bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

[orbiter]

howdy,

I've rewired and checked and double every connection and part w/ a meter ... but still get that annoying grounding buzzz that goes away when I touch (ground) the strings, bridge...

what did I miss? ... I've squashed these problems many times .. but this is one is being a pest!

any ideas?

Thanks~G

 

[midnite_man]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

One thing I can think of off the top of my head is to make sure your power is running from one source; if you have your amp plugged into a wall socket and your effects into another, that could create a grounding conflict. If you're not using any effects, maybe try plugging in your power cord into another power source? Maybe your instrument cable could be bad?
Just a few thoughts.

-Bob

 

[orbiter]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

thanks Bob,

I did test it thru multiple amps in different places (studios) .. so I am confident that its the guitar at this point.

thank you sir!

 

[midnite_man]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

Perhaps a bad solder in there somewhere? You might take a meter to the circuitry inside your guitar and see what it reads.

 

[orbiter]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

thats the kicker..

I've tested and rewired (resoldered) everything .. tested for continuity , all checks out OK??

so I'm pretty stumped .. thanks for the tips ~G

 

[Kent S.]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

thats the kicker..

I've tested and rewired (resoldered) everything .. tested for continuity , all checks out OK??

so I'm pretty stumped .. thanks for the tips ~G

If I'm reading this correctly ... when you take t your hands off the instrument and no part of your body is in contact with the ground of the instrument .... you are going to get that buzz, how bad depends on the enviroment, and other electrical mains conditions. If it stops when you touch the instrument (or on any ground point ... sleeve of cable, bridge(some floyds don't ground thru bridge) strings, or mini switch bats), then everything is fine.
That's if I've understood what you were saying here.

 

[orbiter]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

If I'm reading this correctly ... when you take t your hands off the instrument and no part of your body is in contact with the ground of the instrument .... you are going to get that buzz, how bad depends on the enviroment, and other electrical mains conditions. If it stops when you touch the instrument (or on any ground point ... sleeve of cable, bridge(some floyds don't ground thru bridge) strings, or mini switch bats), then everything is fine.
That's if I've understood what you were saying here.

yep .. there some buzzing that dies when I touch any ground.

are you sure this is normal? none of my other guitars does this as much or as bad as this.. seems like it just isnt grounded quite right.

Thanks for the input!

~G

 

[Kent S.]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

yep .. there some buzzing that dies when I touch any ground.

are you sure this is normal? none of my other guitars does this as much or as bad as this.. seems like it just isnt grounded quite right.

Thanks for the input!

~G

And therein you just answered your own question ... *as much or as bad*, meaning they do ... does it stop when you touch the strings ... yes or no? If yes it's normal, why one would do it greatly more than the other, probably picking up more EMI/RFI, you might shield it a bit better, but otherwise I don't know why one guitar would do it more, now yes singles will do it even more so, because of the extra high frequency hash picked up ... But I'd check your mains (AC), and where your amp is oriented, also the less shielding the guitar has, well the more stuff it's going to pick up, take your hand off the instrument and the problem sounds out clearly. This might be why one guitar is more a victim of it than others. You can double check all your grounds to make sure (with a meter), and check the ground on your amp (also if you have one of those ancient amp polarity switches you want to play with that, although i'd be leary of actually lifting to ground without an isolation transformer, reversal would be okay though). It's the same principle as if you plug in a cable into the amp that isn't plugged into anything, it will make noise, then touch the sleeve with your finger, and the noise stops, touch the tip, and you get more noise. BTW, if you ever have a guitar that the noise gets worse *when you touch the strings* your hot and ground are revered in the guitar or at the jack ... can you say health hazard ... Zap!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

If all else has failed....go to this site and follow the directions. I did the majority of the mod to my strat, and the 60 cyl hum is greatly reduced. I'm no wiring expert, but this was really easy....it just looked intimidating at first.

Guitar Nuts - Wiring/Sheilding Mod

I also posted some schematic pics of the before and after wiring here. Complete shielding of the guitar and the cavity does make a world of difference.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=3770

 

[rabidrabbit2727]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

Yes, it is normal to have slight buzz when you arent touching the strings.

It is buzzing not because the strings aren't grounded, but because you aren't grounded. Think of yourself as a big electrical source, you are causing interference with the electronics. The amount of interference is raised or lowered based on numerous factors, including how well shielded the guitar's electronics are.

This is all correct, AFAIK (I hate acronyms, and I don't know why I use them...)

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

Here's a link from the same site that talks about exactly the problem you're having.

Noise Problem Link

 

[benji657]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

that's normal. it differs from place to place too. in my room its a bit noisy, but in my bedroom, its dead quiet. don't worry.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

9 out of 10 times a grounding problem is something simple you overlooked.
Don't get crazy (YET!!) Take a step back,Take a deep breath...and THINK
Of the simple things 1st.

 

[orbiter]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

Thanks gang,

great info ..

~G

 

[orbiter]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

so ... here the test I did after checking for continuity and solid soldering. actually rewired the whole thing w/ better wire.

I wired the p'up straight to the output jack and grounded it ... same noise .

I did the same w/ a different p'up .. and the noise was gone.

I guess the p'up went south on me?

 

[orbiter]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

btw ~~~ pickup still measures correctly on the meter?!?

 

[HolyDirt]

Re: bzzzzzz.. grounding tricks and tips needed

btw ~~~ pickup still measures correctly on the meter?!?

some pickups have more coil windings (hotter) so they sound like there is more noise. i can almost gaurantee on the pup you didnt here anyhting there was hum, you just didnt hear it.