Noiseless 3 Jazz pickups sometimes noisy - looking for alternatives

[Cerio]

I purchased a Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass 2013 with active/passive mini-toggle switch. On certain venues, I get a slight buzz sound which although bugs me but I'm able to tolerate it, but some venues, it gets to the point the sound man will not allow me to play the bass because the buzz is way to loud. Even with a sound gate, as soon as I play the first note, the sound of the buzz is almost as loud as the note.

The problem seems, my bass is very sensitive to inadequate electrical connections, mainly found in older venues. I was told that the Noiseless 3 pickups are stacked single coil which should cancel out buzz. Would it be wise to swap out the N3 pickups and replace them with hum-cancelling DiMarzio Model J (dp123)? Would those pickups reduce the buzz more than the N3's? The Nordstrand NJ4SV pickups were my second choice.

I also tried playing with black nylon strings and it made the case worse. I was told that nylon strings do not ground the bridge because they're not metal. I love playing this bass, paid prime dollar for it and I'd hate to give it up because of buzzing. My technician said to go with EMG's but I'm afraid it will stray too fare from the Fender tone. His second choice was to strip out the stock pre-amp and go passive. Not sure it will cure the buzz completely in crappy venues.

Any thoughts and/or experience with this issue would be appreciated.

Louie

I have exactly the same problem on my 2015 American Deluxe Jazz, and it's driving me crazy.
I'm thinking on replacing the stock pickups (which I love) for some Aguilar, but I'm afraid that maybe changing the pickups don't drive the problem.

Did you get any solution?

 

[Toptube]

With certain electrical issues, no bass is completely silent. I have a dimmer switch at home, which will make all of my basses buzz. Those venues may just be death incarnate.

That said, the pre-amps on those American deluxe are known to be noisy.

And IMO, the N3 pickups are pretty bland, tonally. But if you like em, cool. I would tear out that pre and go true passive, or try a Nordstrand pre or something.

 

[InternetAlias]

My only suggestion, to anyone who can't deal with noise, is just get a quality EMG set. That's all, really. The internal preamps are incredibly quiet (and designed to be) and the pickups typically provide a plethora of high end, so that even if you need to boost high end for some reason, it'll be quiet because there's plenty of them to boost, and the noise floor is pushed down tremendously.

 

[somebrains]

I've had older versions of that preamp, you would change the ICs on it to quiet it down.

 

[Rocker80]

I have exactly the same problem on my 2015 American Deluxe Jazz, and it's driving me crazy.
I'm thinking on replacing the stock pickups (which I love) for some Aguilar, but I'm afraid that maybe changing the pickups don't drive the problem.

Did you get any solution?

Hey guys. I'm bumping this thread as I recently bought an American deluxe 5 jazz 2014 and while it behaves nice at my home studio I get some very strange noise at the rehearsal room (high pitched whine that changes when I turn or walk around the room).

The lights in the room are bad and another bass I have with Nordstrand big singles also buzzes if close to the lights but when all lights are off the jazz 5 still whines...

I read you guys discussing bypassing the preamp for a true passive setup, any of you had any luck with this? Just curious if you've found any solutions. (I use it in passive so this could be a solution)

I really like the bass so I would like it to work as best it can

 

[Rocker80]

Im bumping again on this very old thread but I removed the pramp from my 2014 American deluxe V jazz and shielded all the cavities with copper tape.

I wired the shielded cavities together and soldered them to a ground lug.

I installed Lindy Fralin single coils and wired them to a passive control plate (2x volume and tone).

The result is very very good. So much clarity, much better output and no noise.

I loved the feeling of the deluxe V, now I love the sound as well