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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:06 am
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I love the sound of the N3 pickups. I hate the fact that the hum is so bad. It's so frustrating that my Lakland, in the same environment, is dead quiet and it's a cheaper bass (it's a Skyline 55-02D).

I have no idea what pickups to buy. I'm going to make a call to Greg at Classic Ax and see what he recommends. He does a lot of work for recording artists where having a quiet pickup is essential. He should have some good real world input for me.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:57 am
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Good Luck! keep us posted...


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:24 pm
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Chad, I have the same EXACT problem with my MIM Deluxe Jazz 4. Ive just been playing through the neck pickup only until i can get this thing figured out. I also play at a church with two facilities, one is worse than the other. I was hoping that copper insulation would resolve the issue, but it sounds like it wont. I was also hoping that N3's (mine has the N2s) would fix the problem, but again it sounds like it wont.

Keep me posted! Dont let the thread die!


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:32 pm
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I don't think there is a fix for it. The hum is being picked up by the pickups, so shielding won't help. I shielded the heck out of my bass, and that did nothing.

After the replacement of the pickups, it hum is better. It's manageable. I can mute with my tuner or turn the volume down between songs or turn 90 degrees to the source and it's quiet too.

It's a real shame, because the bass is so good otherwise. I've considered replacing the pickups with Nordys or DiMarzios, but I really like the tone of the stock pickups. They sound freakin' amazing.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:48 pm
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At the risk of sounding like a jerk, i have to ask: what all did you do when you shielded everything? Plates? Copper tape? Ground wires? Both pickups? Giant chrome pickup covers?
My cheapness would still like to see my problem solved for around $40. lol


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:37 pm
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btmendenhall wrote:
At the risk of sounding like a jerk, i have to ask: what all did you do when you shielded everything? Plates? Copper tape? Ground wires? Both pickups? Giant chrome pickup covers?
My cheapness would still like to see my problem solved for around $40. lol


I ordered a copper shielding tape kit from Stew Mac. I think it cost about $50. It has three widths of shielding tape that has conductive adhesive. I shielded the back of the pickguard, the control cavity, the pickup cavities, and the back of the control plate. I removed all the guts of the bass and shielded it, testing with a multimeter as I went to make sure all shielding was grounded. I also wrapped the pickups in shielding, but when the pickups were replaced, Greg at Classic Ax removed that shielding citing that it won't do anything as the hum is being picked up via the poles.

The entire cavity was painted with shielding paint, so you could say that my bass is now double shielded, but I really didn't notice any difference after shielding.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:10 pm
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I too ordered a shielding kit from Stewart McDonald in an attempt to tame the atrocious buzzing and humming from my 2011 American Deluxe Jazz bass. I spent all morning last Saturday installing the shielding using the included directions as well as information garnered from several websites. After I put it all back together I plugged in and, lo and behold, no more noise. I was just about ready to sell it due to the grounding problem but now I can keep it until GAS hits me again.
I have read that others with the same problem assumed there wasn't any factory shielding once they removed the pickguard and control plate. I discovered that the cavities had the color coating sprayed on top of the conductive paint used for shielding. Obviously this method is totally useless. The Stew-Mac instructions included replacing the pickup wires with shielded wire that was included in the kit as well as actually shielding the inside of the pickups themselves with the same shielded wire. I decided not to go that far, hoping that simply shielding the cavities would be sufficient which turned out to be the right decision.
One other thing I decided not to do was solder the copper shielding where the side foil met the bottom foil in cavity. This omission didn't affect the success of the shielding as it appears that the sticky foil was able to make a sufficient electrical connection between all the sheets.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 4:16 pm
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I just did mine this last weekend and havent gotten a chance to test it out on a PA system (sounded good on my practice amp). I soldered all pieces of foil together and shielded the entire pickup, minus the posts.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:13 pm
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btmendenhall wrote:
I just did mine this last weekend and havent gotten a chance to test it out on a PA system (sounded good on my practice amp). I soldered all pieces of foil together and shielded the entire pickup, minus the posts.


That's the way to go.

