Inisheer Posted August 10, 2007 Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 I just completed my bass and got a friend to help me wire it (PJ pups, 2 vol, 1 tone). He wired it last night and I strung it all up and plugged it in to see if everything works. I was happy.....it worked.....sort of. The volume and tone knobs work, so I can play the bass plugged into the amp. But there is a lot of noise. There is constantly humming, especially when I am not playing anything. Then even worse, whenever I touch the vol/tone knobs there is a very loud buzzing noise. I am not an expert when it comes to wiring, so I have no clue what is wrong. One time, the ring on my finger accidentally touched one of the strings and the hum stopped....? I thought since this had to do with metal touching it it has something to do with the grounding...but I don't know. Any help please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maikman Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 did you make sure the bridge was grounded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticraft Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 The pot casings,bridge and output jack should all grounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubber314chicken Posted August 11, 2007 Report Share Posted August 11, 2007 did he accidentally switch the hot and the ground on the input jack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted August 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2007 No luck with this yet. I looked at everything, and it looks like he did it the same as on the wiring diagram except for one thing. Instead of the ground wires being soldered to each of the potentiometers they are all soldered together off to the side, not connected to any pots or anything. I don't know if this would affect anything. There is a separate ground wire to the bridge. There is no longer a constant humming, only when you touch the volume/tone knobs. I don't know what to do....maybe take it apart and start over and do it exactly like the diagram. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJMhr Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 Before you take it all apart, try switching the wires on the input jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 I looked at it and it seems like the wires on the input jack are like on the diagram. Would switching those wires still be worth a try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubber314chicken Posted August 13, 2007 Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 no. you need to ground the pots. solder a wire to the casting, and make sure the shaft is grounded, not the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted August 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2007 no. you need to ground the pots. solder a wire to the casting, and make sure the shaft is grounded, not the tip. Thanks for the help.....but could you explain that to a person who doesn't understand electronics? I know that the pots need grounded, but I don't know what the casting, shaft, and tip are that you are referring to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubber314chicken Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 for shaft and tip, I mean on the input jack. the shaft (really the sleeve, but I forgot the word) is the longer part, and is grounded. the tip is on the end, and is the hot. the casting is the bottom of the pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joobsauce Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 you do have all the grounds grounded to the bridge right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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