Advice RE: Tapewound Bass Strings

[Dave]

I put a nice set of Roto tapewounds on my Geddy Lee Tom Sawyer/YYZ signature Jazz Bass.

They sound badass, however I've run into a problem. I guess I've always been making a ground connection of some type with steel strings that is now insulated with smooth black nylon tape wrap, the pickups buzz pretty decently if the tone knob is above zero. Not a big deal if I'm resting right hand on the bridge but mostly I'm thumbing away like a buffoon up near the heel of the neck.

Wondering if anyone has run into this or has any ideas. I'm tempted to just run some thin bare copper wire around the pickguard attached to the bridge or control plate and just try and always be touching it with right hand somehow ? A bit of a monkey fix but I feel like it would work

[marqueemoon]

Is there something the tapewounds are giving you that flatwounds don’t?

I’ve never used them one of my basses, but where I’ve liked them best is on acoustic basses.

[fisonic]

You could scratch off the tape where it touches the bridge saddles, though that might change the sound somewhat.
Could also try improving the contact between the ferrules & the bridge. Make sure the contact points are clean.

[Dave]

Is there something the tapewounds are giving you that flatwounds don’t?

I’ve never used them one of my basses, but where I’ve liked them best is on acoustic basses.

The feel and sound are quite different still from flats. The tape basically starts out as a 5 year old flat which is where I like my bass strings.

You could scratch off the tape where it touches the bridge saddles, though that might change the sound somewhat.
Could also try improving the contact between the ferrules & the bridge. Make sure the contact points are clean.

If the tape wrap gets cut or damaged they fly apart in a most fascinating way so that is out, the other thing being the ball end of the string is already well connected to the bridge (top load Badass Bass II)

[GreenKnee]

I'd never thought of this being an issue before, but I can see why the tape would insulate you from making that ground connection.

Noise cancelling pickups could help.

Only non-invasive hing I can think of, and it's a shit idea, is to wear one of the anti-static/ground bracelets and connect it to the bridge...

[Dave]

I'd never thought of this being an issue before, but I can see why the tape would insulate you from making that ground connection.

Noise cancelling pickups could help.

Only non-invasive hing I can think of, and it's a shit idea, is to wear one of the anti-static/ground bracelets and connect it to the bridge...

I mean, it would totally work...

[Zork]

Since the core of the tape wounds is still metal they should have a ground connection via the ball end. If it for some reason doesn't work you could try and wiggle a bit of wire through the ball ends and the bridge?

[GreenKnee]

Since the core of the tape wounds is still metal they should have a ground connection via the ball end. If it for some reason doesn't work you could try and wiggle a bit of wire through the ball ends and the bridge?

The strings will be grounded, but OP won't be making a connection between themself and the string, hence some noise.

[Dave]

Since the core of the tape wounds is still metal they should have a ground connection via the ball end. If it for some reason doesn't work you could try and wiggle a bit of wire through the ball ends and the bridge?

They do have a ground via the ball end, the issue is the coating negates completing the circuit when hands are touching strings as opposed to steel strings where touching.

If I rest my hand on the bridge, it goes away or touch the control plate etc, i just rarely play in a way where either of those happen .

[Zork]

Ah, okay, got it. What about this?



Connect it to ground and rest your thumb on it. I have those covers on both my Jazz Basses and had tape wounds for a while on the fretless. Apparently it worked as I didn't have any noise issues at all with the strings.

[Zork]

...but the more I think about it, the more I believe the strings aren't the cause for the hum. If the hum only goes away when you touch control plates, the bridge or bare strings, you most likely have a grounding issue in the circuit that causes hum if you don't ground it via your body.

[Dave]

Ah, okay, got it. What about this?



Connect it to ground and rest your thumb on it. I have those covers on both my Jazz Basses and had tape wounds for a while on the fretless. Apparently it worked as I didn't have any noise issues at all with the strings.

Well fuck a duck. Not once have I considered a simple pickup cover and I fucking LOVE the look of that on the jazz . I think you may have just solved the problem.

...but the more I think about it, the more I believe the strings aren't the cause for the hum. If the hum only goes away when you touch control plates, the bridge or bare strings, you most likely have a grounding issue in the circuit that causes hum if you don't ground it via your body.

You might be correct but I’ve found throughout my life that single coils more or less act this way no matter where i’m playing/what circuit I’m connected to, especially with even a bit of gain or compression. I think it’s just generally not overly noticeable with steel string electrics.

[Zork]

I think you may have just solved the problem.

Yeah, awesome!
They look very cool indeed. I also find the right hand position super comfortable with these when you use them as a thumb rest but you will of course pluck over the bridge PU and not much up the neck like you seem to prefer. Maybe there are metal thumb rests available to install near the neck?

[Dave]

Nah my technique is boneheaded and goofy, I use my thumb 60% of the time, finger/pick the rest. And I keep some black foam rubber jammed into the bridge to keep it muted and “thumpy”. I’ll bet that cover is plenty comfy for where I like to play

[sessylU]

...but the more I think about it, the more I believe the strings aren't the cause for the hum. If the hum only goes away when you touch control plates, the bridge or bare strings, you most likely have a grounding issue in the circuit that causes hum if you don't ground it via your body.

This is the answer, surely.

The ball ends have contact at the bridge. If they aren't grounding it, then the bridge isn't ground and should be fixed. Modifying the bass or changing your technique all seem like mad workarounds here.