Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
only shorts when the pickguard is on? AAARRRGHGHG
- Thread starter billsswills
- Start date
It is on the pickguard and I have it making contact with shielding on the pickgaurd. Once the black tape was in place to stop the pots and Jack making contact the noise went away.
OK, I misunderstood. If we’re at everything is working and you want to replace the wiring because of messy existing wiring I’m not sure since I usually do my own. StewMac should be good. I believe Obsidian harnesses have gotten good reviews on here.
I don’t like the fact I have black tape in there but right now it works, my only issue is that the one pickup closest to the neck is scratchy only when it’s touched with the screwdriver when I was testing it! Think it’s just a bad solder joint. Hoping that clears up with the changing of the pots? Before I changed the pickgaurd and added the Seymour Duncan SPB-3 it was completely silent with no shielding, the Bartolini pickup and the other pickguard.
I don’t think SD grounds the polepieces on their pickups. That’s usually what causes noise when touching a pickup especially if it happens when touching specifically the polepieces. There’s a few threads on here about grounding polepieces. Or I suppose go back to the old pickups and pickguard. 
I don’t think SD grounds the polepieces on their pickups. That’s usually what causes noise when touching a pickup especially if it happens when touching specifically the polepieces. There’s a few threads on here about grounding polepieces. Or I suppose go back to the old pickups and pickguard.
Assuming you've got grounding to the pole pieces, run a strip of copper tape across them on the bottom, and then take something sharp (I use a multimeter probe) and poke the tape over each pole several times. That helps break through any corrosion or (more likely) wax potting coating on the pole and make good ground contact. Use a multimeter to confirm good continuity from the top of each pole piece to the bridge and the jack outside (that'll check most of the circuit at the same time.)
Yes, try grounding the polepieces. If that doesn't work I’m kind of at a spot where I’d have to have the bass in hand and try some stuff.
The pickups are brand new out of a sealed package that I bought a week ago. Not sure if that makes a difference?
Being that the pickups are brand new I can’t imagine there is corrosion on them? But I will give it a try.
