzzes when you touch the stings you most likely have a grounding issue, check your grounds and make sure the output jack isn't reversed as opposed to a shielding issue which would cause the bass to quiet down when you touch (ground) the bass with your body.
Click to expand...
Will check, thanks. It is the metal on the body, that when touched, increases the buzz, not really the strings.
 
#9
C Stone said:
.....which would cause the bass to quiet down when you touch (ground) the bass with your body.
Click to expand...
No, you don't ground the bass with your body. The bass grounds you. But if the ground and hot connections on the jack are reversed, the noise from your body is being injected into the signal when you touch any part of the bass that normally would be grounded. It's no longer grounded - it's hot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Abner and byacey
#11
Turnaround said:
No, you don't ground the bass with your body. The bass grounds you. But if the ground and hot connections on the jack are reversed, the noise from your body is being injected into the signal when you touch any part of the bass that normally would be grounded. It's no longer grounded - it's hot.
Click to expand...
Correct in fact technically, turns out your body actually makes a pretty good antenna. :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dan Bone, CoffeeLove and byacey
#12
C Stone said:
Ok check your bridge ground wire and make sure good contact is being made under the bridge akso check for any loose, frayed exposed wires under the hood.
Click to expand...
Hey, question. I had the bridge "powder coated" to go all black hardware, which is a fairly "thick" coating, could that cause a problem, somehow keeping it from grounding at the bridge? It would be easy to scratch off some of the coating on the bottom if it might be the problem.

This bass will be a keeper and was dirt cheap to begin with, so could care less about resale, thus my buddy powder coated the bridge for free to go all black hardware.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: C Stone

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back