P pickups on a Double bass? How?

[Monckyman]

Hello all.
I`ve recently been fiddling with some old P pickups on my double bass, and I have to say it sounds pretty damn good.
I have a Planet Wings Piezo fitted but it just doesn`t cut it in the po/rock wedding band context.
I have a problem though, either I`m not earthing the pickup properly or I need to shield them in copper tape, because I have a constant mid to high freq buzz.
I can roll most of this off with some tone adjustment, but obviously that`s not ideal.
I do have an old P bass loom with a tone and vol pot on that I may velcro to the back of the fingerboard for some control but if anyone has either done this already or has any ideas about it, please post here.
Ta,
Dave M

[Mr. Foxen]

In an electric bass the stirngs are earthed in common to the pickup, that might be a good start, but shielding the pickups themselves and earthing might also help (copper foil inside the covers if there is space).

[Stacker]

Do the pups have the grounding plates attached?

[Ben Jamin]

Roy Mitchell-Cardenas of Mutemath attached P pick-ups to the end of his fingerboard and it sounds pretty cool! There might be an interview about it somewhere... Sorry that's not much help

Anyway, here's what his sounds like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee85ItE5C_0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

active emg pickups might be good for this as they are shielded internally & don't require the earth connection at the bridge

[Monckyman]

Thanks for the replies all.
No shielding plates, just a box of copper slug tape.
I tried earthing to a string and it did indeed lessen the buzz.
I think the remaining noise is lack of shielding.
I`ll go with what I have but it sounds like the actives would be perfect.
I`ll place an ad in wanted.
Ta,
MM

[Fuzzbass2000]

I'm pretty sure this Scott Owen of The Living End uses a DB with Pbass pickups - looks like an EMG from this:

[url="http://www.bassguitarmagazine.com/index.php/artist-interviews/158-scott-owen-the-living-end-bgm-issue-33"]http://www.bassguita...nd-bgm-issue-33[/url]

Edited June 18, 2012 by Fuzzbass2000

[Mr. Foxen]

If you do go for EMGs remember some you can run at 18v for extra headroom.