this is literally a blessing from the youtube algorithm i've been trying to solve the knobs turning crackling sound for soooo long I've even completely switched out all electronics from scratch...
Man, so I came back to this video after I had a nightmare of a morning with live streaming. Bass was making basically old radio sounds, thought it was the pots for months. Turns out it needed shielding real bad! Thanks for these, Scott!
Hey Scott. Great piece with Chris May. I've been a part time luthier here in north Idaho and everything that Chris talked about with shielding I learned from Mike Lull when we lived in Washington state. I teach the kinds of things Chris elaborated on and every bass or guitar I've ever modified or built from scratch is dead quiet using those techniques. By the way: you can find the nickel based lacquer on Amazon here in the states (perhaps in England and Europe as well) under the brand name of Super Shield by MG Chemicals. It does the job! Thanks again for getting this information out to the bass playing community, and special thanks to Chris May for his time.
I had an active bass that sounded mega but couldn’t record with it due to high frequency white noise. Just recently I pulled it out and realised the pickups were to low hence having to turn the level up so high I got noise, have to strip the bass because the pickups just won’t move, I hope it works, I love the bass.
Love the part on shielding! I have gone as far as putting the vintage shield stripe from under the bridge across the body and down into the pickup cavity - I think it looks cool, but it’s a fail safe too. All my basses are quiet until I hit the SansAmp or the mig muff; at that point I cannot control what melts or explodes.
Great Video, One of the things I would have love have Chris get into epoxy potting and the possible pros and cons.I work as an aircraft mechanic or in your country I would be called an engineer. We deal with all kinds of shielding issues that cause all sorts of odd noises in the Com system. So everything I herd Chris say was bang on. I really like the coper gauze and I had no idea that the entire pickup was encased in it, I thought it was just the back side. I just wish I could afford one of his basses!!! Scott as a life member of you academy I appreciate all you do, thanks!
This is years too late, but what a great discussion about important stuff any musician mixing electronics with wood in a portable instrument should know.🍺
I met John East himself at his house! Super nice guy, even going as far to fit my U-Retro preamp into my bass for me since my dad and I had come a long way and we were complete bass newbies at the time! Haha! Great video as usual, looking forward to the next instalments. :)
When describing the act of connecting each device to one another to ensure continuity to a desired point, another term that clarifies the concept to some is bonding.
Great interview with lots of information, but I'm still confused about grounding. What do you mean by grounding to the negative side of the circuit? I have a bass that's picking up static noise from the nitro finish, and I think it may be a grounding issue. But OMG there must be an easy to understand solution somewhere.
This video may have just saved my life. I've been asked to play bass on a production of Disco Inferno for a local musical theatre group and I was planning using my jass bass. Unfortunately its a really noisy blighter and like I said this has helped a lot. I'm gonna try to install some shielding and see what happens. I may have to use the p bass if I don't have any luck 🤔. Thank you for doing these types of videos, fantastic 😀
since a pbass would be hum canceling what could the problem be if you have a hum while playing? i have no hum when the bass is idle but as soon as i start playing i have a hum in the back. ideas?
What about ground lift on amplifier. You can have a perfectly noiseless bass which is noisy without using a ground lift button on the back of your amp or as I first tried, a wire connecting the bridge and the outside of my guitar jack plug.
i have a question about batterys, i have active EQ on my bass guitar and im wondering whats better for my insturment in the sense of consistent energy flow and not damaging my bass from any possible thing that it could damage. Alkaline or no Alkaline in the 9 volt batterys?
+Trex, it doesn't matter. You can use any kind of proper battery. It won't make any difference except for how long they last. Hell, you can even use a +9V DC plug pack. However, batteries have no intrinsic noise like a supply.
Haha, I've seen it so many times. If you have tons of "shielding", there is no place for return currents if it's not connected to ground. Otherwise, it's a poor antenna.
As long as it stands in a direct line between the noise source and the internal component, even a partial shield will intercept incoming EF before it gets into the electronics. Much of that would be blocked by your own body when you play, but every contribution helps. The floating chromed steel pickup covers on older Fender basses soak up some amount of external EF. A Faraday cage works even though it has more holes than a swiss cheese, simply because it's first in line to offer the unwanted energy an adequate receiver.
My 1yo brand new mim Fender P has buzz /noise / kind of light static that seems to be associated with the tone knob. Possibly a grounding issue? Goes away significantly when I touch the strings.
@@oinkooink I think i am going to do the same. It is so weird because the noise goes away when i turn the tone knob completely off or if i touch the bridge, strings or the jack 🤷♂️ Anyway thx for the reply and if you solve the problem please let me know. 👍🏻
I shield all my basses with copper, last one was a Classic/Vintera 70 without any shield at all. And in all videos of this bass being tested, there's hum and noise. Plastic on poties, not to touch the ground,ok, but then why connect the strings to ground ?
