Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
- Thread starter papersoul
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Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
I have to rectify something. When you touch a piece of metal on your guitar and the hum goes away, that's not because you or your body grounds the guitar. You are being grounded!!!! The human body is a huge sack of water,acting as an antenna. That's what the pickups pick up and that's what needs to be shorted.
I have to rectify something. When you touch a piece of metal on your guitar and the hum goes away, that's not because you or your body grounds the guitar. You are being grounded!!!! The human body is a huge sack of water,acting as an antenna. That's what the pickups pick up and that's what needs to be shorted.
jumble jumble
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Yeah, if you were already grounded, then you wouldn't need to touch the guitar for the hum to go away. You can test this by grounding yourself some other way - by touching a metal pipe from a radiator or something, for instance.
Yeah, if you were already grounded, then you wouldn't need to touch the guitar for the hum to go away. You can test this by grounding yourself some other way - by touching a metal pipe from a radiator or something, for instance.
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
it's less complicated than you're making it. just add shielding before changing parts. if it hums afterwards, then change stuff.
My Les Paul has none of that shielding anywhere.
Yes, all my other guitars are quiet through exact same rig. I went through my guitars one at a time through this rig, and only LP was that noisy!
I just got all new pots and caps and my tech said he is going to install this weekend and will check all grounds and connections.
I guess I could use shielded wire, but really it is what it is, I don't feel like changing my toggle switch wires.
it's less complicated than you're making it. just add shielding before changing parts. if it hums afterwards, then change stuff.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Seriously? Humans are 98% water, and the only thing that conducts electricity better than water is more water.
That's why they yell "clear" when they're about to kickstart someone: the electrical charge can pass through to whoever's touching the patient, because we're such great conductors.
And if it's only one guitar doing it, then it's the one guitar. And yes, it does sound like the bridge post insert ground wire (paper clip jammed into a hole) is not touching what it should.
Probably when you changed out the bridge posts, which you neglected to mention? Or the pots, where you clipped this really thick bare wire coming out of a small hole at the back of the cavity away from the pickups?
And your guitar should already have shielded (covered in rubber) wire. Otherwise, you've got bare wires running from your toggle, which is bad.
However, it could also maybe possibly be that your cable which plugs into your guitar just happens to cross a power cable only when you use that one guitar. Sounds bizarre, but you never know how someone's gear is arranged, where the cable might drape over a power supply or power cord only under a specific set of circumstances.
And by no stretch of the imagination should you insert a copper wire into the jack of your amp and stick it to a metal rod in the ground outside. Amps have 3-prong power cables, and electrical sockets have 3 holes, and each has a specific wiring pattern - 2 hot, one ground. The one ground lug should be what runs to the house's ground system (the metal pole in the ground). If this was done, then you simply need to plug into the socket. If you're having ground issues, even in desert environments, have your house wiring checked before you wake up in a fire.
Seriously? Humans are 98% water, and the only thing that conducts electricity better than water is more water.
That's why they yell "clear" when they're about to kickstart someone: the electrical charge can pass through to whoever's touching the patient, because we're such great conductors.
And if it's only one guitar doing it, then it's the one guitar. And yes, it does sound like the bridge post insert ground wire (paper clip jammed into a hole) is not touching what it should.
Probably when you changed out the bridge posts, which you neglected to mention? Or the pots, where you clipped this really thick bare wire coming out of a small hole at the back of the cavity away from the pickups?
And your guitar should already have shielded (covered in rubber) wire. Otherwise, you've got bare wires running from your toggle, which is bad.
However, it could also maybe possibly be that your cable which plugs into your guitar just happens to cross a power cable only when you use that one guitar. Sounds bizarre, but you never know how someone's gear is arranged, where the cable might drape over a power supply or power cord only under a specific set of circumstances.
And by no stretch of the imagination should you insert a copper wire into the jack of your amp and stick it to a metal rod in the ground outside. Amps have 3-prong power cables, and electrical sockets have 3 holes, and each has a specific wiring pattern - 2 hot, one ground. The one ground lug should be what runs to the house's ground system (the metal pole in the ground). If this was done, then you simply need to plug into the socket. If you're having ground issues, even in desert environments, have your house wiring checked before you wake up in a fire.
papersoul
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
So yesw, I have the large bare wire coming from the bridge to the neck volume pot. How do I verify it is attached to the bridge post, correctly? I am replacing all pots this weekend. A friend told me, part of my problem is using a radio shack iron Said I need a good Wellar iron.
So yesw, I have the large bare wire coming from the bridge to the neck volume pot. How do I verify it is attached to the bridge post, correctly? I am replacing all pots this weekend. A friend told me, part of my problem is using a radio shack iron Said I need a good Wellar iron.
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
if you touche the strings or bridge and the buzzing gets quieter, it's attached. if the noise doesnt change at all, it's not attached. plain and simple.
BUT, you shouldn't rely on your bridge ground to kill the buzzing. it it's set up properly, the buzzing should be minimal or non-existent when you're not touching it.
if you touche the strings or bridge and the buzzing gets quieter, it's attached. if the noise doesnt change at all, it's not attached. plain and simple.
BUT, you shouldn't rely on your bridge ground to kill the buzzing. it it's set up properly, the buzzing should be minimal or non-existent when you're not touching it.
FretFire
SingedFingerologist
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Tell your friend that I've been using a Radio Shack iron for 6 years with no issues.
