Another thing in my experience is that it's rarely the Bass hum that's the issue, if the guitar players are playing fenders or FSOs with single coils and tube amps that's the real source of hum.
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Professional Concerns About Geddy Lee Bass
- Thread starter Fenderz2015
- Start date
It's a Jazz bass. If you get into a venue and you don't have both pickups on full and there's some hum, turn them both all the way up. Simple. The FOH guy can't do anything about it if your instrument is humming like that, despite what some others have suggested. Same with guitarists with single coils. Sure, they could slap a gate on your channel but that doesn't remove the hum, and trying to set it aggressively enough to silence you when you're not playing is a guessing game and not a real fix.
If you're determined to use it with the pickups at different levels and don't want to deal with potential hum, then get hum-cancelling pickups. I currently have DiMarzio Area J's in my Geddy (they sound pretty "traditional Jazz bass"), and have also had DiMarzio Model J's(much beefier sounding, sounds less like a Jazz bass, but very cool). I have also used the same Geddy on tours in venues of all sizes with the stock pickups. I run both pickups full on usually anyway so it was never an issue (because of that fact, I may go back to single coils one of these days).
If you're determined to use it with the pickups at different levels and don't want to deal with potential hum, then get hum-cancelling pickups. I currently have DiMarzio Area J's in my Geddy (they sound pretty "traditional Jazz bass"), and have also had DiMarzio Model J's(much beefier sounding, sounds less like a Jazz bass, but very cool). I have also used the same Geddy on tours in venues of all sizes with the stock pickups. I run both pickups full on usually anyway so it was never an issue (because of that fact, I may go back to single coils one of these days).
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You have already received tons of great advice. I would only add that you should tell whomever that you replaced the stock pups with $300 custom wound single coils from (name a well regarded winder). Then just keep playing your bass as-is.
I do not want to have to even think about hum. Which is why I have NJ4SV pups on both my jazzes. You may hear single-coil tone differences through headphones, but in live performance it makes no difference at all--except no concerns about hum.
You bass is fine I had plenty of groups come through with MIJ and MIM Geddy's and if it was affecting my sound system its was not the actual issue and just exposing a issue I need to address and fix. Get a better sound guy or play venues with better sound men.
Unless you have some serious issues that have developed with your bass that it most likely was not sent to you with its not your bass. It's a tech that is being pushed beyond his skill and technical knowledge and just giving you bs they make up as a excuse to cover the fact they can't hack it.
Too bad you are playing "professionally" with an "amateurish" sound man.
Check your wiring. I imagine that as a jazz player you know about the hum cancelling. One possible thing that could happen is the input jack nut was loose, you retightened it but also rotated the jack and the ground wire to the jack broke off, it will be worse than a single pickup hum. It will be noisy regardless of the pickup volume or blend
MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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Whoever told you that has no idea what they’re talking about.
The only reason ANY single coil equipped Jazz bass will be noisy/“cause interference” is if you solo one of the pickups: with both pickups on full, like Geddy uses them, the bass is hum cancelling.
Any hum can easily be resolved by a competent FOH engineer regardless with a simple noise gate on the board.
Enjoy your gigs!
MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,892
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Much good advice already given. Single coil pickups will always have the potential to pick up 60 cycle hum when solo'd or not panned center (e.g., equal volume from 2 single coil pickups). Stage or other lightening can be problematic as magnetic pickups sometimes pick up electromagnetic fields in the vicinity. Shouldn't be an issue if you have your pickups both all the way up (or panned center).
Definitely shield your bass's control and pickup cavities so as to create a barrier. I would do this with any bass that has single coil pups. It's a little sad that Fender and many other manufactures don't do this on every instrument with single coil pups. I think I once read that Roger Sadowsky used to do this for all of the NYC session bassists back in the day on their Fender Jazz basses.
I've used this copper shielding tape from stew mac for years and it works well:
Conductive Copper Tape - StewMac
You can do it yourself:
How To Shield Your Bass Guitar On A Budget – FuelRocks
I usually do it myself but I did have a professional shielding job done on my DJ4 because they were already doing a bunch of other work to it at the time. They used the graphite paint. The DJ4 has finished control and pickup cavities (not bare wood). I noticed that the graphite shielding paint pretty much rubbed right off smudging it with my finger. I re-did my DJ4 with the stew mac copper tape like I usually do. I think I would only use the paint on bare wood or a surface primed for the paint.
Although I do think it's in general a bad idea to insult the sound person or anyone else at the venue, I think you can tell them that your bass has been professionally modified to reject hum and that it's not stock (assuming you've done the shielding).
I must say, I've never had a venue dictate which bass I use. In a recording studio yes, but for a live venue. Seems weird. There must be a known issue with electromagnetic interference at the venue.
Definitely shield your bass's control and pickup cavities so as to create a barrier. I would do this with any bass that has single coil pups. It's a little sad that Fender and many other manufactures don't do this on every instrument with single coil pups. I think I once read that Roger Sadowsky used to do this for all of the NYC session bassists back in the day on their Fender Jazz basses.
I've used this copper shielding tape from stew mac for years and it works well:
Conductive Copper Tape - StewMac
You can do it yourself:
How To Shield Your Bass Guitar On A Budget – FuelRocks
I usually do it myself but I did have a professional shielding job done on my DJ4 because they were already doing a bunch of other work to it at the time. They used the graphite paint. The DJ4 has finished control and pickup cavities (not bare wood). I noticed that the graphite shielding paint pretty much rubbed right off smudging it with my finger. I re-did my DJ4 with the stew mac copper tape like I usually do. I think I would only use the paint on bare wood or a surface primed for the paint.
