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Nordstrand Poly Vox

#81
So....the reason I did not have buzz previously is because I was using my Shure GLDX16+ wireless system full time. I took it off my board last week and that is when the buzz started. I read a comment on a video stating they get no buzz through their wireless. I plug the bass back into the Shure and now it is silent. Perhaps it has a noise gate in it.

I would still like to fix the issue though for when using a cable.
 
#82
There was a discussion about a similar problem over on this thread:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/buzz-with-cable-not-with-wireless.1618646/

You might make sure that the cable you're using is good--a poorly shielded cable can basically be an "antenna" for noise...

RasJay said:
So....the reason I did not have buzz previously is because I was using my Shure GLDX16+ wireless system full time. I took it off my board last week and that is when the buzz started. I read a comment on a video stating they get no buzz through their wireless. I plug the bass back into the Shure and now it is silent. Perhaps it has a noise gate in it.

I would still like to fix the issue though for when using a cable.
Click to expand...
 
#83
RasJay said:
I installed these pickups about three weeks ago and had no noise until recently. I am trying to sort it out and could use some recommendations. I am researching this issue and perhaps I am chasing the wrong problem. The No Treble website has this statement. Do you agree this is true?

"You have a grounding issue. Here’s how to tell:
  • If your bass hums once you touch the strings (but is otherwise quiet), you have a grounding issue.
  • If your instrument hums but becomes quiet once you touch the strings, you have a shielding issue."
My symptom is buzz noise when not touching anything. It goes away or minimizes when touching the strings, tuners, bridge saddles/screws (not the bridge itself), shielding paint in the cavity, sleeve of the inserted guitar cable, either filter pot, but not the volume or balance pot. If I touch only the pickup pole, the buzz is louder. This is tested in a large room with no lights on or any interference I can think of. (I had the control cavity shielded and grounded with copper tape but have since removed it to narrow down the cause)

PolyVox white cable is connected to ground and black connected to hot. Are these pickups expected to be quiet? They were at least for the first 3 weeks.
Click to expand...

I had a similar issue with the Lusithand Double NFP. All I did was mad sure all of the connections were secured and screwed down(not too tightly with the delicate screw terminals). Quiet as can be since then...
 
#84
mikezimmerman said:
There was a discussion about a similar problem over on this thread:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/buzz-with-cable-not-with-wireless.1618646/

You might make sure that the cable you're using is good--a poorly shielded cable can basically be an "antenna" for noise...
Click to expand...
This cable works well on all of my other guitars..and I tested different cables and amps. Interesting article (thanks!). My troubleshooting was leading me to remove the bridge and take a look because it is coated black and touching its body did not ground the noise, but the saddles do.

Either way, I don't want to hi-jack this thread if the pickups are unrelated to my issue. I would like to keep it to the PolyVox and know if they are expected to be quiet or if medium buzz is normal?
 
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#86
sikamikanico said:
I would expect them to be quiet. From the info provided, I think there’s a good chance the problem is not with the pickups. Have you tried wiring them straight to output, bypassing the preamp?
Click to expand...
I didn't know that is possible without connecting a pot. Would that be white wires to the jack sleeve for ground and black wires to jack tip on a stereo jack?
 
#87
I wired the pickups to the jack and the buzz was still there. I removed the strings and bridge and the buzz was still there. I replaced the Nordstrands with the original EMGhz's and the buzz is there but barely audible. I can touch sleeve of the guitar cable or the painted control cavity and the buzz goes away.

My consensus is that the buzz is there and perhaps the Nordstrands amplify it louder due to the amount of winding. They are pretty loud pickups for being passive.
 
#88
Well, all their PV photos show a gray wire. Did they explain why yours doesn’t have it?

Their gray wire is to ground the poles… now I suppose they may have combined it with the ground wire, but that could mean that white vs black matters. Unlike what Nick said, the Nordstrand convention seems to be that white is hot, black is ground. So I’d try swapping them on your bass (white to tip), see if it helps…
 
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#89
sikamikanico said:
Well, all their PV photos show a gray wire. Did they explain why yours doesn’t have it?
Click to expand...

I am going to ask Nick. The photo of the pickup also shows the poles may be grounded with a strip of copper tape which mine does not have either. I used this technique on the back of my G&L pickup to quite it down.

PolyVox4.JPG
 
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#90
Memnochthebass said:
I had a similar issue with the Lusithand Double NFP. All I did was mad sure all of the connections were secured and screwed down(not too tightly with the delicate screw terminals). Quiet as can be since then...
Click to expand...
I have to say I m not a fan of a couple of quirks with the Double NFP. One of the pots was slightly larger so I had to bore out a knob to make it fit. The knob got scratched up. And for how the wires screw into the pre-amp, I have had to open it a couple of times because they don't hold. And you cannot screw the wires back in with the pot in the bass, you have to take it out because of the orientation.
 
#91
RasJay said:
I have to say I m not a fan of a couple of quirks with the Double NFP. One of the pots was slightly larger so I had to bore out a knob to make it fit. The knob got scratched up. And for how the wires screw into the pre-amp, I have had to open it a couple of times because they don't hold. And you cannot screw the wires back in with the pot in the bass, you have to take it out because of the orientation.
Click to expand...

The screw terminals on both of my Lusithands were a bit of a pain during installation for some reason. But once I got them properly connected, they were good to go...however, I'm partial for Underhill's filter preamps and just replaced one of the Lusithands(for the second time) with one. More versatile, just as easy to install.
 
#94
SoniaMara said:
I don't know if anyone got back to you on this. That pic was my fault. One of the protos. Sorry all!
Click to expand...
I did not receive a response yet from Nick. What is the expected production? Mine has one black and one white wire and no copper tape grounding the poles on the back.

Personally I added copper tape on my USA G&L p-pickup poles and it quieted it down.
 
#95
RasJay said:
I did not receive a response yet from Nick. What is the expected production? Mine has one black and one white wire and no copper tape grounding the poles on the back.

Personally I added copper tape on my USA G&L p-pickup poles and it quieted it down.
Click to expand...
as you recieved it is as expected and how all will be produced.
 
#96
@SoniaMara I have a question since you seem to have all the info.

I run an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp that also has a phase switch and a series parallel switch. Currently using Big Single pickups.

Would any of that be an issue to swap out for the Poly Vox?
 
#97
VTheHTyphoon said:
@SoniaMara I have a question since you seem to have all the info.

I run an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp that also has a phase switch and a series parallel switch. Currently using Big Single pickups.

Would any of that be an issue to swap out for the Poly Vox?
Click to expand...
Mo is not a fan of the phase switch...
Series-parallel between the two pickups should be ok, BUT the output in series might end up clipping the preamp’s input
 
#100
SoniaMara said:
Mo is not a fan of the phase switch...
Series-parallel between the two pickups should be ok, BUT the output in series might end up clipping the preamp’s input
Click to expand...
Trust me the guy that built it wasn't a fan of the phase switch either. I rarely if ever use that feature but I had it on my last bass and didn't want to deviate too far from what I had.

I actually rarely use either switch. I'm just more concerned if it's going to be an issue with the installation.

For better reference, the OBP-3 TK/PP with the mid pot as a push/pull and 1 vol and 1 blend knob.

Hopefully that helps
 

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