Moos3h Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Hi all, I have a P-Bass which I have just gutted and stupidly (I know) replaced the electrics in, without taking careful note of how it was wired before. Before all this began, there was a quiet hum when not touching the strings, now the pickup and electrics are in there, there's a slightly louder hum again which goes away if you touch the strings. Any ideas? There is a grounding wire from the bridge connected to the back of the volume pot, and the ground is connected to the jack okay, but still the hum persists. Is it only shielding that would fix this? Cheers, James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 strip off all the earth wiring take off the bridge and make sure the wire is actually touching it re wire the earths from the pups pots etc to the jack by wiring them to a common..daisy..pot pup earth to tone pot vol pot earth to tone pot bridge to tone pot tone pot to jack crank her up and then check out the hum...if its still there then it could be...as it was for my P hum from central heating pump, fluorescent lighting and multiple earths into a single socket i have never used shielding and have had quiet basses...erm..i did get a french radio station on my combo without the bass attached Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinson Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I had this problem when I installed some new pickups on my P. Bought some copper tape off ebay and shielded the cavity and back of scratchplate. Problem well and truly solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I had the same with my 20yr old P-bass. The bridge was actually rusty underneath from when I used to play with a pick in my punk days and rest my hand on the bridge. Some sweaty gigs and as a result the bridge was pretty knackered. Copper tape was the answer again. The bass wasn't earthed properly as it needed a clean up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombywoof Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I used to have this problem with an old P-bass (wish I still had her...early 80's jap) and to get around the problem I used to use a spare instrument cable,one end tucked into my trousers so it was touching my skin with the other end touching the metal on my amp (held down with some gaffa) sorted!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 [quote name='Zombywoof' post='606989' date='Sep 23 2009, 07:21 PM']I used to have this problem with an old P-bass (wish I still had her...early 80's jap) and to get around the problem I used to use a spare instrument cable,one end tucked into my trousers so it was touching my skin with the other end touching the metal on my amp (held down with some gaffa) sorted!![/quote] This is a fantastic solution to a really common problem! Not very practical, But very to the point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 You get this problem a lot with 60-cycle hum in badly earthed older properties. The electrics in our house are ancient, so I get a little hum with the high end on the Status preamps and a slight touch/non touch hum on the Fender and other single coil instruments. Worst nightmare is playing a venue with dimmer switches for the lights when you're plugged into the same circuit. That usually produces a truly nasty buzz! Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 [quote name='Zombywoof' post='606989' date='Sep 23 2009, 07:21 PM']I used to have this problem with an old P-bass (wish I still had her...early 80's jap) and to get around the problem I used to use a spare instrument cable,one end tucked into my trousers so it was touching my skin with the other end touching the metal on my amp (held down with some gaffa) sorted!![/quote] I'd be terrified of blowing my nads off, mid-set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombywoof Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 [quote name='skankdelvar' post='607290' date='Sep 24 2009, 12:31 AM']I'd be terrified of blowing my nads off, mid-set.[/quote] Nah, I used to stick it down the back of my trousers near me arse. I think the bass was more worried than me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisba Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='607013' date='Sep 23 2009, 07:39 PM']You get this problem a lot with 60-cycle hum in badly earthed older properties.[/quote] 50 cycle, surely ( in the UK ). Should be slightly lower than an G# ( 51.91hz ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 regarding the electrical supply hum i would advise checking out the hum problem when plugged into various sockets in a venue..various venues its my thinking that most of that hum is airborne as well as coming from radio... and god knows what else is going through our brains..waves and finally the effects of fluorescent tube lighting the scratchplate on a P should have a foil strip where the pots fix..on the underside...and any body earthing points suitably attached...certain paints act as a shield and are designed to do so...my amxn P/J had that paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 My house is terrible for this, dimmers all over the place, my old Stingray would hum like a tramp's trousers whenever the lights came on. Current Jazz is a bit bad for it too. Strangely it doesn't affect my Warwick at all - suggestions as to why my Warwick's immune would be welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 [quote name='Zombywoof' post='607307' date='Sep 24 2009, 12:59 AM']Nah, I used to stick it down the back of my trousers near me arse. I think the bass was more worried than me![/quote] won't you kill yourself if you then touch a mic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='607998' date='Sep 24 2009, 06:42 PM']My house is terrible for this, dimmers all over the place, my old Stingray would hum like a tramp's trousers whenever the lights came on. Current Jazz is a bit bad for it too. Strangely it doesn't affect my Warwick at all - suggestions as to why my Warwick's immune would be welcome.[/quote] Humbucking pickups? Soapbars? Anything that isnt single coil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubhghaill Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='nash' post='608000' date='Sep 24 2009, 06:44 PM']won't you kill yourself if you then touch a mic?[/quote] Have you been watching The Commitments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote name='Zombywoof' post='606989' date='Sep 23 2009, 07:21 PM']I used to have this problem with an old P-bass (wish I still had her...early 80's jap) and to get around the problem I used to use a spare instrument cable,one end tucked into my trousers so it was touching my skin with the other end touching the metal on my amp (held down with some gaffa) sorted!![/quote] I heard a studio had a crocodile clip wired to a spoon for that purpose, clip it to the bridge, and other end tucked into your trousers for humming basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='609653' date='Sep 26 2009, 09:53 PM']I heard a studio had a crocodile clip wired to a spoon for that purpose, clip it to the bridge, and other end tucked into your trousers for humming basses.[/quote] i take it the trousers end was suitably positioned so as not to cause premature ejaculation near the coda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 just to resurrect an old thread, just bought an early 70's MIJ Columbus P off ebay and I get a lot of hum/buzzing when using a cable but it nearly disappears when using a wireless system, I've checked the earthing to the bridge and pots with a multimeter everything seems to be earthed, knackered pickups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 One thing to check on any p that hums slightly is that one pickup half is not rotated. Fixed a couple like that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 [quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1491597324' post='3274269'] One thing to check on any p that hums slightly is that one pickup half is not rotated. Fixed a couple like that... [/quote]checked on that Telebass thanks, everything seems ok, it's impossible to get them the wrong way round the wires aren't long enough! it seems to be wired up in the classic P bass way, I'm still intrigued as to why there's no noise when I use a wireless system, I've tried several cables so it's not that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.