I think the shielding (which is a Faraday cage essentially) doesn't have to be grounded in order to work. Then again, it is a good idea to make sure the pots are all grounded.
Informative, but - quite unusually, for a Scotts' bass lessons vid - it did wander all over the place into a discussion about the internals of pickups. I think it may have been better to explain shielding a bass and why it's done, rather than a discussion about ghost coils and suchlike.
I had a very cheap satellite Strat type guitar in the 70s when you pointed it at a certain direction you’ve got radio, Moscow and all the Soviet propaganda sometimes I just stop playing and listened
this is a good vid, but like all Scott's stuff it could easily had said exactly the same thing with all the same detail in about 10 minutes. I find the superfluous rambling really detracts from other wise sound interesting material.
Yeah. I hear ya...could have just given the materials needed and how it works but Scott likes to entertain and educate. Maybe he could summarize in the "Description" area.
this is literally a blessing from the youtube algorithm i've been trying to solve the knobs turning crackling sound for soooo long I've even completely switched out all electronics from scratch...
Great idea for a recurring feature, Scott. Super informative. Thank you!
Man, so I came back to this video after I had a nightmare of a morning with live streaming. Bass was making basically old radio sounds, thought it was the pots for months. Turns out it needed shielding real bad! Thanks for these, Scott!
Hi Scott, great video as usual. would u guys consider doing a basic soldering course for changing pickups etc?
Hey Scott. Great piece with Chris May. I've been a part time luthier here in north Idaho and everything that Chris talked about with shielding I learned from Mike Lull when we lived in Washington state. I teach the kinds of things Chris elaborated on and every bass or guitar I've ever modified or built from scratch is dead quiet using those techniques.
By the way: you can find the nickel based lacquer on Amazon here in the states (perhaps in England and Europe as well) under the brand name of Super Shield by MG Chemicals. It does the job! Thanks again for getting this information out to the bass playing community, and special thanks to Chris May for his time.
Thank you both for sharing the knowledge and pro tips with us!
Really helpful to understand the sound and noise resolution. Finally a video on comprehensive insight of pickup design!
More great content from SBL Academy. Excellent idea. Thanks Scott!
I love this! Will be looking forward to every episode
You're a great interviewer Scott. Very informative video... keep them coming.
I had an active bass that sounded mega but couldn’t record with it due to high frequency white noise. Just recently I pulled it out and realised the pickups were to low hence having to turn the level up so high I got noise, have to strip the bass because the pickups just won’t move, I hope it works, I love the bass.
This is a great series and iv'e learned a lot, thanks heaps Scott and Chris.
Love the part on shielding! I have gone as far as putting the vintage shield stripe from under the bridge across the body and down into the pickup cavity - I think it looks cool, but it’s a fail safe too. All my basses are quiet until I hit the SansAmp or the mig muff; at that point I cannot control what melts or explodes.
the spring idea on the pot shafts is a revelation . nice one guys
Great Video Scott! I'm new to the channel, really loving everything you've put out. Well done mate, much appreciated!
Thanks cleared up alot of questions, great episode.
Great video, Thanks Scott and Chris
Nice vid. I've been in your guest's shoes many times, trying to explain this stuff to bassists. He does a great job!
such good advice ! appreciate this greatly
Please! more of this!
Great Video, One of the things I would have love have Chris get into epoxy potting and the possible pros and cons.I work as an aircraft mechanic or in your country I would be called an engineer. We deal with all kinds of shielding issues that cause all sorts of odd noises in the Com system.
So everything I herd Chris say was bang on. I really like the coper gauze and I had no idea that the entire pickup was encased in it, I thought it was just the back side. I just wish I could afford one of his basses!!!
Scott as a life member of you academy I appreciate all you do, thanks!
This was really great and informative, and I`m not a begginer by any means! Thanks!
Super useful. Thanks!
If Guitar is the way of life one has these skills. Its the right thing to do to encourage and teach this behavior. Keep it up mate!
Great content. Thanks!
This is years too late, but what a great discussion about important stuff any musician mixing electronics with wood in a portable instrument should know.🍺
I met John East himself at his house! Super nice guy, even going as far to fit my U-Retro preamp into my bass for me since my dad and I had come a long way and we were complete bass newbies at the time! Haha! Great video as usual, looking forward to the next instalments. :)
Wow! That's awesome!!
When describing the act of connecting each device to one another to ensure continuity to a desired point, another term that clarifies the concept to some is bonding.
This was really informative
🧡🧡🧡
Great interview with lots of information, but I'm still confused about grounding. What do you mean by grounding to the negative side of the circuit? I have a bass that's picking up static noise from the nitro finish, and I think it may be a grounding issue. But OMG there must be an easy to understand solution somewhere.
