Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Have any of you members taken any steps to shield your ricks from hum and buzz? My '01 4003 fireglow has recently developed a nasty buzzing noise that seems to worsen when I take my hands off of the strings. I flip the ground lift on my amp with no results. Very annoying.

Suggestions?

I had that kind of noise after I reassembled the bass after refinish. The problem was one of the output jack sockets. I think the mono output. Just clean the switch (contact points) on that jack. This is a remedy for a sudden increase in noise. General shielding against electromagnetic radiation is something different...

I ended up shielding the pickguard on my 80 4003 and it is a lot quieter than before. I debated on shielding the WHOLE cavity but did not want to really lose the scribblies on the wood.( I know, stupid reason)...did this happen at live gig or were you just practicing?

Its something that has always been there, but has recently gotten worse. Im gonna take it apart this weekend and check it out real good, loose wires ect... I thought I might go the extra mile and do some shielding though. Dont really know what to use, Carvin sells copper shielding tape, Is this kind of thing available somewhere I could find locally?

I used copper shielding tape. Any REAL electronics store would probably have it, or the local music shop w/a repair guy would probably be able to hook you up.

Ah, the age-old subject of shielding your bass guitar...
Some speak of ground loops, others say shielding is pointless in the presence of certain noise sources. I don't know who's right and who's wrong, all I know is that all my Rick basses have been shielded with aluminum foil - even the jacksocket holes on them - and as a result they're noiseless. Also, string ground in every one of them has been disconnected - I don't wish to go out in a blaze of glory, you know?

when you say string ground, are you referring to the bridge ground?

Yes. Once the string ground is disconnected, your guitar will hum wildly. Thorough shielding will result in hum being eliminated.

since I'm a cheapskate I've used aluminium tape (the kind you find in the fix-it store) under the scratch plate, and inside the cavity. That way I can reverse the mod if someone "needs" to see yhe scribbling.

check the bridge ground if it broke loose from the soder re-soder it [very common ]

What is everyones opinion of shielding paint? Stewart-Macdonald www.stewmac.com, has 3 sizes of copper tape and also shielding paint.

I was considering painting the cavities, then taping the back of the pickguard.

Good idea or not?

Alembic uses a shielding paint so it probably a good idea.

I've used adhesive aluminum shielding on the back of all of my pickguards. Although two of my basses have 4004 humbuckers, the one with a V63 horseshoe is very quiet.

I've used the copper tape. I found large sheets at a local guitar store, they also have them at the Warmoth web site: http://www.warmoth.com I find them nicer for larger areas, you don't have to overlape the edges as with the tape. Probably the copper is easier to use on the back of a pickguard. I would be hesitant of using anything on one that is clear with the gold paint.

I had a SG that had the sheilding paint from the factory. It had no noise problems. I am sure if done right either will do the job

I agree Ken, I would only attempt the tape on an opaque guard. This will prove to be an interesting project for me, as I absolutley hate buzz and hum.

Results to follow. Thanks all!