Although I do think it's in general a bad idea to insult the sound person or anyone else at the venue, I think you can tell them that your bass has been professionally modified to reject hum and that it's not stock (assuming you've done the shielding).
I must say, I've never had a venue dictate which bass I use. In a recording studio yes, but for a live venue. Seems weird. There must be a known issue with electromagnetic interference at the venue.
Well I'm gonna call BS on whoever told you that.
If they can't provide a valid reason for this and explain it to you so you understand it, then they don't know what they are talking about.
Hum, as in that which you might experience from single coil pickups, is not the same as interference. Your bass does not cause interference to the sound system. Nor should a sound system affect your bass by means of interference. There may be other mechanism at hand, but interference is not it. If the person telling you this can't distinguish the differences, how does he expect you to do something about it?
Perhaps he would be willing to put up the money to fix whatever he thinks is "wrong" with your bass?
If that's what you're being told, then I would love to hear what whoever gave you that horrible advice is telling the guitar player(s) running single coils with a whole bunch of overdrive in the chain.
You're fine. The sound man doesn't get to tell you what bass to play in the same way that you don't get to tell him what board to use. Most would be happy to see a simple passive P or J and it sounds like this nut doesn't know his stuff.
You're fine. The sound man doesn't get to tell you what bass to play in the same way that you don't get to tell him what board to use. Most would be happy to see a simple passive P or J and it sounds like this nut doesn't know his stuff.
Are you running your Jazz Bass with both pickups at equal volumes?
If it’s still picking up interference, getting your bass shielded would be the next move.
I gigged a Jazz Bass for many years, in many bars/clubs with crappy wiring, fluorescent signs, -you name it, and I never had any major noise issues. Probably 95% of the time I had both pickups turned up full, and my Jazz Basses are/were shielded.
In regards to swapping pickups, there’s definitely a trade-off replacing single coil pickups with noiseless or humcancelling pickups:
One Jazz Bass that I gigged with had active EMG J pickups. Zero noise, but IMO it didn’t sound exactly like my Jazz Basses with passive single coil pickups. But that particular bass served me very well, for many years.
I’ve also had a Jazz Bass with DiMarzio Model J pickups. Model J’s’ are noise canceling, and they sound bold and punchy. However, IMO they also don’t sound like single coil Jazz Bass pickups. IMHO Model J’s are fantastic; they almost have a P-Bass vibe about them. I personally love the P-Bass, but if you want to keep the classic sound of a Jazz Bass with single coil pickups, I would look elsewhere.
If it’s still picking up interference, getting your bass shielded would be the next move.
I gigged a Jazz Bass for many years, in many bars/clubs with crappy wiring, fluorescent signs, -you name it, and I never had any major noise issues. Probably 95% of the time I had both pickups turned up full, and my Jazz Basses are/were shielded.
In regards to swapping pickups, there’s definitely a trade-off replacing single coil pickups with noiseless or humcancelling pickups:
One Jazz Bass that I gigged with had active EMG J pickups. Zero noise, but IMO it didn’t sound exactly like my Jazz Basses with passive single coil pickups. But that particular bass served me very well, for many years.
I’ve also had a Jazz Bass with DiMarzio Model J pickups. Model J’s’ are noise canceling, and they sound bold and punchy. However, IMO they also don’t sound like single coil Jazz Bass pickups. IMHO Model J’s are fantastic; they almost have a P-Bass vibe about them. I personally love the P-Bass, but if you want to keep the classic sound of a Jazz Bass with single coil pickups, I would look elsewhere.
Take your bass to the most respected, experienced bass player in town. After 10 seconds of playing, he will be able to discern whether there is an electrical problem, or that the sound man needs to go soak his head.
Not saying you are neither respected or experienced, but sometimes it helps to get affirmation if you're on the right track.
Not saying you are neither respected or experienced, but sometimes it helps to get affirmation if you're on the right track.
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Assuming that the stock electronics on your MIM Geddy Lee Jazz bass are in proper working order, I don't see where they are going to be a problem ... particularly if you run both pickups wide open which will be hum-cancelling. I have a FrankenGeddyLee Jazz with DiMarzio Area J pickups that I really like. They sound pretty much like traditional Fender Jazz pickups (slightly less bright sounding ... but plenty bright enough, IMHO) and are hum-cancelling. I highly recommend them.
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I remember many years ago playing a Jazz Bass with singles at gigs where I was nearly surrounded by neon beer signs, and the outlets were not likely delivering the cleanest, most consistent power.
Both pickups on full + ground lift the amp's DI = totally hum and buzz free signal from my gear.
The LG with the Marshall half stack, a half million analog stomp boxes, a mile of little patch cables, and an ego the size of Detroit.... that was another story.
Both pickups on full + ground lift the amp's DI = totally hum and buzz free signal from my gear.
The LG with the Marshall half stack, a half million analog stomp boxes, a mile of little patch cables, and an ego the size of Detroit.... that was another story.
I have had the Ultra J's, then the Model J's, and now the Area J's. I agree, to me they sound the most like a trad Jazz pickup. They might be a tad more "polite" sounding than a single coil but I can get them to grind and be snappy no problem, depending on strings, EQ, etc.
Nowhere in the OP does it say there is an actual noise problem, that the bass is faulty or that it has to be replaced. The sound guy noticed that OP had a SC-equipped bass and stated, correctly, that SC pickups can be/may be/have been known to be prone to being noisy. Offered as good advice and something to be aware of. As it turns out this was news to the OP and has expanded our OP's knowledge and experience in a positive way - s/he has learned something useful. No-one is telling anyone what bass to play. Jeez!
