Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: rv_bass on December 28, 2024, 04:50:17 PM

Title: Rubbing noise transmitted by pickups
Post by: rv_bass on December 28, 2024, 04:50:17 PM

If I rub the body or metal parts (e.g., tailpiece, strap buttons, five pin plate, etc) on one of my Series basses the sound is transmitted through the pickups and out the speaker cab.  Anyone know why this is happening and how to eliminate it?  Aside from the obvious answer: don’t rub the bass 😊

Title: Re: Rubbing noise transmitted by pickups
Post by: StephenR on December 28, 2024, 05:45:24 PM

Does it happen with both pickups? If it happens with only one pickup on then maybe that pickup is microphonic?

Title: Re: Rubbing noise transmitted by pickups
Post by: rv_bass on December 28, 2024, 06:18:03 PM

Quote from: StephenR on December 28, 2024, 05:45:24 PM

Does it happen with both pickups? If it happens with only one pickup on then maybe that pickup is microphonic?

Good question, Stephen, I will check it in the morning.  Thanks for the suggestion!

Title: Re: Rubbing noise transmitted by pickups
Post by: rv_bass on December 29, 2024, 07:45:04 AM

I checked it this morning.  It an only happens with the neck pickup, and it is more pronounce when using the DS-5 when compared to the 1/4” jack. I cannot hear my voice through the speaker when talking loudly close to the pickup, which has been noted online as an indicator of a microphonic pickup.  So it might be slightly microphonic to the extent that it picks up sounds from interacting with the bass body and parts.