Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

wils07

wils07

New member
Ok so i have installed some p-rails with triple shots and i have followed all the instructions and now i get popping or crackling everytime i touch any metal parts on my LP. I have metal tone and vol knobs so i get this problem everytime i touch them.

I have my bridge earthed and i have checked this with my volt meter and it passed so im unsure what it could be? However i did read that this noise could be the cap discharging and im using ceramic caps so could this be true???

The only thing i have not done is shield my cavity but should i need to do this as everything is earthed the way it should be.
Cheers Wils
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

wils07 said:
Ok so i have installed some p-rails with triple shots and i have followed all the instructions and now i get popping or crackling everytime i touch any metal parts on my LP. I have metal tone and vol knobs so i get this problem everytime i touch them.

I have my bridge earthed and i have checked this with my volt meter and it passed so im unsure what it could be? However i did read that this noise could be the cap discharging and im using ceramic caps so could this be true???

The only thing i have not done is shield my cavity but should i need to do this as everything is earthed the way it should be.
Cheers Wils
Click to expand...

Sounds like static.. I know this is gonna sound strange but try it... Take a dryer sheet and give the parts a light wipe down with it.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

wils07 said:
The only thing i have not done is shield my cavity but should i need to do this as everything is earthed the way it should be.
Click to expand...

Yes this should solve the problem.

Btw, did you ground everything on the back of the pots or some where else?
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

If it pops when you have your hand on the strings and then touch the metal with the other hand, then it is definately a grounding issue. Make sure all the grounds are connected some how.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

If it was grounding wouldn't it just hum/buzz? I've never had a guitar crackle or pop.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

All the pots are on a metal plate that come with the les pauls then the plate is earthed to the bridge. I have tested all the earth points on the pots ect and all are connected . I can tap the vol knob or bridge and i get the crackling ,popping ,static noise every time. I also get slight hum but this is at a average level that i would exspect from p-rails. I have a tiny terror and a small ss amp and both do it so im sure its not a amp issue.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

And where is the metal plate and bridge grounded to? Is this metal plate conductive? For example the control plate of my tele is metal but it is not conductive. So I had to ground back of the pots. All the cavity shielding, pots, pups are grounded to a metal washer and output jack is also grounded to the same washer. Then I have taped the washer with electric tape. No noise or what soever, even in coil tapped positions.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

This is what mine looks like inside b4 i fitted the p-rails.
As you can see everything is earthed to the metal back plate so i guess its conductive.
PRAIL.jpg
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

I can not see that chasis's of the pots being grounded to the metal plate. Did you use your multimeter to see if they are connected. Just hold the red pin on the pot and the black one on the metal plate. If it beeps or if your ohm reading changes it means they are connected.

The thick black wire is prom the output jack right? I can not see the hot and cold wires coming out of it clearly. It looks like an LA junction in the middle. Make sure that cold wire (usually black) is grounded also.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

The plate has holes in that little lugs from the pots can sit in and i did check everything over with the multimeter but i guess i could always do it again. Also will silver conductive paint be ok to use in the cavity to help shield?
Cheers Wils
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

Any kind of conductive paint or shielding tape will do. Of course you need to ground them also. This will help you with the 60 cycle hum (50 cycle in europe)

But this problem of yours occurs only when you touch the metal parts which means there is still a grounding issue to be solved. Ensure casings of all the pots are grounded.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

if your jack has the hot/ground crossed it will do that and buzz and stuff
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

cakire82 said:
I can not see that chasis's of the pots being grounded to the metal plate.
Click to expand...

The pots are all grounded to the metal plate by physical contact where they pass through the four shaft holes.

The metal knob's connected to the pot shaft.
The pot shaft's connected to the pot plate.
The pot plate's connected to the ground lug.
Now, hear de word o' de Lord.

:biglaugh:
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

Ok well after going over everything again i can say that everything is in good order. I have used my multimeter to see if everything is earthed and i can put one end on my bridge and the other on one of the matal vol pots and get a signal. One thing i have done is change the 0.022uf ceramic cap for a 0.01uf Polypropolene foil film cap and this seems to have reduced the strange cracking/static noise by atleast 70% . I mean its still there but its not as noticeable so im not sure what to make of it as i know its nothing to do with the value of the cap but just maybe what its made of.
I still get the cycle hum but that does not bother me as much.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

you put a smaller cap and got a smaller buzz?

then please check jack wiring
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

No no with the smaller cap when i touch the metal parts the noise is not as loud as b4 and i still get the same amout of cycle hum that has not changed.
 
Re: Crackling / popping when i touch metal parts

No im Paul lol ..
Good point tho i guess i could pull it out and also try another cable.
 
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