Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
- Thread starter Evan Skopp
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ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
I definitely notice a difference in noise between my shielded and unshielded guitars.
I definitely notice a difference in noise between my shielded and unshielded guitars.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
Really not happy with one piece of advise given there.
There is no point in shielding pickup cavities if they are filled with humbuckers with shielded leads anyway. But that shield in the magnetic field has the potential to change sound (via Eddie currents).
It is also physically incorrect to say that aluminium foil would shield against RF better.
Really not happy with one piece of advise given there.
There is no point in shielding pickup cavities if they are filled with humbuckers with shielded leads anyway. But that shield in the magnetic field has the potential to change sound (via Eddie currents).
It is also physically incorrect to say that aluminium foil would shield against RF better.
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
I frequently split pickups, so this is the reason for the shielding. The idea that aluminum is a better shield than copper (but harder to work with) was found out from some research of Dan Erlewine's articles for Guitar Player. I had heard this before, so I did a bit of research about it- it was confirmed by a few sources, though. BTW, in the end, my guitar is quieter with the shield than without it...and it didn't change the sound.
I frequently split pickups, so this is the reason for the shielding. The idea that aluminum is a better shield than copper (but harder to work with) was found out from some research of Dan Erlewine's articles for Guitar Player. I had heard this before, so I did a bit of research about it- it was confirmed by a few sources, though. BTW, in the end, my guitar is quieter with the shield than without it...and it didn't change the sound.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
My $.02 - which isn't worth a plugged nickel...
I've done the usual methods only to find a difference between shielded and unshelded tone.
The way I typically do one these days is line the entire cavity with shielding cloth (Easier on the fingers) except for a couple of small areas of copper. The cloth stays within the confines of the cavity except for a tag around 1 pickguard screw where it conducts ground for the pickguard shield and electronics - Idea here is to make the shield part of the grounding. The ground for the output jack is soldered to the cavity shield.
Seems to work better for me than the usual methods and I have none of the tone suck I experienced before. I picked up the method from a former Guitar designer for a small manufacturer on The Gear Page.
Its not that much different than on a factory guitar where wires are soldered to a single lug screwed into the body.
I remember mention of aluminum on the interwebz - but wasn't it Bill Lawrence who said Aluminum had unique properties? Not necessarily that it was better.
My $.02 - which isn't worth a plugged nickel...
I've done the usual methods only to find a difference between shielded and unshelded tone.
The way I typically do one these days is line the entire cavity with shielding cloth (Easier on the fingers) except for a couple of small areas of copper. The cloth stays within the confines of the cavity except for a tag around 1 pickguard screw where it conducts ground for the pickguard shield and electronics - Idea here is to make the shield part of the grounding. The ground for the output jack is soldered to the cavity shield.
Seems to work better for me than the usual methods and I have none of the tone suck I experienced before. I picked up the method from a former Guitar designer for a small manufacturer on The Gear Page.
Its not that much different than on a factory guitar where wires are soldered to a single lug screwed into the body.
I remember mention of aluminum on the interwebz - but wasn't it Bill Lawrence who said Aluminum had unique properties? Not necessarily that it was better.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
The tone suck concerns are exclusively about shielding right at the pickups, so that the conducting foil is right in the magnetic field.
I wouldn't expect sound changes from other shielding unless you go esoteric and say that you use the buzz to "prime" some clipping rig stage.
The tone suck concerns are exclusively about shielding right at the pickups, so that the conducting foil is right in the magnetic field.
I wouldn't expect sound changes from other shielding unless you go esoteric and say that you use the buzz to "prime" some clipping rig stage.
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
Yeah, I don't shield right at the pickups. I have heard of that changing the sound, so I didn't even try. Honestly, the best system I have heard is what was originally used in the guitar I shielded in the blog- it was an HSS configuration, and it used a dummy coil (an active system with a 9v battery) that is amazingly quiet, and if the battery dies, the passive pickups still work, albeit with single coil hum. Quacky, stratty, and silent...a great idea- I think that particular circuit is unique to Music Man though.
Yeah, I don't shield right at the pickups. I have heard of that changing the sound, so I didn't even try. Honestly, the best system I have heard is what was originally used in the guitar I shielded in the blog- it was an HSS configuration, and it used a dummy coil (an active system with a 9v battery) that is amazingly quiet, and if the battery dies, the passive pickups still work, albeit with single coil hum. Quacky, stratty, and silent...a great idea- I think that particular circuit is unique to Music Man though.
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
I personally only bother to shield the control cavity on humbucker guitars. Strats and other single coil guitars are completely shielded.
Not trying to hijack the thread but does anyone have an opinion of the shielding paint like the use at the factories? Never used it but I've considered it.
I personally only bother to shield the control cavity on humbucker guitars. Strats and other single coil guitars are completely shielded.
Not trying to hijack the thread but does anyone have an opinion of the shielding paint like the use at the factories? Never used it but I've considered it.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
Physics strongly suggest that any conductor should work just fine and do a complete job, no matter how thin. There shouldn't be a difference between aluminium, copper and gold rolled so thin you can see through it, or conductive paint as long as it is evenly conducting. Even holes are OK as long as they aren't bigger than the wavelength of the signal you are trying to stop.
Another thing not mentioned is that I think some people use this rather thick copper tape, with the really thick sticky layer, in a way that the body might be dampened mechanically.
Physics strongly suggest that any conductor should work just fine and do a complete job, no matter how thin. There shouldn't be a difference between aluminium, copper and gold rolled so thin you can see through it, or conductive paint as long as it is evenly conducting. Even holes are OK as long as they aren't bigger than the wavelength of the signal you are trying to stop.
Another thing not mentioned is that I think some people use this rather thick copper tape, with the really thick sticky layer, in a way that the body might be dampened mechanically.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Blog: How to Shield a Guitar Cavity
Hmmm, you absolutely don't want anything magnetic (active or passive) or magnetically insulating ("MU") for your shielding.
The conductive paint should work fine as long as you ground it properly.
Hmmm, you absolutely don't want anything magnetic (active or passive) or magnetically insulating ("MU") for your shielding.
The conductive paint should work fine as long as you ground it properly.
