Buzzing guitar help

[Ahpook]

I picked up an LTD 401-FR a month or so ago. The guitar came with an EMG active set that I wasn't real fond of. Decided to strip those out, sell them and replace with a set of Duncans, specifically a DD and Jazz that I had laying about. Cool, right?

Of course not!

The monkey at Guitar Center "wired" everything up, get it home and noticed a good deal of buzzing. Took it back and he replaced the jack. Of course its still buzzing and they are out of jacks in the store. Get that?!

Anyway, he said to bring it back when they get more jacks in, but we already tried that, plus its a decent hike to the store. Frankly, getting tired of playing with those fools. The buzzing stops ONLY when the jack plate is touched, not just with any metal part. Also, I asked him why it doesn't have a lead going to ground on the Floyd Rose. He said the way he wired it it won't need it.

Not real sure how to load photos but here is the link to a cavity photo of the guitar.

Any help is appreciated

http://img140.imageshack.us/i/dscn0272ka.jpg/

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

The single most obvious candidate for poor grounding and buzz issues after converting an active EMG-equiped instrument to passive pickups is absence of bridge/tailpiece grounding wire.

 

[Ahpook]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, was curious about that the second he showed me the wiring.

Whats this special magical wiring he speaks of that doesn't require ground to bridge?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

The schematic diagrams for EMG active pickups illustrate no bridge grounding wire. The advice to persons installing EMG active pickups into a previously passive guitar is to remove it. (Personally, I would just leave it ungrounded and insulated at the control cavity end.)

The schematic diagrams for Seymour Duncan active pickups recommend that the bridge/tailpiece IS grounded.

If your LTD left the factory with EMG circuitry, it may not have a bridge grounding wire. My LTD EC-401w was supplied with EMG-81/-60 humbuckers on a Quik Connect loom. Fortunately for me, this included a bridge ground cable. Hence, the loom was a suitable host for my preferred SD Live Wire Classic II humbuckers.

 

[Ahpook]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

Thanks again

The circuit DID have the ground to bridge with the EMG's installed. Its not there now.

I may have come off a bit obnoxious on my first post, but running back and forth gets extremely annoying.The last thing he said to me was "What if the new jack does the same thing" That kind of flipped me out.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

The guy at guitar center told you that?

Im going to make a suggestion, i just wanted to get that statement in while i write the rest.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

I'm assuming you're not comfortable wiring stuff yourself? Learning how to solder and follow simple diagrams will save you alot of money in the long run.

-your guitar didnt come with a ground wire installed? its odd that it only stops when you touch the jack. do yourself a favor: take out the jack and (Carefully) look at the soldering applied to it. see that it looks shiny and tidy instead of dull and messy.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Buzzing guitar help

I'm assuming you're not comfortable wiring stuff yourself? Learning how to solder and follow simple diagrams will save you alot of money in the long run.

-your guitar didnt come with a ground wire installed? its odd that it only stops when you touch the jack. do yourself a favor: take out the jack and (Carefully) look at the soldering applied to it. see that it looks shiny and tidy instead of dull and messy.

And aggravation!

+1. Sounds like the jack may not be properly grounded, possibly a bad solder joint.