Tell your friend that I've been using a Radio Shack iron for 6 years with no issues.
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
THIS
as long as it's hot enough to allow the solder to fully soak into the metal parts and avoid cold solders.
THIS
as long as it's hot enough to allow the solder to fully soak into the metal parts and avoid cold solders.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
You can verify by using a digital multi-meter and set it for continuity check. I usually use the diode setting on mine. Touch the ground wire in the guitar with one probe and the other end to the treble side bridge post. If the reading on the meter changes, you've got continuity.
You can verify by using a digital multi-meter and set it for continuity check. I usually use the diode setting on mine. Touch the ground wire in the guitar with one probe and the other end to the treble side bridge post. If the reading on the meter changes, you've got continuity.
ericmeyer4
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Follow ErikH's advice. On my meter if I hear a beep then it is a good joint. I use it to check every connection I make.
The brand of iron used to melt the solder has no affect on the quality of the joint.
I have 5 years on 2 of mine. One of my other ones I've been using was my grandfather's. We got it when he passed and that was 12 years ago. No telling how old it is though. My best guess is late 70s - early 80s based on the style of writing on the label. Based on my experience, I've had no troubles with Radio Shack. Maybe someone with Eric Johnson's ears can tell a tonal difference depending on what type of iron was used, but I cant.
Follow ErikH's advice. On my meter if I hear a beep then it is a good joint. I use it to check every connection I make.
The brand of iron used to melt the solder has no affect on the quality of the joint.
I have 5 years on 2 of mine. One of my other ones I've been using was my grandfather's. We got it when he passed and that was 12 years ago. No telling how old it is though. My best guess is late 70s - early 80s based on the style of writing on the label. Based on my experience, I've had no troubles with Radio Shack. Maybe someone with Eric Johnson's ears can tell a tonal difference depending on what type of iron was used, but I cant.
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Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Actually, you *can* have too many parallel paths to ground. Think about it - if you have two electrical paths going from a potentiometer case to ground, you have created a loop of conductor that will act like an inductor. Any EM passing through that loop will induce current in the loop. This is exactly how the pickups work, although they use many more loops to amplify the induced current. Coupled with any cold solder joints for added resistance, this can easily cause noise to enter your signal path.
This is not a "ground loop" as we often think about it between two different pieces of electrical gear, but it can contribute to noise just the same.
Personally, my money is on a broken ground-to-bridge connection, but if your friend warned you to get a better soldering iron, he probably noticed some cold solder joints in your wiring. It can be difficult to properly solder a ground to the casing of a potentiometer since you need to heat the casing enough to fully melt the solder, but not so much that you damage the components. You probably don't need better iron, just more practice at soldering.
But EricH has given you great advice throughout this thread, so do everything he told you before you listen to anything I have to say.
Actually, you *can* have too many parallel paths to ground. Think about it - if you have two electrical paths going from a potentiometer case to ground, you have created a loop of conductor that will act like an inductor. Any EM passing through that loop will induce current in the loop. This is exactly how the pickups work, although they use many more loops to amplify the induced current. Coupled with any cold solder joints for added resistance, this can easily cause noise to enter your signal path.
This is not a "ground loop" as we often think about it between two different pieces of electrical gear, but it can contribute to noise just the same.
Personally, my money is on a broken ground-to-bridge connection, but if your friend warned you to get a better soldering iron, he probably noticed some cold solder joints in your wiring. It can be difficult to properly solder a ground to the casing of a potentiometer since you need to heat the casing enough to fully melt the solder, but not so much that you damage the components. You probably don't need better iron, just more practice at soldering.
But EricH has given you great advice throughout this thread, so do everything he told you before you listen to anything I have to say.
Bludave
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
It's not necessarily the brand of Iron you are using it's the wattage. A good soldering iron should have some adjustable heating controls to it. Radio Shack typically doesn't have one of these, but I also have used a Radio Shack iron with very few issues. I now have a Weller soldering station. One like this. They are about 40 to 50$
It's not necessarily the brand of Iron you are using it's the wattage. A good soldering iron should have some adjustable heating controls to it. Radio Shack typically doesn't have one of these, but I also have used a Radio Shack iron with very few issues. I now have a Weller soldering station. One like this. They are about 40 to 50$
ericmeyer4
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Google to the rescue - http://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae61.cfm
Google to the rescue - http://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae61.cfm
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
Hold on.
You have unshielded wire to the toggle switch in a Les Paul? How do you expect this not to hum like a mofo?
Also, could you answer the question whether the hum improves when you touch the strings?
I guess I could use shielded wire, but really it is what it is, I don't feel like changing my toggle switch wires.
Hold on.
You have unshielded wire to the toggle switch in a Les Paul? How do you expect this not to hum like a mofo?
Also, could you answer the question whether the hum improves when you touch the strings?
Stephen1967
New member
Re: Anyone please help me fix a noisy Les Paul??
I had similar problems with my Les Paul copy. Installed a Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz combo and immediately got hum on the JB pickup. I removed all the electronics and painted the cavity with a coat of conductive metal glue/paint making sure that it touched all the pots for grounding. Problem solved. Good luck.
I had similar problems with my Les Paul copy. Installed a Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz combo and immediately got hum on the JB pickup. I removed all the electronics and painted the cavity with a coat of conductive metal glue/paint making sure that it touched all the pots for grounding. Problem solved. Good luck.
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