Depending on the copper foil tape you use, will dictate whether or not soldering the pieces together is necessary. I've been told that the Stew Mac copper foil has conductive adhesive on the back of it's copper foil, therefore not requiring the soldering. However, other brands, such as the type sold by Dimarzio requires the individual pieces be soldered. I've shielded a couple of jazz basses with very good results, but do not consider myself an expert on the subject. If I'm incorrect, hopefully one of our fellow low end brothers will clarify.

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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:56 pm
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The Stew Mac foil does indeed have conductive adhesive. I tested continuity when I shielded my bass and it worked perfectly.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:54 pm
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ChadHargis wrote:
The Stew Mac foil does indeed have conductive adhesive. I tested continuity when I shielded my bass and it worked perfectly.

Thanks for confirming.
I just ordered a new American Deluxe, and am keeping my fingers crossed for a quiet one.

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`12 Ric 4003 Fireglo


MB cmd 102p & 410hr
MB LM Tube 800

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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:48 am
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Hey guys,

I bought an American Deluxe Jazz Bass this summer (July?) and I have noticed 60-cycle hum in the pickups. When I play in my bedroom, with my table lamp on, there is noticeable hum when passive, and distracting hum when active.

Reading this thread has made me a bit of a hypochondriac.

I have only noticed this when I play in my bedroom with my lamp on. I haven't noticed it in my basement (which has computers, amps, tvs and many electronic devices plugged in). With the lamp off, the bass is silent as a church mouse.

The hum doesn't change when I pan between pickups; it's equal in the neck and bridge.

The hum fades if I face different directions. I'm fairly certain it's got to be 60-cycle because my Strat picks up the same hum, but at least that has the RW/RP 2&4 positions.

I'm a practicing bassist, aspiring to gig soon. I think a neon sign in a bar would have me shaking in my boots.

The thing is, I have never shielded a guitar, never soldered a single wire. Can someone recommend a tech in northern NJ? I guess I'd be willing to take it into NYC, as long as it is someone very trustworthy.

Should I not bother with a tech? Can anyone recommend a path to take?


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 7:58 am
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I shielded my bass, taken it to a tech, and done everything except replace the pickups to silence the hum.

Problem is, I LOVE the stock pickups. I really like the tone and hate to change them, but it's almost guaranteed if there is any EMI in the room the bass will pick it up and hum. I've played Jazz basses with single coil pickups, and when they were both full up, the bass was quiet. The Am Dlx with "noisless" hums no matter what the pan knob is set at. It's very frustrating.

I typically click on my tuner between songs to mute the bass. It sucks that you have to do that with such an expensive bass, but man, she sure does song good and plays like butter. My favorite bass for sure. Guess the hum is "character".


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:09 am
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Chad-

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping your story had a happy ending.

I agree, the bass plays like absolute butter and the N3s sound great (when quiet). If I had to, had to, HAD TO replace them, I would consider it, but I wouldn't even know where to begin shopping for new pickups.

Does the active/passive circuitry limit the options for replacement pickups?

I really would love to keep it stock if I could, but I'm just scared about taking this to a gig and being drowned out.


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Post subject: Re: American Deluxe Jazz - Noise and Hum
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:49 am
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Hey Rossome, What kind of amp are you using? & what brand of instrument cables are you using? & Finally how old is the house that you live in.

I was having this issue (though minor) in active mode with my 2011 American Deluxe Jazz 5 string ( go back to page 1 of this thread & you'll see my posts) I realized there were a few factors in play,...the first one being that I live in a 100 yr old house & the wiring is not the best...things like dimmers & 45 yr old light sockets with old wiring were culprits, I was also suspicious with regard to my cables & recently I purchase some Planet Waves Instrument cables with a built in circuit breaker in the jack......this is a cool feature that cuts power off to the guitar when you push the button on the jack,....this feature allows you to change guitars during a set with out having to hit mute.
I'm also using a MXR M80 Bass DI that has a built in Noise gate........taking all these steps has made a difference as now I only get a bit of a hum when I take my hand off the fret board.........With the pickups on Jazz basses being single coil you'll never ever completely 100% get rid of the hum......& also take into account where you're playing the bass,......you may want to try playing it in another house or location to see what the result is......also Check out Brother Dave's post on this subject as he's a wealth of information....... :)


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