Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey everyone, I seem to be having a grounding issue that I cant resolve. Got a good solder connection under the pickguard, have a good ground pinched between the bridge and body, but still have that irritating ground hum that goes away when I touch the bridge, tuning keys, or strings. Its a 2004, 4003 bass with a Hipshot bridge. Any ideas of what to try next?

Koy Carson
West Texas

**Carvin AC175 Thinline Acoustic
**Ibanez EW20ZW Electric/Acoustic
**Arbor AJ145CR Jazz
**Fender FSR Silver Sparkle Bass
**Fender Geddy Lee Signature Bass
**Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo Bass
**Warwick Corvette 4 Standard Hybrid
**Tradition Fretless Bass
**Takamine Hollow body Bass

Texas Bassist Club #66
Fender Jazz Bass Club #328

"You're Gonna Miss Me" By Carson-Blevins Blues Project
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7216182

http://www.myspace.com/k5koy

Ohmmeter - check for a good connection (zero ohms or real close) from the jackplate to the Hipshot bridge.

While you have the ohmmeter out, also check from the bridge pickup surround plate to the bridge and output jackplate

Ok, after taking the suggestions from the two previous posters, (Thanks Guys!) I have determined that there is good ground all over. So then I plugged into a guitar amp I have with a polarity switch on it. One way Noisey hum, other way, as quiet as one would expect from single coil pups. So now it seems to be a polarity issue. Since my bass amp has no such switch, I am now at a loss as to what action to pursue. I was thinking maybe reversing the polarity of the pup connections. Im pretty sure that my amp has good ground as none of my other basses produce the hum. So, what do you guys think of reversing the connections at the pups?


Koy Carson
West Texas

**Carvin AC175 Thinline Acoustic
**Ibanez EW20ZW Electric/Acoustic
**Arbor AJ145CR Jazz
**Fender FSR Silver Sparkle Bass
**Fender Geddy Lee Signature Bass
**Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo Bass
**Warwick Corvette 4 Standard Hybrid
**Tradition Fretless Bass
**Takamine Hollow body Bass

Texas Bassist Club #66
Fender Jazz Bass Club #328

"You're Gonna Miss Me" By Carson-Blevins Blues Project
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7216182

http://www.myspace.com/k5koy

Dig the Blues? Check out the Blues Republic!
http://www.bluesrepublic.org

The RIC website has complete wiring diagrams for all models. I strongly suggest you check yours against the drawing before you change anything.

I believe that it has been well documented on the Ric forum by such guys as iiipopes and BlueAngel that a certain amount of buzz is normal. I also noticed this type of buzz when I switched from ultra quiet active humbuckers on my other basses to the SC's on my 4003. I have since found that my bass has different degrees of buzz depending on the amp I am using, and the location I am at. At home through a small combo, I get some 60 cycle hum, and a little buzz that is reduced when I touch any metal on the bass. At our rehursal building, my bass through my Genz Benz is dead quiet. No hum. No buzz.

I know this may not be that helpful, but it is possible that you do not have a problem and the noise you hear is just typical of your bass, or maybe electrical or magnetic interference at your location. BTW, it goes without saying that high quality cables are a must. Certainly no one uses 2 dollar cables to connect an expensive bass.

Things that will induce a 60 cycle hum in guitars, basses and amps are flourescent lighting and AC motors. Make sure your amp is not on the same electrical circuit as any refrigerators, freezers, washers, fans, or flourescent lights.

Proximity to computers and speakers always get my guitars buzzing. Danged cramped rehearsal spaces!

Thank you, and your suggestions would make very good sense if all 6 of my basses had the hum, but as I said, it is isolated to the Ric.


Koy Carson
West Texas

"You're Gonna Miss Me" By Carson-Blevins Blues Project
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7216182

http://www.myspace.com/k5koy

Dig the Blues? Check out the Blues Republic!
http://www.bluesrepublic.org