Weird buzz from my RIHS

[bigbajo60]

I just noticed what seems to be a kind of grounding issue with the horsie pickup on my C64S. Might be something that just developed, or it might be that I just hadn't noticed before. When I touch the half-shoe over the G and D strings... quiet (well, as quiet as is normal for this bass). But when I touch the half-shoe over the A and E strings... a very definite and high-pitched "buzz" is generated. Is there a particular kind of problem that would cause only half of the horseshoe to do this?

BTW, I just recently re-installed the shoes after a couple of years going without. Could I have done something "wrong"? Also, I've got the cap bypassed, in case that detail might come into play.

Any of my fellow forumites' expertise and insight would be greatly appreciated!

[cassius987]

Hm, just a guess, but maybe the first one is grounded and the second one somehow isn't? If they have a common ground they should act the same.

[Wiker]

Hm, just a guess, but maybe the first one is grounded and the second one somehow isn't? If they have a common ground they should act the same.

My guess also. From the factory only one of the shoes are grounded. A simple way of grounding the other is with a piece of metal cut from a beer can or something, and tightened under the screws.

[weemac]

Hm, just a guess, but maybe the first one is grounded and the second one somehow isn't? If they have a common ground they should act the same.

My guess also. From the factory only one of the shoes are grounded. A simple way of grounding the other is with a piece of metal cut from a beer can or something, and tightened under the screws.

Thats the one! or make an aluminium baseplate for it...

emac.

[bigbajo60]

Ahhhhhhh... so, it comes this way. And the upper shoe is maybe supposed to ground from incidental contact with the surround, maybe? Hmmmmmm...

I'll give Wiker's idea a go and post the results! (by the way, Wiker... did you perform this "fix" out of needing to eliminate the kind of buzz I describe?)

Anyways... now to find some thin gauge sheet metal!

[cjj]

Interesting that they don't ground both shoes...

As for making the connection, thin sheet metal isn't really needed. A piece of bare wire clamped beneath the screws would do the same job just fine...

[jps]

I just noticed what seems to be a kind of grounding issue with the horsie pickup on my C64S. Might be something that just developed

I'll ask our lead singer about this condition, he is a veterinarian.

[jps]

BTW, I just recently re-installed the shoes after a couple of years going without. Could I have done something "wrong"?

Nothing like sweet revenge!

[bigbajo60]

It isn't revenge. It's just karma!

[songdog]

From the factory only one of the shoes are grounded. A simple way of grounding the other is with a piece of metal cut from a beer can or something, and tightened under the screws.

Ah, thanks for this tip! You saved me some troubleshooting and frustration.

The FedEx man brought me a package today... but I won't have time to install it until the weekend, unless I call in sick to work. Hmm....

[cassius987]

A double eyelet would also work great to ground the other shoe.

[Wiker]

(by the way, Wiker... did you perform this "fix" out of needing to eliminate the kind of buzz I describe?)

No, I never had any buzzing, but if I remember correctly I grounded the other shoe before first time installing the pickup.