Soooo my combo practice amp (Fender Rumble) has started bzzzzzzz ing when my Bass is plugged in. I can't figure it out. It stops as long as I am touching a string, any string, no pressure just light contact and it stops. The bass is passive pickup. It's volume independent, and not related to the EQ settings or tone.

It's not a huge issue, as of course when playing I'm usually touching a string, but it is an annoyance. I've tried simple stuff like a new cable, etc.

Any ideas why why it does this? Is there a short? Should I be frightened and run out an buy a new amp?

Soooo my combo practice amp (Fender Rumble) has started bzzzzzzz ing when my Bass is plugged in. I can't figure it out. It stops as long as I am touching a string, any string, no pressure just light contact and it stops. The bass is passive pickup. It's volume independent, and not related to the EQ settings or tone.

It's not a huge issue, as of course when playing I'm usually touching a string, but it is an annoyance. I've tried simple stuff like a new cable, etc.

Any ideas why why it does this? Is there a short? Should I be frightened and run out an buy a new amp?

I would pull the back panel and jack from the bass and look for a cold solder joint or a loose/broken wire, specifically a ground/shield.

My best guess, by you touching the strings you are acting as the electrical ground and you are draining the electrical buzz from the amp -> instrument -> through you.

I would pull the back panel and jack from the bass and look for a cold solder joint or a loose/broken wire, specifically a ground/shield.

My best guess, by you touching the strings you are acting as the electrical ground and you are draining the electrical buzz from the amp -> instrument -> through you.

Well! Now I know why playing energizes me!

Seriously, I'll pop the back open and take a look. Good stuff, thanks!

I would pull the back panel and jack from the bass and look for a cold solder joint or a loose/broken wire, specifically a ground/shield.

My best guess, by you touching the strings you are acting as the electrical ground and you are draining the electrical buzz from the amp -> instrument -> through you.

:yeahthat: buzzzzz = bad ground
It could also be in the cord between the bass and the amp, try a new one.

Be sure to unplug your amp before you start to check the electronic connections:whistle:

Be sure to unplug your amp before you start to check the electronic connections:whistle:

:lol: Yes, that would be highly advisable.

:yeahthat: buzzzzz = bad ground
It could also be in the cord between the bass and the amp, try a new one.

Nah, I have I think 8 different cords, all high quality such as Monster, and they all do it. That was actually the first thing I thought of!

Soooo my combo practice amp (Fender Rumble) has started bzzzzzzz ing when my Bass is plugged in. I can't figure it out. It stops as long as I am touching a string, any string, no pressure just light contact and it stops. The bass is passive pickup. It's volume independent, and not related to the EQ settings or tone.

It's not a huge issue, as of course when playing I'm usually touching a string, but it is an annoyance. I've tried simple stuff like a new cable, etc.

Any ideas why why it does this? Is there a short? Should I be frightened and run out an buy a new amp?

Which 100W Fender Rumble models are you using? The 2X10" or 1X15" speaker model? You may have ripped one of those 10" babies. Just trying to keep the troubleshooting/fault-elimination process simple to baseline.

Nah, I have I think 8 different cords, all high quality such as Monster, and they all do it. That was actually the first thing I thought of!

If it is only happening with the bass, the problem is in the bass. My guess is the ground in the bass, from control to control to the p/u's, is broke somewhere. Open her up and start tracing out the wiring inside. It shouldn't work at all with the ground broken, but, that's where I'd start looking.

If it is only happening with the bass, the problem is in the bass. My guess is the ground in the bass, from control to control to the p/u's, is broke somewhere. Open her up and start tracing out the wiring inside. It shouldn't work at all with the ground broken, but, that's where I'd start looking.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I'm getting nowhere :)

I'm thinking of trucking over to Hotlicks and jacking into one of their amps, see if it's the amp or bass, at least then I'll know better where to look. :)

I've poured over both and can't find anything bustimicated. Or, maybe I'll pickup one of the 300W Beringers I've heard so much goodness about... drive my neighbors crazy with bass noise for a change. Hehe.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I'm getting nowhere :)

I'm thinking of trucking over to Hotlicks and jacking into one of their amps, see if it's the amp or bass, at least then I'll know better where to look. :)

I've poured over both and can't find anything bustimicated. Or, maybe I'll pickup one of the 300W Beringers I've heard so much goodness about... drive my neighbors crazy with bass noise for a change. Hehe.

Congrats! You've suggested a logical fault-isolation solution path. Best of Luck!

The Beringers 300W amp is a new Make/Model on me, but I'll be checking it out/researching. Keep refining (practicing) your chops (skills). Enjoy!

Rick

Thanks for all the suggestions, but I'm getting nowhere :)

I'm thinking of trucking over to Hotlicks and jacking into one of their amps, see if it's the amp or bass, at least then I'll know better where to look. :)

I've poured over both and can't find anything bustimicated. Or, maybe I'll pickup one of the 300W Beringers I've heard so much goodness about... drive my neighbors crazy with bass noise for a change. Hehe.

Another thing to look at is the female 1/4" jack. Your cable may not be making good contact. You can usually tell this if the cable doesn't plug in to the guitar solid. If all else fails it could just be a pickup has gone bad.

Had a Krell KSA-200 that would buzz from time to time. Took me a while to figure out it was being caused by a large, stainless steel torchiere lamp that I have in my house. Lamp on = buzz. Lamp off = no buzz.