Single coils wired in series... serious noise problem.

[ophyong]

I need help... and sorry if this seems long.

I've not been able to use one of my basses for a while due some noise that's always there. It was regular jazz style bass but it lacked some "body" in it's sound. So I learned a while ago about the series wiring and I tried it, sure enough I got what I wanted out if it. Problem is, there is a constant noise.

Now I didn't use a series-parallel switch because that would have taken quite some time to ship to where I am (Nigeria). I took someone's suggestion to just wire it like a Precision bass. I got some more fatness out of it, I have one volume and one tone, all is fine, but the noise.

When I think about it, wiring both pickups in series like a P bass seems simple enough and shouldn't be a problem. Maybe I made some mistake. Need advice. Is this wiring proper? Does it work fine when done right? Or do I HAVE to go for the series-parallel switch? What could be the problem.

 

[patrickj]

Are both of the pickups coiled the same way? P pickups work because while they are series one half is reverse wound to cancel out the noise.

series in two pickups that are wrapped the same way would probably sound like what you’re describing.

 

[ophyong]

Oh okay. Thank you very much for the response. That does sound like it could be it.

I wouldn't know if they are wired the same way, don't know how to check. I'm guessing that might depend on whether it is the norm to have both pickups on a jazz bass wound the same way.

I may have come across the reverse or not reversed thing before, then I remember I tried switching the wires to something people call "out of phase"... I guess I was hoping that would work somehow to reverse something... I got an interesting tone that I used for only one day. But the noise was still there. I'll look into the winding to see if I can find anything I can do.

 

[ctmullins]

It sounds like a shielding issue to me. You might need to do a shielding job.

Jazz Shielding Pictorial (Big Images Warning)

 

[ophyong]

It sounds like a shielding issue to me. You might need to do a shielding job.

Jazz Shielding Pictorial (Big Images Warning)

Well, this is very good information. I'll read through it thoroughly. I've always had this shielding thing on my mind. I just endure the regular noise that these basses can have. My other jazz turned fretless has noise, but I can work with it. This one just became something else entirely after I did the series wiring.

I've seen basses with one double-coil pickup work just fine. That was sortof the idea with this one.

Thanks for that info. That may be the solution.

 

[iiipopes]

Are both of the pickups coiled the same way? P pickups work because while they are series one half is reverse wound to cancel out the noise.

Along with the magnets are the opposite polarity.

 

[ophyong]

Along with the magnets are the opposite polarity.

Along with the magnets are the opposite polarity.

Ah yes. Polarity was easy to check so I did. They are opposite. Reverse winding and shielding are my current options. Ofcourse I'll also resolder everything.

Would've loved to hear from somone who has done this exact sort of modification. I just want to hear that it works fine. I've only seen people use the series-parralel switch.

 

[sotua]

Ah yes. Polarity was easy to check so I did. They are opposite. Reverse winding and shielding are my current options. Ofcourse I'll also resolder everything.

Would've loved to hear from somone who has done this exact sort of modification. I just want to hear that it works fine. I've only seen people use the series-parralel switch.

I have done it (old Washburn Taurus T25, anemic jazz pickups, so I converted it to series with one volume and one tone and left the other pots unused). It works fine. It's probably some issue with your wiring (or the pickups not being reverse wound/polarity from each other as suggested above).

I'd check if the circuit is properly grounded. Does the bass make noise when you have it plugged in and you're not touching any part of it? This is normal. Does the sound NOT go away when you touch the strings? If it doesn't, your circuit is not properly grounded.

 

[iiipopes]

Ah yes. Polarity was easy to check so I did. They are opposite. Reverse winding and shielding are my current options. Ofcourse I'll also resolder everything.

Would've loved to hear from somone who has done this exact sort of modification. I just want to hear that it works fine. I've only seen people use the series-parralel switch.

If the magnets in each pickup are of opposite polarity, then to get the "humbucking" aspect, you should be able to simply swap the leads of one of the pickups wired in series or parallel to reduce noise. Just make sure if the pickups have shield leads that they are soldered separately to ground, and not to one of the coil leads.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Are both of the pickups coiled the same way? P pickups work because while they are series one half is reverse wound to cancel out the noise.

series in two pickups that are wrapped the same way would probably sound like what you’re describing.

