Clarky Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Hi all, I have an old Squier JV Jazz which sounds lovely - until I touch the pole pieces on the neck pickup with my thumb (which happens easily enough as I rest my thumb in that general vicinity) and an annoying buzz is emmitted. The buzz completely disappears if I wind the tone pot all the way to the bass side. As I graduate the pot back towards the treble side the buzz gets progressively louder. I know Jazzes have a hum when the pickups are not matched for volume but this is different, it seems to be to do with the tone pot. Is this normal folks? Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Whenever anything buzzes like that it's often a grounding issue isn't it? Have you checked that all the ground wires are securely soldered (especially the ground for the neck pup). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Thanks I will take a look, although I am to electronics what Kim Kardashian is to nuclear physics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 It should look something like this http://cdn.seymourduncan.com/images/support/schematics/std_jazz_bass.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Aha, so the tone pot should be connected to the ground wire from the bridge. Well, my Jazz is a 62 reissue and the copper wire strip that emerges from under the bridge pickup and goes to the bridge has come loose. This may be the answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 So you've got no ground wire going to the bridge at the moment? I strongly suspect that the buzz will go after you've fixed that. The polepieces on Jazz bass pickups are not grounded, and your body acts as an antenna for interference. When you touch the poles this is induced into the pickup windings. It's worse on one pickup than the other because on most pairs of Jazz pickups one has the hot end of the coil on the inside (close to the poles) while the other is connected the other way round. When the bridge ground is connected, your body is earthed via the strings and there is much less noise when touching the poles. The same thing can happen when using nylon tapewounds as those are non conductive on the outside and leave you un-grounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Cheers Howie and Mr Beer! Time to get soldering kit out (a scary prospect!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I had a similar problem on my JB. All the earths were intact, so my solution was to paint over the top pole piece with clear nail varnish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1407150431' post='2517731'] I had a similar problem on my JB. All the earths were intact, so my solution was to paint over the top pole piece with clear nail varnish. [/quote] What happens if I only have red glitter nail varnish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1407150841' post='2517739'] What happens if I only have red glitter nail varnish? [/quote] Put the J away, get the spikey one out, and join a glam band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1407150841' post='2517739'] What happens if I only have red glitter nail varnish? [/quote] Then you'll forever be known as Petula Clarky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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