HELP BUZZ/NOISE When I Plug In

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayc
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rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
Hello Folks.
Og late my bass (Vantage from about 1981) has been buzzing when I plug in. No matter the device I plug into or the cable I use.
I can, accoasionally, stop the noise by putting pressure on the cable pulling it up & keping the tension by wrapping it behind the shoulder strap.
Today nothing worked.
I wanted to re record a bass track and in the end had to use my old Emperador semi acoustic with flat wounds. It was fun to use but the useable frequency is between 0 & 500 the rest doesn't chart.
Attached are some snaps of the innards of the Vantage.
bass innards 005a.webpbass innards 001a.webpbass innards 007a.webpbass innards 002a.webpbass innards 003a.webpbass innards 004a.webpbass innards 006a.webpIt's the first time I've opened it up - & the fact that it's misbehaving isn't too bad for a 30 year old MIJ.
There are no loose solder points and the jack sits in & is held quite firmly.
Any ideas?
 
My first thought is replace the jack. Especially when fiddlin with the cord sometimes helped makes me very suspicious.
 
Replace the jack and redo the output wiring. What else you could do, although not 100% necessary, is remove the pots and jack, and add a shield. This can be a very thin (maybe .0015") piece of anything conductive. Even a piece of shim stock would work well. Or, put some shielding tape (always copper) in there. Fold it over the cavity edge, and even cover the back plate. That may help any buzzing. The noise or the buzz can be a bad ground connection, so resoldering everything isn't a bad idea. Maybe shorten up any extra wire while you're at it.
 
First point is to replace the socket with a new one old sockets are a problem all over the place and this is a very cheap starting point.
Next look at your lead there will probably be sheild damage somewhere that you can not see. So get another cable to see if it is the cable. The only other thing is you have a dodgie pot on the volume side.
ciao
BronwynH
 
I'd say take it to a tech - do you still have one you trust with such a classic?
 
Washburn, Funny, I almost bought a Washburn but went with the Vantage - better sustain I think. Yeah, it may come to replacement.
Ranjam, I have some copper sheilding sheets but the issue isn't about interference from the ether - if 'twere the noise wouldn't stop when I angle the cable. I may end up doing that as an added extra IF I have to operate.
BronwynH, it happens irrespective of the cable I use so shouldn't be amatter of cable shielding damage unless there's a contagion about.
Ido, Yeah - there's a lutheir about 15kms away who did good work on my Brunos so I may take it to him as my soldering skills are just this side of non existant.
I took the snaps in hope of someone seeing some physical damage that I could address but it seems that's not the case. Can a socket begin to die with no visible signs. I siuppose the tech can diagnose & remediate in one session. I'll give him a ring.
Thanks all!
 
Right off the bat, lemme say I'm no techie.
But I think that single black wire going into the drilled hole next to your input jack is probably the ground. And that should be connected to either the bridge or one of the mounting screws. If it's loose, that would make it hum... Also if the jack is loose, a fix might be as easy as bending the tabs in a little more so they make better contact.
 
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Thanks Feet,
I delivered the bass to a luthier this arvo. He builds but also repairs & did a nice job fixing my pair of Bruno Royal Artist a couple of years back.
Now, if it starts raining as predicted it'll be ready in a couple of days. If it's sunny it'll be a couple of weeks as he'll be heading north for a week's surfing.
Nice to know that not all business is BUSINESS if you know what I mean. On the other hand, if I needed it in a hurry I'd probably gripe all points on the compass.
I'm aslo getting a new jack as well as a neck and nut job on my ancient Emperador semi acoustic bass. PLUS replacing the jury rigged bridge humbucker on a Guyatone Mosrite copy. Seems it may not have been wired as a hummer but as two parrallel jobbies - making MUCH noise!
If I'm going to the trouble of taking a beast for repair I might as well get every/anything needed done in one fell swoop.
 
if the noise was stopped by putting tension on the cable then it almost has to be the jack or wiring going to it.
looking at the photos that shield soldered to the jack looks like it's only barely on .... like only a strand or two are left. That could be it.
 
I don't know how far you have got with this but if you dont have a multimeter to test the continuity of the shield cable, just make a rig with cable and a crocodile clip on each end and clip one end to the jack shield lug and the other to earth. If the problem is still there then its not the connection of the earth cable to jack. Also "Dry" joints are very difficult to tell by looking at them (many grey joints have turned out to be sound)as internally they expand away from the cable and thats why often by wiggling cable it makes contact momentarily re soldering if you are ok with soldering cannot harm it...Especially with an older guitar this is often the reason.Don't forget heat the part then apply the solder, dont be in a hurry to see if its firm wait at least 30 secs. Testing guitar leads is easy with a multimeter you should have contact between the two ends on the shield part of the plug and also the same with the live part (In the dip) however there should not be any continuity between hot one end of cable and shield the other. Just remembered you dont solder, to avoid the cost of a luthier do you have any competant friends who could help.?
Itsonlyme
 
I picked up my basses and guitar from the luthier this arvo.
'81 Vantage bass - problem: intermittent connection & lots of buzzing. Solution - new plug jack installed.
Old Emperador - problem: intermittent connection, bow in neck, out of tune after 7th fret, poor intonation, oversized nut making it hard to play. Solution - new jack, neck tensioned and shimmed to address bowing, old glued in oversized brass nut removed and replacement nut inserted and set up intonation.
Ancient Guyatone Mosrite copy guitar - problem: constant buzz - reduced when I touched the PU, intermittent connection. I string slipping out of tune. Solution -new jack installed, all wiring tested and properly earthed, old soapbar pickup reshielded, PU selector rockers tightened, replacement pole in tuner.
Total $320
I'm pretty happy with that.
Less so that my Mashall Bass amp blew a fuse when I turned it on to have a rumble with the repaired gear!
 
That sounds pretty reasonable for all that work. That Marshall needs some attention now. Fuses blow for a reason - although I have no clue as to what the reasons are haha. Reminds me of back in the days of cheap amps when we used tin foil fuses to get us by. Seems like fuses used to blow quite a bit more back then.
 
Ido,
Yep, seems a reasonable price to me.
The amp has had some work done on it in the last 6 months. If it blows another fuse I'll take it back to the tech & ask he rectify the problem - as it was fuse blowing that caused me to take it to him in the 1st place.
The tin foil trick. Yep, have to admit that I had fuses and foil in the gig bag. When the fuses were all gone the foil certainly helped me through a few nights.
 
Maybe it's time for a new amp, and retire the Marshall :) What's the shopping like in NSW for trying out amps?
 
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