The Last Bass Outpost

Quote from: Alanko on May 15, 2022, 02:22:07 PM
If this is the case then there is no grounding issue with the bass. Not sure why folk jump on this solution at every turn.

Lack of ground at the outlet sounds sketchy, and presumably means your amp chassis isn't grounded?

The whole city is like that, so was the U.S until about the mid 70's. There is no grounding issue with the bass. My point is that I've used a Fender Jazz, a Fender P/J, a Gibson EB4-L with no problems through this same amp, no hum, but the Thunderbird hums with both volumes below full which I find strange. I'm sure it is because of no ground but I'm going to shield it and see if that helps.

I'm in Lima, Peru and there are no grounds. It's single phase 220, neutral and a hot wire, I'm sure it's because of no grounds but no other bass I've got out here does it. I've gotten tingles from mics before but nothing serious. I don't know why they did it this way here but it's the whole city, other cities here have grounded systems. I'm going to shield it and see if that helps. Remember that most places in the U.S. had no grounds until the 70's. I am careful though with mics, you never know.

Me too 

Yep, I went through it with a multimeter, everything that's supposed to be grounded is grounded, bridge, pickups, pots.

I don't know, I just checked all the wiring and the grounding is contiguous, I'm starting to think the pickups are picking up 60 cycle hum from the power.

I forgot to add that the hum diminishes considerably when I touch the strings.

I forgot to add, the hum diminishes considerably when I touch the strings.

I have to third that. 

I have an EB4-L, it's actually a very good sounding bass, mine does tremolo while bending higher notes but at least part of the problem with mine is the bridge is a little bit off center, I do know the magnetic field is small though.

I also posted this in Bill's repair section but figured some of you Gibson experts here may have heard of this before and may have a solution.

Anyone here good with Thunderbird wiring? This is a year old NR T-Bird. I'm getting 60 cycle hum when I have both volumes below full with it in an amp I use at a weekly gig, it's not the amp as other basses don't do it there. I'm in Lima, Peru.

The power out here is 220 with one hot wire and a neutral, no grounds.

This one bass also will do it at home with Ampegs but reversing the plug solves the problem with them and none of my other basses hum here with both volumes below full on. I'm pretty sure it's something internal as diming both volumes increases any buzz pickup but eliminates the hum. No bass out of 6 I have here does this besides this T-Bird. The bass sounds great and both pickups sound normal. Any tips appreciated. This is with the same cord, I frequently play a Jazz at this club, also a Fender P/J with both volumes down too and no hum at all.
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Anyone here good with Thunderbird wiring? This is a year old NR T-Bird. I'm getting 60 cycle hum when I have both volumes below full with it in an amp I use at a weekly gig, it's not the amp as other basses don't do it there. I'm in Lima, Peru.

The power out here is 220 with one hot wire and a neutral, no grounds.

This one bass also will do it at home with Ampegs but reversing the plug solves the problem with them and none of my other basses hum here with both volumes below full on. I'm pretty sure it's something internal as diming both volumes increases any buzz pickup but eliminates the hum. No bass out of 6 I have here does this besides this T-Bird. The bass sounds great and both pickups sound normal. Any tips appreciated. This is with the same cord, I frequently play a Jazz at this club, also a Fender P/J with both volumes down too and no hum at all.

Quote from: Dave W on May 02, 2022, 12:42:17 PM
Why not a 4000 reissue?

I'd like to see a stock reissue 4000, most of their new basses have been very busy looking and just flat out weird, how about some simplicity?

Nevermind  I just found the old post. Nevermind 

Long time no post, how you doing everyone, especially Dave? I have a question. I bought a 1970 EB3-L last year and warned the mor.....er seller to please be careful shipping it as the headstocks tend to go flying off if not packed well during shipping, of course all he did was wrap the headstock in one single piece of bubble wrap which did nothing and it came clean off during shipping. I'm in the Boston area when I'm back in the states and would like to have this thing fixed by a luthier who knows Gibsons and can do a good enough job that it won't be noticeable. It broke in two clean pieces. I've gotten some recommendations here before but forget them. I see that when I went to put the subject in I may have already asked this, if so apologies.

How do I post a photo here? I chose the file and it's a jpeg and in attach I don't think it's a huge file but it won't attach.

Quote from: 4stringer77 on August 02, 2021, 06:21:29 PM
Probably more than a few folks around Boston but if you're willing to head up to Lowell, Bill Whitsett of Whitsett guitar works has seen his fair share of snapped off Gibson head stocks and is definitely up to the task. Good luck.

Thanks, I sent both of them emails tonight.