Grounding problems

[redfern_lee]

hi guys

i bought myself a fancy powdercoated aluminium pickguard, and decided to modify my electronics when installing them.

even though im positive ive wired them up right, i still seem to have a greound loop (i think), as i get a slight buzz which goes away when i touch anything (knobs, jackplate, etc)

does anyone have any experience with aluminium pickguards? or give me any tips on what could solve the prob.

cheers

 

[CronoDL]

Re: Grounding problems

Could be some cold solder joints.

 

[Fritz6]

Re: Grounding problems

It's a grounding problem if hum goes away when you touch metal parts on guitar. Check all the solder joints with a multimeter. Should read zero resistance and also get a continuity beep.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Grounding problems

You definately have a grounding problem there... try unsoldering pots andthen testing if that solves the problem... did you alter the output jack? This is also a very common point of failure...
Btw I think that's more of a not-grounded problem... like the ground doesn't go all the way to the output jack where it leaves through the amp... this is why the hum that would go to ground has to leave through hot. (That's why it stops when you touch it - it has a way to ground over your body)

 

[amputee]

Re: Grounding problems

one thing I did that worked for this type of problem..I changed one of the tone inner washers for a tag.. Soldered a copper wire to it and then to the Vol pot top.The plate was grounded I hope this helps..

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Grounding problems

one thing I did that worked for this type of problem..I changed one of the tone inner washers for a tag.. Soldered a copper wire to it and then to the Vol pot top.The plate was grounded I hope this helps..

Sorr ybut I don't get that... what is that supposed to do? The whole pot case is grounded anyway...

 

[redfern_lee]

Re: Grounding problems

cheers for the help guys,

i dont have a test meter thing so i checked everything last night,
i went round grounding everything with a spare wire and nothing really changed unless i grounded the hot output somewhere along its path. which doesnt really help!


is it possible to scrape off some paint where the pots are, then just take a ground from the pickguard>?
also i noticed (im new to this stuff) that when you touch the hot wires, they buzz, could this mean that signal was leaking between wires? just so you know its vintage wire.

maybe i should buy a vu meter!

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Grounding problems

The easiest thing to do is to get some adhesive spray and some tin foil and apply it to the back of the pickguard. This should give you a solid ground path for the switch and other components

 

[redfern_lee]

Re: Grounding problems

The easiest thing to do is to get some adhesive spray and some tin foil and apply it to the back of the pickguard. This should give you a solid ground path for the switch and other components

basically ive bought one of those meters today, and looking at the readings, everything including pickups get grounded through the scratchplate. so i should be ok just taking one ground from the vol pot.

2 things...

i get 0 resistance when testing the + and - on the jack. is this normal?

and i can get a reading at all when testing the connection from the tone output to the tone pot body (ie, through the capacitor), is this normal or should i be checking other things to resistance?