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PJ Pickups humming/buzzing

TjMetalhead

TjMetalhead

Oct 19, 2011
686
833
New Mexico
#1
About a month ago I had a local luthier wire up and set up a custom fender pj build I pieced together. I had just moved into a new apartment recently I was able to set up my amp for the first time in over a month. I had been playing through a digitech bp90 with headphones while I was staying at a friends place until my apartment was ready. When I finally had the chance to fire up my amp my custom pj had a loud humming noise coming through the amp. I tried my pedal and same thing. Thinking it could be the grounding of my new place I tried my regular P bass and it was fine. No hum at all, silence. So know I know for sure it's my PJ bass. Here's some pics of the wiring and pickups. Now the pickups are a bit mismatched. The ps are fender 62s and the J a stock mim pup. Any one have any idea what the humming could be?
20200725_211057.jpg
20200725_205519.jpg
 
#3
Hi!!

Does the bass hums when you have the P solo? If the J pickup is a standard single coil, it is normal to have some hum when that pickup volume is on.
I have a PJ Jazz Bass that started with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound set. I ended up replacing the J pickup (because of the hum) for a Dimarzio Ultra Jazz (which is a split coil J Pickup, with no noise) and never looked back. I have owned this bass for like 10 years:

Fender PJ bass.jpg


Cheers!
 
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#5
JavierFarias said:
Hi!!

Does the bass hums when you have the P solo? If the J pickup is a standard single coil, it is normal to have some hum when that pickup volume is on.
I have a PJ Jazz Bass that started with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound set. I ended up replacing the J pickup (because of the hum) for a Dimarzio Ultra Jazz (which is a split coil J Pickup, with no noise) and never looked back. I have owned this bass for like 10 years:

View attachment 3919316

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Ooh! Killer bass that's pretty. But no, it hums with either pup.
 
#6
Oh, It might be a problem with other electrical stuff plugged in the place, or worst-case scenario, a problem in the apartment electrical setup, hopefully just in the room or outlet you're using.

I'm having a similar issue, actually... My roomate works in the healthcare system, so due to the pandemic thing I moved to my girlfriend house with all my recording stuff (my girlfriend is VERY happy about this [joking]). And most of the time that I record music in our room I get this annoying buzz...

At first I though it was something in my effects chain, but sometimes without doing anything the buzz just stops. One day I noticed that when unplugging my laptops charger the buzz stopped. But next time, this didn't make any changes.

Maybe you could try different wall-outlets in the room, or if using a multi-outlet, try to avoid overcharging it with many things.

I wish I could help more, but I'm not too technical in this field.

EDIT! I forgot one simple question: Does the amp hums when you turn the volume up, without any instrument plugged in??

Good luck!
 
#7
TjMetalhead said:
No it doesn't stop when I touch the strings. Touching the strings and pickups have no effect and it still hums when either knob is full or soloed. It changes a little bit when I face my amp.
Click to expand...
Sounds like it could be RF interference. I had a p bass that buzzed worse than my j bass; until I shielded it. Getting worse when you change direction is a symptom...

Also could be the grounding of the outlets...

I’d experiment wit all the variables; try as many amps as you have, different outlets/ rooms, turn off computers/ lights (especially fluorescent)

Good luck!
 
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#8
JavierFarias said:
Oh, It might be a problem with other electrical stuff plugged in the place, or worst-case scenario, a problem in the apartment electrical setup, hopefully just in the room or outlet you're using.

Mayb you could try different wall-outlets in the room, or if using a multi-outlet, try to avoid overcharging it with many things.

I wish I could help more, but I'm not too technical in this field.

EDIT! I forgot one simple question: Does the amp hums when you turn the volume up, without any instrument plugged in??

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Nope, I tried all of that. I tried a different outlet with just my digitech alone with the headphones plugged in and I still got the buzzing/humming. I tried my regular precision bass and there was no hum, dead silence. I turned on my amp with nothing plugged in and no hum/buzz. I know for sure it's the bass. I just don't know what.
 
#9
CallMeAl said:
Sounds like it could be RF interference. I had a p bass that buzzed worse than my j bass; until I shielded it. Getting worse when you change direction is a symptom...
Click to expand...

I'm thinking the shielding may be the problem. I have copper shieling running around somewhere. I'm not an expert on shielding so how should I go about it? Should I also place shielding on the bottom of the control plate as well?
 
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#10
TjMetalhead said:
I'm thinking the shielding may be the problem. I have copper shieling running around somewhere. I'm not an expert on shielding so how should I go about it? Should I also place shielding on the bottom of the control plate as well?
Click to expand...
I’ve only done a P bass, never a PJ or J... I’d poke around the forum, I’ve seen some very thorough threads on the subject- good luck! :)

I will say the process was fairly easy, and rather enjoyable!
 
#11
CallMeAl said:
I’ve only done a P bass, never a PJ or J... I’d poke around the forum, I’ve seen some very thorough threads on the subject- good luck! :)

I will say the process was fairly easy, and rather enjoyable!
Click to expand...
I shielded the cavities and control plate and still no avail. I even disconnected the J pickup just to see if it had any effect and still buzzing. Idk what the heck is going on, I'm gonna take it to the tech and see what he has to say.
 
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#13
TjMetalhead said:
About a month ago I had a local luthier wire up and set up a custom fender pj build I pieced together. I had just moved into a new apartment recently I was able to set up my amp for the first time in over a month. I had been playing through a digitech bp90 with headphones while I was staying at a friends place until my apartment was ready. When I finally had the chance to fire up my amp my custom pj had a loud humming noise coming through the amp. I tried my pedal and same thing. Thinking it could be the grounding of my new place I tried my regular P bass and it was fine. No hum at all, silence. So know I know for sure it's my PJ bass. Here's some pics of the wiring and pickups. Now the pickups are a bit mismatched. The ps are fender 62s and the J a stock mim pup. Any one have any idea what the humming could be?
View attachment 3919289 View attachment 3919290
Click to expand...

isolate the p pickup and it should be quiet

the j pickup is the problem because it is single coil
 
#14
If you shielded the cavity you need to leave a small amount of shielding wrapped above the cavity for the control plate to contact. Also you need to make sure you soldered a ground wire from the back of the pots to the shielding and if you used more than one piece of shielding they need to be solder connected otherwise you just installed a bigger antenna
 
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#15
Is there a ground wire coming from the bridge? It doesn't look like it from your pic. That'll cause buzz. If your Bass doesn't have a pre-drilled hole from underneath the bridge to the body cavity, have your Luthier drill one or use a external ground strap like you see on some vintage Jazz Basses.

I do "star" grounding meaning all grounds eventually come to a single point to a small ring terminal screwed into the shielded body cavity. I prefer shield paint over foil tape but both do work.

Good luck!

I also use Fender foam ground plates under each pickups and ground those to the Star point.
 
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#17
fourstringburn said:
Is there a ground wire coming from the bridge? It doesn't look like it from your pic. That'll cause buzz. If your Bass doesn't have a pre-drilled hole from underneath the bridge to the body cavity, have your Luthier drill one or use a external ground strap like you see on some vintage Jazz Basses.

I do "star" grounding meaning all grounds eventually come to a single point to a small ring terminal screwed into the shielded body cavity. I prefer shield paint over foil tape but both do work.

Good luck!

I also use Fender foam ground plates under each pickups and ground those to the Star point.
Click to expand...
Yes there is a ground wire that's underneath the bridge. I may have to try shield paint because I tried everything I could last night and nothing worked.
 

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