Grounding Issues!

[Sporky McGuffin]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Where's that ground wire coming from?

Anyways, that's the minor issue. The real problem - what's causing your noise issue - is a lack of shielding in the control cavity. Fix that first, worry about grounding the bridge later.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Grounding Issues!

If the problem didn't exist before, I doubt it's a shielding issue.

You installed new pots. Did you run a ground wire across all of them? (Bridge volume to bridge tone to neck tone to neck volume). Basically, a 3-sided square around the pots.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Where's that ground wire coming from?

Anyways, that's the minor issue. The real problem - what's causing your noise issue - is a lack of shielding in the control cavity. Fix that first, worry about grounding the bridge later.

It's already shielded.

If the problem didn't exist before, I doubt it's a shielding issue.

You installed new pots. Did you run a ground wire across all of them? (Bridge volume to bridge tone to neck tone to neck volume). Basically, a 3-sided square around the pots.

I'm pretty sure I have it like a 3-sided square, but I'll check that again.

Any other ideas after this?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Another set of eyes. Someone locally with some more know how will need to dig in there.

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Check continuity from the pot backs to the shielding.

The reason I'm banging on about shielding is that every time I've seen these symptoms it has been down to inadequate shielding. If you've changed the pots, and you're grounding to the pot backs, that'd present an opportunity for the shielding to be compromised.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Grounding Issues!

I have a Strat with zero shielding, other than what's on the back of the pickguard, loaded with 2 humbuckers, 1 vol, 2 tone, 3-way switch and don't have the noise he's describing. That's why I believe that shielding is not the issue.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

I rechecked the ground wire across all of them. Looks good there, but the noise is still there.

The cavity is shielded. I don't know what else to shield.

I don't want to take it to a tech right now because I don't have any money to waste on that.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Reflow the solder joints if you haven't done that already.

I read your thread about the pots. Sounds like you got some whacky parts. Get some good CTS brand pots and put them in there.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Grounding Issues!

When face this kind of problems I try everything I can and if the problem remains, I pull everything out and in again. However this would be your last choice.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

When face this kind of problems I try everything I can and if the problem remains, I pull everything out and in again. However this would be your last choice.

Hahahah, naw.

Reflow the solder joints if you haven't done that already.

I read your thread about the pots. Sounds like you got some whacky parts. Get some good CTS brand pots and put them in there.

I have Gibson 500K short shaft pots in there now. They're fine. I guess I just had two bad pots in a row. I dunno.

I reflowed them, but I still have that **** buzz.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH <--- that's the sound of me sighing. . .

 

[ErikH]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Can you record this buzz and post it? Just the buzz, then strike a chord for comparison of the buzz noise level. Anything that you can record that we can hear it and get an idea of just how much would help but I'm afraid you may need a tech involved or someone who is a member of this board locally to you to help.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Can you record this buzz and post it? Just the buzz, then strike a chord for comparison of the buzz noise level. Anything that you can record that we can hear it and get an idea of just how much would help but I'm afraid you may need a tech involved or someone who is a member of this board locally to you to help.

It hums pretty loudly, even when I'm playing.

I don't have a mic right now, so no clips.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Help a bro out, yo!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Grounding Issues!

I'm out of ideas. You need another set of eyes. Get it to a tech or somebody local who is a member of the forum to help out. It will not be money wasted.

 

[Toner]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Take a pic of the control cavity, a good pic, and post it, that's all we need to look at.

You say there isn't a hole in the cavity with a single black wire coming out of it. Because on those guitars, the posts you adjust the bridge height with, those busings that are pressed into the guitar, the ground wire comes in through one of those and the wire is fed down into the hole, so when the bridge bushing is pressed in it touches the ground wire.

There HAS to be a bridge ground with all electrics with passive electronics.

Please get a good pic if you could. Even a couple pics, with different angles so we can see the sides of the control cavity.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

After some of my awesome googling, I finally found the ****ing problem!

During the late 70's and early 80's, Gibson decided to use this metal shield/plate that covered the pots underneath the plastic cavity cover. This was used to prevent noise, and make the production process easier. Thus, Les Pauls from this era have NO earth ground from the treble side of the stop-bar tail piece.

The guy who sold me the guitar didn't include the metal plate, so I have this CRAZY grounding issue happening right now.

NOW, my question is. . . where the HELL can I get a ground plate?

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

Here's the best picture I could find of that metal plate I'm talking about:

http://www.lespaulforum.com/slubarticle/vgarticle.html

 

[uOpt]

Re: Grounding Issues!

This is actually the right thing to do.

Instead of using the player's balls for shielding and connecting him to the guitar via the strings (thereby potentially killing him if something in the amp goes wrong), you should properly shield the cavity.

Shielding with any of the methods discussed here, from kitchen aluminium foil over copper tape to conducting paint, will get the job done.

Also, there is such a metal control box on sale on Ebay right now. It's for an SG but the shapes might be compatible enough to fit a Les Paul by bending off the areas where the SG and plug and switch.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-60s-Gib...ryZ47073QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

This is actually the right thing to do.

Instead of using the player's balls for shielding and connecting him to the guitar via the strings (thereby potentially killing him if something in the amp goes wrong), you should properly shield the cavity.

Shielding with any of the methods discussed here, from kitchen aluminium foil over copper tape to conducting paint, will get the job done.

Also, there is such a metal control box on sale on Ebay right now. It's for an SG but the shapes might be compatible enough to fit a Les Paul by bending off the areas where the SG and plug and switch.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-60s-Gib...ryZ47073QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The thing is, the cavity is already shielded. The only way to get rid of the ground issue is to install one of those metal plates, or route out a hole for a ground wire.

Thanks for the link to the one on ebay, but the Les Paul style metal shield is different.

 

[jimmy]

Re: Grounding Issues!

I found a picture of EXACTLY what I'm talking about!

Also, this thread needs to go into the VAULT because it has some great information that can save someone else some frustration who has a guitar from this era that might have the same problems.