buzzing bass

[kylierider]

I just bought a 92 Musicman Stingray with the 3 band EQ. Trans white with a birdseye maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. Very clean bass. It sounds and plays great. However it has a buzzing issue on the bass EQ knob. With the bass EQ rolled totally off, the bass is very quiet, no matter where the 2 other EQ knobs are set. But when you move the bass tone knob to anywhere but totally rolled off there is a buzzing noise that goes away when you touch the strings or bridge. The buzz gets louder the more EQ you dial in, from moderate in the flat position to loud when full on. What might this be? Maybe a bad pot? If so, where can I find original MM parts The bass needs a tuning key as well. Any ideas?

 

[maddog]

stabbing in the dark here but it sounds like the bridge ground isn't doing its job.

might want to check the ground wire connection at the jack and the bridge.

courtesy of gav's site

 

[INMT]

Bees in the battery compartment?

 

[silverburst]

Could be a kind of poor connection at the jack, too. I've seen it before.

 

[kylierider]

Thanks for the help. Looking at the diagram, assuming all 3 bands are set up the same, it would be the treble control. Excuse my ignorance I'm kind of new to the MM bass. I'm going to have it checked out soon.

 

[maddog]

other than the green leafy type, pots don't generate a buzz. at most they get scratchy when you twiddle the knob. it is rolling off the noise when you have it turned down.

my guess is you got a grounding issue. Since you say it disappears when you place your hand on the strings, I suggested the bridge ground. Rex has a good point as well. The ground contact at the jack plug-in may not be working as well as it used to.