Why do nylon coated flats buzz in some venues but not others?

[franzbassist]

I assume it's a grounding issue?  My bass (Sire P8) plays lovely and clean in my house, but at rehearsal last night in the gitard's house it was buzzing like mad.  The room we were in use dimmer lights, so I believe that can have something to do with it?

[Andyjr1515]

Older (especially non LED) domestic dimmer switches and the old-fashioned fluorescent lights are notorious for buzzing, however well an instrument is shielded and grounded.  There used to be a venue that our band had to turn down gigs from because everything buzzed (yes - even humbucker-fitted guitars!).  When they had a refurb and replaced all of the overhead lighting all was good. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

The nylon acts as an insulator, so as there is no electrical contact between the string & the bridge, the grounding you normally get when you touch a string is no longer in effect. I'm surprised no manufacturer has picked up on this and developed strings where the nylon wrap is replaced with a similar but conductive material.

[MartinB]

You could attach one of those anti-static wristbands to the bridge 😆