Weird static pops while playing w/Mesa D800

Crusher47

Crusher47

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Apr 12, 2014
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#1
Ok I'm getting these weird, intermittent static pops while playing thru my Mesa D800 w/6x10 Mesa cabinet. I noticed it's only using a couple of my Fender Jazz basses. It doesn't seem to happen with a P or my G&L Jazz.
Seems like it's only when fretting certain notes as well. I tried to record it but can't get a clear recording of it.

I'm running thru a few pedals, so I disconnected it all and just went straight bass to amp with a cable. Also tried 2 different cables, still does it. I don't have time to keep messing with it and getting frustrated, I guess my next step would be trying a different cab to rule out the 6x10. Figured I would ask here if someone has experienced this before. Sound is almost like when you have static on your body then you touch something metal, you get that little pop. It's kind of like that, not very loud but it is annoying.

Thanks in advance
 
#2
Crusher47 said:
Ok I'm getting these weird, intermittent static pops while playing thru my Mesa D800 w/6x10 Mesa cabinet. I noticed it's only using a couple of my Fender Jazz basses. It doesn't seem to happen with a P or my G&L Jazz.
Seems like it's only when fretting certain notes as well. I tried to record it but can't get a clear recording of it.

I'm running thru a few pedals, so I disconnected it all and just went straight bass to amp with a cable. Also tried 2 different cables, still does it. I don't have time to keep messing with it and getting frustrated, I guess my next step would be trying a different cab to rule out the 6x10. Figured I would ask here if someone has experienced this before. Sound is almost like when you have static on your body then you touch something metal, you get that little pop. It's kind of like that, not very loud but it is annoying.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
I'll take a few shots...
Static electricity?
Is you bridge grounded?
How's your humidity?
Are you on carpet? If so, spray a little fabric softener on the rug.
Loose connectors?
Handling noise in the cable? (I know you tried a different cable but was it a different type of cable?)
Try a different locations?
All out of bullets. Good luck.
 
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#3
Crusher47 said:
Ok I'm getting these weird, intermittent static pops while playing thru my Mesa D800 w/6x10 Mesa cabinet. I noticed it's only using a couple of my Fender Jazz basses. It doesn't seem to happen with a P or my G&L Jazz.
Seems like it's only when fretting certain notes as well. I tried to record it but can't get a clear recording of it.

I'm running thru a few pedals, so I disconnected it all and just went straight bass to amp with a cable. Also tried 2 different cables, still does it. I don't have time to keep messing with it and getting frustrated, I guess my next step would be trying a different cab to rule out the 6x10. Figured I would ask here if someone has experienced this before. Sound is almost like when you have static on your body then you touch something metal, you get that little pop. It's kind of like that, not very loud but it is annoying.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Try it with headphones.
 
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#5
Static electricity is the most common cause. The amp is specifically protected against damage due to static discharge because it's that common.

If the bridge isn't solidly grounded, the static voltage won't bleed off and will become high enough to arc to ground through a bad connection.
 
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#7
Crusher47 said:
Thanks everyone... it has been very dry and cold here lately so I tend to agree that it is more than likely static electricity due to low humidity and I'm also willing to bet the worst offending bass is not shielded. I will try and mess around with it more later today and try to get a definite answer.
Click to expand...

Just the noise, or did you also feel it? Didn't notice this using those particular basses before?
 
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#8
Crusher47 said:
Thanks everyone... it has been very dry and cold here lately so I tend to agree that it is more than likely static electricity due to low humidity and I'm also willing to bet the worst offending bass is not shielded. I will try and mess around with it more later today and try to get a definite answer.
Click to expand...
Shielding alone will not necessarily prevent noise that is due to static electricity. Shielding protects against EMI/RFI radiating into the electronics.
Nor will being grounded always prevent it. You can build up a static charge and touch a grounded object and still have an electrostatic discharge.

