Do I even need to shield my Jazz bass?

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I've just recently purchased a 5-string Wolf Jazz bass. It has Tesla single-coil pickups. I noticed that the bass is not shielded, it makes noise if my fingers are not touching the strings near the headstock.

The noise is not very loud, it is the same volume as the single-coil hum I get if I soloed one of the pickups.

I do not gig anymore, I do not record, I am just a hobbyist playing for fun.

I am usually bothered by noise, but I wonder if it would be silly to shield this bass if I will still get single-coil hum anyway.

Opinions on this matter?

 

[MobileHolmes]

If the noise doesn't bother you, then leave it alone.

What you describe, however, sounds like a grounding issue. 60 cycle hum should be there whether or not you are touching the strings.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

If the noise doesn't bother you, then leave it alone.

What you describe, however, sounds like a grounding issue. 60 cycle hum should be there whether or not you are touching the strings.

The 60 cycle hum is always there whenever my pickups are not set to the same volume. However, there is a different hum (sounds like a different frequency) that I get if my hands aren't touching a metal part. It is no louder than the 60 cycle hum that exists.

I used to worry about it and I shielded all of my basses in the past. But it's really annoying to do, and I realized that I can't even hear any hum if I am playing along with music.

 

[charlie monroe]

I used to worry about it and I shielded all of my basses in the past. But it's really annoying to do, and I realized that I can't even hear any hum if I am playing along with music.

...aaaaand there's your answer. Don't bother.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Check to see if the bridge ground is attached.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Check to see if the bridge ground is attached.

Interesting...was that the case with your wolf bass?

 

[bassbenj]

If the hum goes away when you touch ground (strings, jack etc.) that means the bass needs more shielding. If the hum is only there when you solo a pickup that is single coil noise which only goes away when both pickups are on at the same level. The reason you want to shield grounding hum is because even though shielding won't make single coil hum go away, it will lower over-all hum and make single coil hum that remains less noticeable.

 

[tlc1976]

I've shielded basses with aluminum foil and glue stick. My uncle also shielded his fiddle this way. I realize it's not the true copper foil but it's dirt cheap and readily available. Night and day difference compared to no shielding.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Interesting...was that the case with your wolf bass?

No.Sometimes they come loose.
It may also be the nature of your single coils.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

No.Sometimes they come loose.
It may also be the nature of your single coils.

This is noise that is independent from the single coils.

If it is loose, will it be loose from the bridge? Or will it be attached at the bridge but loose from the electronics?

I will check tonight. I have never removed a bridge before, I don't want to do damage...

 

[Watchootognbout]

This is noise that is independent from the single coils.

If it is loose, will it be loose from the bridge? Or will it be attached at the bridge but loose from the electronics?

I will check tonight. I have never removed a bridge before, I don't want to do damage...

You'll have to check both ends.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

You'll have to check both ends.

The ground wire is attached at the bridge. There is shielding in the cavities, but it is the black spray paint. The bridge ground seems attached at both ends...no idea!

I will also need a replacement screw for the bridge, as I stripped one (by that I mean, the screw Phillips head, not the threads within the bass

 

[gelinas666]

I've shielded basses with aluminum foil and glue stick. My uncle also shielded his fiddle this way. I realize it's not the true copper foil but it's dirt cheap and readily available. Night and day difference compared to no shielding.

I've used Aluminum Foil Tape that you use on Duct work.. Works great!

 

[Mr. Business]

HVAC tape that heat and air guys use to tape up the units and ducts works really good. It's also cheap and readily available at most hardware stores.

 

[Mr. Business]

I've used Aluminum Foil Tape that you use on Duct work.. Works great!

Ha! You beat me!

 

[allotabass]

Not just cavity shielding. If you're going to do any of it, and it seems like you're just semi-interested anyway, shield under the bridge plate, pickguard (if you have one) and cavity plate / control plate. A little extra doesn't hurt.

I had hum issues with my Mustang PJ. I shielded the cavities but it wasn't enough, I had to shield under the guard as well.

 

[allotabass]

I've used Aluminum Foil Tape that you use on Duct work.. Works great!

Right on.
I made a Faraday cage out of a metal garbage can and used the same foil. Much cheaper than copper too. It blocked out 100% of RF/ IF signals. Hopefully EMP proof and hopefully I'll never find out.

 

[Axstar]

Not just cavity shielding. If you're going to do any of it, and it seems like you're just semi-interested anyway, shield under the bridge plate, pickguard (if you have one) and cavity plate / control plate. A little extra doesn't hurt.

Remember to ground the neck plate while you're at it. Shielding the bridge plate is total overkill. You might find a more robust contact between the bridge and the ground wire if you solder the wire to a section of copper foil under the bridge. Shielding the control plate, if it is metal, is also totally redundant and unnecessary.

OP's bass doesn't have a ground issue. It is noisy until he touches the strings, which means that the ground wire running to the bridge is intact. The detail about touching the strings near the headstock specifically is just additional fluff.

The human body is a good wet, fatty antenna for AC electromagnetic fields. When you take your hands off the strings of an unshielded guitar, the noise is you. The bridge ground wire diverts this signal to ground, shutting you up. Shielding mitigates this issue, but isn't the panacea that some claim. I've found that a shielded instrument is quieter regardless of whether my hands are on the strings or not. I achieved the best results with a MIJ Mustang bass.

 

[howlin]

Had this same problem with a P bass and no amount of sheidling, etc. would fix it, especially under bright stage lights. Put in a set of EMG-GZR P pickups and problem solved. YMMV. Good luck.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

You didn't need to remove the bridge to check if there's continuity between the strings & the controls, as long as you have a Ohm meter.