Grounding problems and hum

[jamesperkin]

Hey guys

Ok, so I've built a tele type guitar with a strat type pup (Dimarzio) in the neck, tele (Seymour Duncan neck) in the middle, and Dimarzio humbucker in the bridge.

It all seems to be wired up ok but though I've wired guitars before successfully I'm really a novice that follows wiring diagrams without fully understanding what I'm doing... I guess I just follow the pictures and hope it works - it usually does!

So there's loads of background noise which I strongly suspect to a problem with grounding. Could someone explain what I'm trying to achieve with grounding? I've pretty much just wired all grounds to the bottom of the tone pot. Is this right, or does there need to be some kind of start and finish?

I realise this is all basic, step one stuff, but would really appreciate some input.

Cheers

James

 

[brianostevens]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

There should be a wire connected to the bridge of your guitar, this needs to be soldered to your pot as well. This happened to me before, had everything wired correctly, but if you do not gound it to the bridge then it will hum ALOT. Hope that helps.

 

[jamesperkin]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

Hi

Thanks a lot.

I've just double checked my connection to the bridge (ground wire to the bridge plate itself) and there's no problems there - that appears to be intact.

Just to describe thr problem in more detail, there's a background humming, then if I touch any metal component the bridge, a pickup, the pots, the control plate etc) the hum gets louder.

Any more suggestions?

Thanks

James

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

Make sure your output jack is wired correctly. If you have the tip terminal connected to your guitars ground point you will get the noise you describe.

 

[jamesperkin]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

Thanks

Again, just checked and the ground is wired to the sleeve, the hot output is wired to the tip.

Anything else it coule be?

Cheers

James

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

You may have over heated one of the pots and a damaged or defective pot can also cause your issues. I have seen this several times in guitars where everything is wired correctly and the guitar has noise issues.

 

[jamesperkin]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

Okay thanks for the input. I've got some spare pots so I'll give that a try.

 

[Porto Leone]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

+1 for the jack
reverse the wires there for start.

 

[jamesperkin]

Re: Grounding problems and hum

Well fellas I am mucho impressed!

Just reversed the hot and ground on the jack and everything works perfectly - that was a huge help so thanks to you all.

Just out of interest... does anyone know why it now works? I've checked and checked and I'm certain I've got the hot and ground the right way round so I'm a bit confused. Having said that I'd rather have a guitar working that I don't understand, than a guitar I understand that doesn't work!

Cheers again

James