If it is static electricity, you need to solve it at the source, which means increasing humidity, or using some sort of static prevention like fabric softener sprayed on a carpet, or wear an anti static wrist strap that is grounded and keeps static from building up on your body. Of course, for safety reasons, the electrical system where you play must be in proper working order and up to code. This is especially so if you plan to use a wrist strap.

These straps are designed to be used by people who work on sensitive electronic equipment. They help prevent a static discharge that could easily damage components. The concern, in your case, is more about preventing the noise of static discharge rather than to protect equipment.

It may not be practical to wear a wrist strap while playing, so I offer it only as a last resort. Though it should be just as effective on your ankle, provided it does not present a trip hazard for you.

I've used wrist straps at work. Also, when I worked in a dry climate around electronic equipment, we would use a diluted solution of liquid fabric softener to spray the carpeted areas. We did this once a week. These things work pretty well. But your best bet is to try to get the humidity up where you are, if possible.

https://www.amazon.com/Vastar-Anti-...-spons&keywords=anti-static+wrist+strap&psc=1
 
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#9
Tangent and off topic

When I was working in EM assembly, wrist straps were required. One meeting we had with the lead engineer was about ESD. Now if I'm remembering correctly it is extremely low current, but really high voltage... Like 1000's of volts. The handouts had some figure like 3500 volts is where the average person can feel ESD, and there can be entire PCBs ruined from discharges we can't even feel.

Is this correct, or is my memory that bad? Or were we fed a line?
 
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#12
basscooker said:
Tangent and off topic

When I was working in EM assembly, wrist straps were required. One meeting we had with the lead engineer was about ESD. Now if I'm remembering correctly it is extremely low current, but really high voltage... Like 1000's of volts. The handouts had some figure like 3500 volts is where the average person can feel ESD, and there can be entire PCBs ruined from discharges we can't even feel.

Is this correct, or is my memory that bad? Or were we fed a line?
Click to expand...
Yep it's the high voltage that is required to jump the air gap.
 
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#13
I was gonna suggest the dryer sheet thing as well. It sounds too stupid to work but often does!

I’ve also installed a fitted and cut dryer sheet between the body and the PG as well in extreme cases. Lakland pickguards seemed to have that issue a number of years ago.
 
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#14
inanimate_carb said:
I was gonna suggest the dryer sheet thing as well. It sounds too stupid to work but often does!

I’ve also installed a fitted and cut dryer sheet between the body and the PG as well in extreme cases. Lakland pickguards seemed to have that issue a number of years ago.
Click to expand...
Works in the dryer to reduce static so why not to help elsewhere.
Seems like a good option for those places where you don't want to use liquid.
 
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#18
Update: I played the same Jazz bass thru my Ampeg V4B w/8x10 fridge and it does it running thru that setup as well, so it's not an issue with the Mesa at all. It's also doing it with another Jazz bass, but when I play a P-bass or Schecter, it doesn't do it. I'm thinking now it may either be a cable or maybe it's the carpet in the room throwing off static electricity, but why does it only happen with certain Jazz basses?
 
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#19
Crusher47 said:
Update: I played the same Jazz bass thru my Ampeg V4B w/8x10 fridge and it does it running thru that setup as well, so it's not an issue with the Mesa at all. It's also doing it with another Jazz bass, but when I play a P-bass or Schecter, it doesn't do it. I'm thinking now it may either be a cable or maybe it's the carpet in the room throwing off static electricity, but why does it only happen with certain Jazz basses?
Click to expand...

Maybe both Jazz basses have an issue?
 
#20
Crusher47 said:
Update: I played the same Jazz bass thru my Ampeg V4B w/8x10 fridge and it does it running thru that setup as well, so it's not an issue with the Mesa at all. It's also doing it with another Jazz bass, but when I play a P-bass or Schecter, it doesn't do it. I'm thinking now it may either be a cable or maybe it's the carpet in the room throwing off static electricity, but why does it only happen with certain Jazz basses?
Click to expand...

Have you changed anything with them, lately? They've done this the entire time you've owned them, or just started...?

Do you see a movie in your mind, when you blink faster than 30fps?
 
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