Do I need a bridge ground?

BlueSnMettle

BlueSnMettle

Michaelewski
Hey Y'all,

Just started putting together my Tele build. I began by shielding the
bridge cavity via Guitarnuts instructions. Now there is an overlap from
the bridge cavity shielding so the bridge itself makes contact when installed.
My question is all the wiring schematics I see for basic Tele wiring show
a ground coming from the bridge. Will this be neccessary in my situation,
and if so, how do I go about it. I'm putting in a Twang King set, there are
3 wires off each pup, a black, white & grey. The grey is attached to the
bass plate of the bridge pup and as for the neck, I dunno, perhaps the cover.
Thanks.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

Yeah, you want a bridge ground, even if it isn't easy to pull off. I used to have a hollow-body Epiphone with no bridge ground, and even with low-output pickups and low-gain amps, it was a pain to listen to the noise every time I took my hands off the strings.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

You will want it. On my Tele it isn't actually soldered to the bridge its just the wire strands sandwiched in between the bridge and body. That prolly isnt the best way to do it but I dont have any problems. If you have the double sided copper tape you could just tape it to the body and put the bridge on top which wouldnt require soldering and would hold it in place. A pro would not do that but honestly it would give the same result.

I just assume your reluctance is because you dont want to solder it. You want a ground that way when you are playing you get way less hum.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

hang on.

in this instance, if the ground from the jack's connected to all your shielding and the shielding's connected to the bridge, then no you don't need one.

have a similar set-up on a guitar with a metal scratchplate with the bridge attached to it (BC rich evil edge mockingbird that i gutted for my bro); there's no bridge ground wire present but the contact seems to ground the bridge/strings/me.

if you hadn't shielded the crap out of it you'd definitely want one, but the guitarnuts shielding is comprehensive, to say the least.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

^ i think the guitarnuts factor threw you and jessie off, it's pretty specific.
have you checked it out? i found it pretty daunting when i first looked at it
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

With passives, sure you want that grounding. If I'm correct though, actives don't. They're grounded in another manner. You don't need to have that screw with the soldered wire in the body for example. It's pretty late and my brain isn't processing 100% right though but if I remember correctly last time I set up a friend's EMG loaded T.O.M. guitar it didn't have a body ground.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

The OP said that the shielding tape overlaps so that it makes contact with the bridge,so assuming the pickguard is shielded, and everything else goes back to a common ground then another ground from the bridge wouldn't be necessary. It could even cause a ground loop which is why I prefer to shield everything but isolate all the metal parts from said shielding, and star ground everything with wires. this should be pretty easy on a tele.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

The grounded strings are a life-threatening nonsense hack in the first place. The guitar manufacturers are too cheap/lazy to shield the thing, so they abuse your belly (or balls in the case of Les Paul slingers) for shielding.

The problem is that if you have the right defect in an amp it can kill you. Specifically if the power cord has been abused, ground in the cord (or amp) is off and then touches a hot wire it will make your strings come hot, leading to shocking the player. This is dangerous in the extreme since you cramp up under electric shock. If you are in playing position your left hand is fixed around the strings, so even when you fall down contact isn't broken.

But hey we all use amps that have been made carefully, are not old and/or abused and have all been maintained, and never been worked on by people with incomplete understanding of electrical safety, right? :D

In any case, if you have shielded the guitar you don't need the grounded strings.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

im sure you dont need one on a tele bridge anyway, if the pickup is in the bridge (like most teles are) then the bridge is grounded through the baseplate of the tele bridge pickup
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

uOpt if you put a very small value diode (or resistor) in series with the bridge ground you are in no real danger from shock. Even so the defect you speak of is mainly in older (vintage) amps.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

nalo1022 said:
The OP said that the shielding tape overlaps so that it makes contact with the bridge,so assuming the pickguard is shielded, and everything else goes back to a common ground then another ground from the bridge wouldn't be necessary. It could even cause a ground loop which is why I prefer to shield everything but isolate all the metal parts from said shielding, and star ground everything with wires. this should be pretty easy on a tele.
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking. Thanks for your help.


Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

uOpt if you put a very small value diode (or resistor) in series with the bridge ground you are in no real danger from shock. Even so the defect you speak of is mainly in older (vintage) amps.
Click to expand...
Older amps with the ground switch should be fitted with a three prong grounded plug, by a qualified tech, & the ground switch disconnected..

- but there are other problems which can cause a dangerous voltage to appear on your amp chassis, & therefore your guitar ground, & therefore you, if you have a string ground..

A small resistor won't protect you. Given the large voltage that may be present, it could still deliver large current.

A high voltage rated, small uF capacitor would be a better idea, serving as a ground for high frequencies but blocking DC & 60HZ AC.

Shielding the guitar & eliminating the string ground would be best, where possible.
 
Re: Do I need a bridge ground?

All you people and your nonsensical not wanting to ground things and shield things need halp.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Installing Little 59 in Tele bridge
Replies
3
Views
466
Artie
Artie
5
Fighting with my interpretation of a Nashville Tele
Replies
2
Views
373
56LPC
5
Dr. Jimmy
Noisey Strat
Replies
2
Views
248
Dr. Jimmy
Dr. Jimmy
Lazarus1140
HSS Auto-Split w/Std. 5-Way Blade Switch vs Added Toggle
Replies
17
Views
1K
Artie
Artie
V
Help Me Select A Set Of Neck & Middle Strat Pickups To Pair With The BG1400 Bridge
Replies
10
Views
804
Voyager
V
Back
Top