What is wrong with this pickup?

[Hamstrings]

Got this 1987 MiK/J Squier Bullet not long ago and I noticed an issue with the pickup for the E and A strings. It produces a dirtier, buzzier noise than the pickup for the D and G:



I am new to playing bass and even newer to fiddling around with them, so my apologies if this is obvious to some of you. This is the first bass I have messed around with as it was a little beat up when I got it. I googled what I could, but wasn't sure if my buzz or hum was the same as those described by the myriad of results that come up when you search "noisy pickup".

I can't play on it without making a tapping noise whenever I touch it. I found it could be microphonic and I replaced the old foam, and that did reduce the noise, but it is still there. The other pickup had sunken poles, I was able to fix that easily and it works without any issues.

I have read about repotting, could this help? I would prefer to keep the stock pickups with the old covers if I can... Should this simply be replaced?

 

[Slater]

I just listened to your vid with good headphones and I didn’t hear any “noise”. The lower notes sounded louder, and there’s more low end rumble, which is normal for the lower tuned strings. I would suggest lowering the E-A side of the pickup to level out the volume.

 

[Hamstrings]

I just listened to your vid with good headphones and I didn’t hear any “noise”. The lower notes sounded louder, and there’s more low end rumble, which is normal for the lower tuned strings. I would suggest lowering the E-A side of the pickup to level out the volume.

Thanks for the suggestion, I went ahead and lowered the pickup and it did help with reducing that noise. I get what you mean, but those two strings did not sound like that on any of my other basses. Also, when I play, if any of my fingers hit it I get a pretty loud noise through, like somebody knocking on a door. The other one does not make that noise, and neither do any of the pickups on my other basses.

 

[Slater]

Also, when I play, if any of my fingers hit it I get a pretty loud noise through, like somebody knocking on a door. The other one does not make that noise, and neither do any of the pickups on my other basses.

It could be very possible that the pickup is microphonic.