Jazz basses are reversed wound in the neck, to cancel hum when both are on full. Any series connection done on a Jazz bass, with standard pickups, will reverse the phenomenon.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Jazz basses are reversed wound in the neck, to cancel hum when both are on full. Any series connection done on a Jazz bass, with standard pickups, will reverse the phenomenon.

Not true, parallel or series will not change the reverse wound on the neck pickup.
Switching the phase of either pickup will though and that doesn't happen in series vs parallel wiring.

Only if a mistake is made in phasing between the two pickups.

Series vs. Parallel Wired Pickups

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 4004498

Not true, parallel or series will not change the reverse wound on the neck pickup.
Switching the phase of either pickup will though and that doesn't happen in series vs parallel wiring.

Only if a mistake is made in phasing between the two pickups.

Series vs. Parallel Wired Pickups

Aaa, okay. See, I was thinking that wiring them in series ininstead of parallel would switch the phase. But, i guess if it did, itd happen to both of them, thus reinstating the same phase as before. Only backwards. right?

 

[rzero]

So, soloing a jazz neck is actually putting out an inverted signal, but not soloing the bridge, if I'm gathering correctly. Has anyone ever tried to swap this configuration? I wonder if there would be any audible difference.

 

[ctmullins]

So, soloing a jazz neck is actually putting out an inverted signal, but not soloing the bridge, if I'm gathering correctly. Has anyone ever tried to swap this configuration? I wonder if there would be any audible difference.

Not inverted.

The way hum-cancelling works is:

1. The two coils are wound opposite one another, which puts the signal and the noise out of phase with one another
2. The magnetic polarities are opposite, which puts the signal back in phase but does nothing for the noise

Therefore, the signals are in phase, nice and strong and full, and the noise is out of phase, with one pickup cancelling the other.

 

[ophyong]

Along with the magnets are the opposite polarity.

Along with the magnets are the opposite polarity.

I have done it (old Washburn Taurus T25, anemic jazz pickups, so I converted it to series with one volume and one tone and left the other pots unused). It works fine. It's probably some issue with your wiring (or the pickups not being reverse wound/polarity from each other as suggested above).

I'd check if the circuit is properly grounded. Does the bass make noise when you have it plugged in and you're not touching any part of it? This is normal. Does the sound NOT go away when you touch the strings? If it doesn't, your circuit is not properly grounded.

Okay. You've done it. Good to know!

Yes I have the normal noise although it's louder than usual (there's another bass in the room to confirm this). When I touch the strings, it lessens. But its still quite noticable. So... pickups? and... then proper wiring.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Aaa, okay. See, I was thinking that wiring them in series ininstead of parallel would switch the phase. But, i guess if it did, itd happen to both of them, thus reinstating the same phase as before. Only backwards. right?

Well, if it happened to one pickup, the flipping of the phase. Both pickups on full would sound thin and would buzz because of being out of phase and the humbucking would be defeated. If you flipped the phasing on both pickups, it would be as it was.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Okay. You've done it. Good to know!

Yes I have the normal noise although it's louder than usual (there's another bass in the room to confirm this). When I touch the strings, it lessens. But its still quite noticable. So... pickups? and... then proper wiring.

Did the ground wire from the bridge get missed?
When both pickups are on full together, does it sound thinner than with one pickup on?

 

[ophyong]

Did the ground wire from the bridge get missed?
When both pickups are on full together, does it sound thinner than with one pickup on?

Okay, the ground wire is connected according to a p-bass schematic I followed. Also, it's currently wired in series so both pickups always playing together, with one volume and one tone knob. No room right now to use only one pickup. The combined sound is thick and nicer for me.

I think I'll just start over. Rewire and solder everything.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Okay, the ground wire is connected according to a p-bass schematic I followed. Also, it's currently wired in series so both pickups always playing together, with one volume and one tone knob. No room right now to use only one pickup. The combined sound is thick and nicer for me.

I think I'll just start over. Rewire and solder everything.

Well if it sounds thick, it's not a polarity issue. If you have the ground wire coming from the bridge attached, it might be something touching in there, IDK Check the cord you're using.

 

[sikamikanico]

I wonder if series just brought out the noise that was already there (but quieter)? So yeah, redo the wiring first, but look at shielding next.