It's a bit of a Faraday cage, right!?
Great upload! Even if I'm seeing it 5 years too late!
This video may have just saved my life. I've been asked to play bass on a production of Disco Inferno for a local musical theatre group and I was planning using my jass bass. Unfortunately its a really noisy blighter and like I said this has helped a lot. I'm gonna try to install some shielding and see what happens. I may have to use the p bass if I don't have any luck 🤔. Thank you for doing these types of videos, fantastic 😀
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Why when I touch my pickup pole peace magnets I have a buzz ?
I've got a john east preamp in by bass. They are bad ass electronics. You can do so much more with the EQ compared to other EQ systems
Is it possible to create ground loops by overdoing grounding connections?
since a pbass would be hum canceling what could the problem be if you have a hum while playing? i have no hum when the bass is idle but as soon as i start playing i have a hum in the back. ideas?
Hi, I modded my bass to active and I’m having a lot of noise. Do you know what it could be?
What about ground lift on amplifier. You can have a perfectly noiseless bass which is noisy without using a ground lift button on the back of your amp or as I first tried, a wire connecting the bridge and the outside of my guitar jack plug.
i have a question about batterys, i have active EQ on my bass guitar and im wondering whats better for my insturment in the sense of consistent energy flow and not damaging my bass from any possible thing that it could damage. Alkaline or no Alkaline in the 9 volt batterys?
+Trex, it doesn't matter. You can use any kind of proper battery. It won't make any difference except for how long they last.
Hell, you can even use a +9V DC plug pack. However, batteries have no intrinsic noise like a supply.
Only a few indirect references to active pickups. I put a set of EMGs into my J Bass and the noise is completely gone.
Haha, I've seen it so many times. If you have tons of "shielding", there is no place for return currents if it's not connected to ground. Otherwise, it's a poor antenna.
How is a shielded cavity going to stop the pickups from picking up outside EM noise?
Vin ....you are creating a Faraday Cage with the shielding thereby stopping any interference
As long as it stands in a direct line between the noise source and the internal component, even a partial shield will intercept incoming EF before it gets into the electronics.
Much of that would be blocked by your own body when you play, but every contribution helps. The floating chromed steel pickup covers on older Fender basses soak up some amount of external EF.
A Faraday cage works even though it has more holes than a swiss cheese, simply because it's first in line to offer the unwanted energy an adequate receiver.
Scott, would you consider doing this as a downloadable podcast? I'd love to me able to just listen on the way to work!
i think you can get the podcast on itunes, CMIIW
ezrmanullang Hey, Nah that's the acadamy interviews, not this type of video.
My 1yo brand new mim Fender P has buzz /noise / kind of light static that seems to be associated with the tone knob. Possibly a grounding issue? Goes away significantly when I touch the strings.
I have the exact same problem with my P bass...
Did you solve the problem and if so how? Thx.
@@JS-jz3zoNot really hey. I bought some copper shielding tape but I haven't put it in the cavity yet.
@@oinkooink I think i am going to do the same.
It is so weird because the noise goes away when i turn the tone knob completely off or if i touch the bridge, strings or the jack 🤷♂️
Anyway thx for the reply and if you solve the problem please let me know. 👍🏻
I shield all my basses with copper, last one was a Classic/Vintera 70 without any shield at all. And in all videos of this bass being tested, there's hum and noise.
Plastic on poties, not to touch the ground,ok, but then why connect the strings to ground ?
I think the shielding (which is a Faraday cage essentially) doesn't have to be grounded in order to work. Then again, it is a good idea to make sure the pots are all grounded.
if it's not grounded, it can become an antenna, if it accidentally touched the signal path
I heard the "CockBlocker" pedal was the best noisegate.
Informative, but - quite unusually, for a Scotts' bass lessons vid - it did wander all over the place into a discussion about the internals of pickups. I think it may have been better to explain shielding a bass and why it's done, rather than a discussion about ghost coils and suchlike.
Michael McDonald As A Bass Tech😎
I had a very cheap satellite Strat type guitar in the 70s when you pointed it at a certain direction you’ve got radio, Moscow and all the Soviet propaganda sometimes I just stop playing and listened
this is a good vid, but like all Scott's stuff it could easily had said exactly the same thing with all the same detail in about 10 minutes. I find the superfluous rambling really detracts from other wise sound interesting material.
I find it quite engaging an illuminating myself.
This is the reason why I stopped being a member of his website, I couldn't hack it.
Yeah. I hear ya...could have just given the materials needed and how it works but Scott likes to entertain and educate. Maybe he could summarize in the "Description" area.
Blaaaaaah blaaaah
Stop interrupting him, Scott
Please let Mr May speak. You interrupt far too much annoying to the viewer.
Nice video
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