I bought a new gsr200 bass about 3 months ago. This is my first bass and i love it. About a month ago i started getting static when muting the e sting and a poping noise when my thumb would touch the pickup.So i pulled out the old mulimeter looking for a bad ground.All grounds were good from the bridge to the pots and to the jack.So i figured nows a good time to upgrade to dimarzio pj pickups.I changed those out and it didnt fix the noise.I then ordered a new ibanez phat eq assemble and a new jack.I got those all soldered in and it is still a static mess.I dont know what else to do.Its kinda crazy. I can turn the tone knob all the way down and the static is almost gone.But if i turn it up the noise is terrible.Thanks for reading this long ass post and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

yes ive tried a different amp,cable and new battery.This bass hates me

IT DOESNT EVEN HAVE A HARNESS. ITS JUST A CIRCUIT BOARD WITH WIRES GOING EVERYWHERE.ITS KINDA A CHEAP SET UP BUT THIS IS A ENTRY LEVEL BASS. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I DID CHECK ALL CONNECTIONS TO THE BOARD. THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF ELECTRONICS IN THIS BASS AND EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT GREAT.I THINK SOME HOW THE STATIC ELECTRICITY FROM MY BODY IS ENTERING THROUGH THE STRINGS AND PICKUPS AND THE GROUND IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO CARRY THAT ENERGY AWAY.

So the electronics cavity is not coated in conductive shielding paint, and then grounded?

I know the GSR200 I bought for my niece some years ago had a shielded control cavity.

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Current "Heard":
07' UV777PBK - 99' UV777PBK - 91' UV7PWH - 91' UV7BK "Green Dot" - 97' UV7BK "Silver Dot" - 99' RG7620VK - 00' RG7420BK - 06' RG1527RB

GUITAR SET-UP AND MAINTENANCE---Ibanez Catalogs---Megatron's Trem Guide
Need replacement parts? Go here.
Want to talk to Ibanez USA (Hoshino USA)? Then call this number (PA area code): (215)245-1648
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Then mosey on down to a hardware store, pick up some foil tape, and shield the cavity.

Also:


Sorry, had to.

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Current "Heard":
07' UV777PBK - 99' UV777PBK - 91' UV7PWH - 91' UV7BK "Green Dot" - 97' UV7BK "Silver Dot" - 99' RG7620VK - 00' RG7420BK - 06' RG1527RB

GUITAR SET-UP AND MAINTENANCE---Ibanez Catalogs---Megatron's Trem Guide
Need replacement parts? Go here.
Want to talk to Ibanez USA (Hoshino USA)? Then call this number (PA area code): (215)245-1648
OFFICIAL IBANEZ PARTS & APPAREL STORE!!!
Forum Admins/Mods/Ibanez USA Employees: IBANEZ, IbanezBass, Mike, Tom, and Matthew. If you have a "real" question, Private Message them.

It would be best to ground the pickup cavities, but to be honest that's a bit of a pain when using foil, opposed to shielding paint.

As long as the foil is grounded to the volume pot you should be good.

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Current "Heard":
07' UV777PBK - 99' UV777PBK - 91' UV7PWH - 91' UV7BK "Green Dot" - 97' UV7BK "Silver Dot" - 99' RG7620VK - 00' RG7420BK - 06' RG1527RB

GUITAR SET-UP AND MAINTENANCE---Ibanez Catalogs---Megatron's Trem Guide
Need replacement parts? Go here.
Want to talk to Ibanez USA (Hoshino USA)? Then call this number (PA area code): (215)245-1648
OFFICIAL IBANEZ PARTS & APPAREL STORE!!!
Forum Admins/Mods/Ibanez USA Employees: IBANEZ, IbanezBass, Mike, Tom, and Matthew. If you have a "real" question, Private Message them.

I just finished shielding the pickups and electronic cavity.It fixed about 90 percent of the noise.I would like it to be perfect be atleast its playable now.Thanks for the help MAX METAL.IM PLAYING AGAIN!!!!!!

just my 2c in comment...it's a good bass for the price, but i had to switch out my original 200FM..the new one is fine without any mods, just a very slight buzz when the J is up all the way. I dont care, im happy with it since the guys here explained it's a common thing.

If yer still checkin this thread, how good are those demarzios? cos im thinkin of eventually getting them for it

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*The Buslady*
*GSR200FM "Marco"* Fender Rumble 25w*
Wishlist: SR500 SR750

So far i have been happy with the DiMarzio's.They deliver a good punchy sound with a little better detail than the stock pickups.I would buy them again, nice upgrade.

I realize that this thread has not been added to since May 2010, but I'd just like to add one additional fix for this symptom.

This procedure should NOT be attempted by anyone who is not familiar with proper electrical soldering techniques or is not comfortable in removing the bridge.

Loosen the tension on the strings. Carefully remove the screws holding down the bridge and place the bridge on a cloth off to the side so it won't scratch the body finish. Under the bridge, you will see the opening channel from the electronics bay with a fine gauge wire coming out which is compressed under the bridge to act as a ground for the bridge and stringset. That fine gauge wire can build up corrosion and a film of oils and moisture from your hand while playing the bass over a period of time.

First of all, take a small pen-knife and carefully scrape the surface of the fine wire to "shine it up". The next step is ONLY for those persons who are familiar with electronic soldering principles... Take a piece of 32 gauge ( small diameter ) solid copper wire about 3 inches long and scrape off any enamel or other insulation so the wire is also shiny. Carefully solder it to the original Ibanez bridge ground wire using a small amount of electrical rosin core solder and just enough heat from the soldering gun to make the bond. Shape the new 32 gauge wire into an "S". Position the "S" under the footprint of the bridge. Use 400 grit sandpaper to clean any residue or corrosion off the bottom of the bridge plate. Reinstall the bridge, securing the screws a little at a time and then snug them down being careful not to overtighten.

In most cases this will add additional multi-location grounding to the bridge and take care of the problem listed in post # 1 above. This same procedure can be done on Fender J and P basses as well as any others that use simple 'wire crush grounding' under the bridge plate.

You can also aid in reducing static pop and hum by carefully cleaning the center inside of the output jack with a CRC brand "Electrical Contact Cleaner". This allows the ground and shield on the guitar cord going to the amp to better dissipate any static build up due to any 'crud' that builds up inside the jack opening that may form a high resistance connection.

Thanks for letting me add these details.

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PaducahLuke

Mainly from Orange Beach, Alabama