I know this sounds stupid, but....

[robobass13]

I just bought a 2006 stingray 4 h, It is my fifth mm bass that I own now, the problem I'm having is, when I'm playing and my fingers touch or rub against the pickgaurd, I get the worst static that comes through the pickup, now I have been playing and repairing basses for over twenty years, and I've never encountered anything like this, when I removed the pickgaurd, and even slightly run my finger across it, you can hear it crackling with static, please help!!!

 

[Caca de Kick]

I've never heard of that happening before either.

Does it do this playing through any amp?

 

[robobass13]

yes, three different amps, two different cables, like I said even when i take the pickgaurd off the bass, the pickgaurd is loaded with static, and it does not happen when I have the gaurd off the bass, It's totaly in the pickgaurd, and It's been there since I pulled the plastic off the pickgaurd six days ago.

 

[Jason Hebert]

Strange.. Voodoo? You have any enemies in New Orleans?

 

[LowDownDave]

I've heard it said "big brother is watching you" but perhaps in this case "big poppa is listening to you"!!! Check the pickguard for listening devices!

 

[tkarter]

A phone call to customer service should take care of that. 1-866-823-2255

tk

 

[robobass13]

cool, I just called customer service and spoke to asia, and she said she had never heard of anything like before either, but she is going to send me out another gaurd, no charge, what a great company, thats why I own 5 of there basses, thanks guy/gals.

 

[Jason Hebert]

cool, I just called customer service and spoke to asia, and she said she had never heard of anything like before either, but she is going to send me out another gaurd, no charge, what a great company, thats why I own 5 of there basses, thanks guy/gals.

That was easy wasn't it? Just more of the same. Great folks working at EB.

P.S. You need to post a picture of your collection!

 

[tkarter]

Aziah is a fine young lady that has worked hard for all of us very quietly.

We all know she Rocks.

tk

 

[robobass13]

heres a link to my mm basses, the only one not present in my '05 SR5, It's at the studio and I did not have any pics of it on my computer, but It's a honeyburst w/maple board non matching headstock, the others are a 2002 sterling in white sparkle w/maple board, another 2002 sterling natural w/rosewood board and a 2001 (ibelieve It's an '01) SR5 in burnt apple w/rosewood board, I'll try to get a pic up of the honeyburst SR5 soon.http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/rbrown13/?sc=1&addtype=local

 

[robobass13]

Oh, and I forgot to mention the new addition, the '06 SR4 black w/maple board and the static electric pickgaurd.

 

[tkarter]

What color gaurd is the static electric?

tk

 

[SteveB]

Aziah is a fine young lady that has worked hard for all of us very quietly.

We all know she Rocks.

tk

+100

 

[StingRayzor]

I have heard and tried the following: Remove the PG and wipe it down with a clothes dryer sheet (bounce,etc.). Hope that helps.

 

[Caca de Kick]

That's great they're sending out another one and all. But to be sure, are you able to try another pickguard from another bass to make sure it doesn't do it again?

 

[bovinehost]

I have heard and tried the following: Remove the PG and wipe it down with a clothes dryer sheet (bounce,etc.). Hope that helps.

I've heard of this happening before, but never to a MM bass. It is static and it is the pickguard. Why? I don't know, but I know how to fix it if the new PG does the same thing. I've heard about the clothes dryer sheets, too, but you can also put some shielding foil on the back of the pickguard and that will kill the static.

Just make sure that the foil doesn't contact metal (pickguard screws, pickup covers, etc).

I had some instructions around here somewhere...here we go:

"...shielding the back of the pickguard can help wick away the static buildup that sometimes causes popping noises while you are playing.

Lay the pickguard face down on clean newsprint or something else that you don't mind getting sticky. Spray a light coat of trim adhesive on the back of the pickguard. Follow the instructions on the label. Be careful to spray straight down so that you do not get adhesive on the front of the pickguard around the edges. When the adhesive becomes tacky, move the pickguard to another clean surface and lay a single piece of foil on the back of the pickguard. Working from the center outwards, press the foil against the adhesive. Carefully smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles.

Trim the foil from around the edges. You can either trim it right to the edge or you can trim it in about 1/16". If you trim it to 1/16", rub the adhesive off with your fingers so that the pickguard won't stick tightly to the body when the pickguard is reinstalled.

The only critical area is around the pickup slot and holes for the pickup screws. Here you want to make certain that you remove enough material that the metal cover on the pickup and metal springs on the pickup mounting screws don't contact the foil. The pickup cover is grounded and if it also contacts the foil on the back of the pickguard (which will be grounded through the cavity shielding) this will create a ground loop that is susceptible to noise."

Haven't had to do this myself, but it makes sense.

 

[Moondog]

Hey that looks like my old burnt apple SR5

Looks like you swapped it's knobs with the Sterling?

 

[robobass13]

thanks jack, I actualy did shield it with copper tape with no change, haven't tried the dryer sheet thing yet, but thanks for the tip.

 

[robobass13]

good eye, I did swap the knobs with the sterling, I bought this bass from a guy in san diego on talkbass, I believe his handle is Rsmith, does that ring a bell.

 

[high mileage]

Never heard of this before, but I only see one other variable that hasn't been mentioned - the strings. Are you using something you haven't used before? Have you tried what you use on your other basses?

...baffled...