I Shielded My Bass

[LB75]

Since I had the shielding material out to do my splitter box I thought I'd go ahead and do my bass while I was at it. I've read a lot about shielding on this forum, some for some against, some makes a difference some doesn't. So I did mine and recorded a before and after to see if it made any difference for me. I know everyone's situation is different with house wiring, location, etc. so this is just my situation sitting in front of my computer recording. Everything was exactly the same before and after, cord, sitting position, levels, etc. The only thing I didn't do that I meant to was remove my hands from the strings on the after recording, since I removed the bridge ground, to show that there was so increase in noise with hands removed (there was none but that isn't represented in the recording.) Pretty big difference at these low levels, I would think through an amp it would be very noticeable. You'll probably have to use headphones and turn it up a bit.

http://home.comcast.net/~dwcl/Shielding.mp3

[heinpete]

...awesome file, very silent bass now, no hum or buzz!

[Seans]

Wow, listening to that I can hear myself think,

[LB75]

You must not have turned it up enough, whatever.

[heinpete]

...my volume does not go to 11!

[LB75]

Well with headphones and the volume a little higher than normal, not 11, 5 instead of 3 I can hear it clearly. But we are listening for silence so...

[heinpete]

...you're right! Now I can hear it with my headphones plugged in, even if I don't wear them! Amazing!!!

[LB75]

Really? I tried to do something that some one might find useful. If it isn't useful to you that's fine. If it's not useful to anyone else that's fine too but it helped me hear the difference shielding my bass made. That's all. I guess I won't go to the trouble next time.

[admin]

Shields can be good and may work better for some basses than others.

[heinpete]

Don, here is my secret...!
Don't tell anybody!

[wilmingtonian]

Not trying to be snarky, I can't hear anything, no buzz, no bass, just silence. I think others had the same experience. Might want to check your file.

[heinpete]

Not trying to be snarky, I can't hear anything, no buzz, no bass, just silence. I think others had the same experience. Might want to check your file.

... no, you're joking

[cassius987]

Really? I tried to do something that some one might find useful. If it isn't useful to you that's fine. If it's not useful to anyone else that's fine too but it helped me hear the difference shielding my bass made. That's all. I guess I won't go to the trouble next time.

Haven't heard the file yet, maybe it really is hard to decipher, but this seems to be typical response around here sometimes. Don't feel bad. If the file really is too quiet maybe you could try boosting the gain to excessive levels to amplify the noise.

I am all for well-done shielding. I do a single layer of copper tape on the pickguard and screw holes and three coats of carbon paint in the cavity. It does not change the tone at all that I can tell. It does seem to have an impact on some but not all kinds of noise. RWRP takes care of the rest. I've proven this to myself three out of three times now and that's all I really care about. Don't feel bad if people don't share your enthusiasm.

[Seans]

My take on shielding, I love my dirt, the hard and aggressive 4001 sound, so to have some interference in the mix from bass to amp will add something more, so help the amp breakup earlier, on the other hand, on a goal for a pure and softer sound, shielding would help. But more is more for me, get it all in there .

[LB75]

I didn't mean to upset anyone. I'm sorry the file is hard to hear. I'm satisfied with the improvement, I wish I had a better way to demonstrate it for you guys but I don't.