Common Knowledge says metal conducts electricty. So we run wires from the pick up and under the bridge to the pots by soldering to continue the current. But the pots are metal and mounted to the control plate by metal washers and nuts to a metal control plate (on a jazz at least). Wouldn't this cause some kind of unwanted buzz, besides what we get from single coils pickups?
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Possible Dumb Question but Think about it.
- Thread starter bl2112
- Start date
Thought about it; I think any unwanted buzz is in your head, as I'm not getting any. Hope this helps. 
scottbass
Bass lines like a big, funky giant
All of the metal surfaces of the pot casings, bridge, control plate, etc. are electrically connected to the ground side of the circuit. They are isolated via various insulating materials from the "hot" or signal side of the circuit. The only way the ground side of the circuit can introduce a "buzz" is if an electrical signal with a reference voltage different than ground is electrically connected to the ground circuit. RF (radio frequency) is prevented from causing a "buzz" by surrounding the "hot" or signal side of the circuit in a metallic cage or "shield" which is electrically connected to the ground side of the circuit. So the pot casings, bridge, control plate, etc. actually contribute to shielding the signal from RF. A buzz will occur only if an electrical current at a voltage different than ground is electrically connected to one of the grounded surfaces.
OK. Electricity always follows the path of least resistance, and it always wants to go to ground. The purpose of the shielding and grounding in your bass is to gather up as much airborne electrical noise(humming, radio signals, etc.) as possible. Not to actually block the noise, but rather, gather it up like an antenna. All the metal parts in the bass become this antenna, which is connected to ground. The noise becomes an electric current once it hits metal. Since the metal is all connected to ground(-), the current goes there instead of into your pickups/pots, because going straight to ground is easier. It gets to ground because the sleeve(-) of your guitar cable is actually connected to the 3rd prong on your amp's power cord, which is of course connected to ground.
That's why you will often notice more noise if you eliminate the 3rd prong with an adapter plug- the noise now has nowhere to go, so your onboard circuits pick it up instead, and send it right to your amp.
That's why you will often notice more noise if you eliminate the 3rd prong with an adapter plug- the noise now has nowhere to go, so your onboard circuits pick it up instead, and send it right to your amp.
I learned a great deal as a kid about basic electronics working on guitars (I replaced the p'ups in my '77 jazz shortly after I got if for xmass in... 1977!). One thing I learned about guitars is that correct grounding is *key*. Shielding helps too!
Yes, copper tape works great because it vacuums up noise, and you can solder it to the ground lug on your jack.
Rick Auricchio
Registered Bass Offender
- Dec 18, 2000
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bongomania
Commercial User
lol...
If the bass is quiet(no noise when not playing, but turned up to normal levels) you won't hear any difference at all.
