Installed SD pickups and they are buzzing, grounding problem?

[roadsleeper]

Need some help from the wiring gurus out there...

I just installed a set of Alnico II Pro single coils (neck and mid) and a Hot Rails (bridge) in my '93 Am. Std. Strat, but there was a lot of high frequency noise (buzzing, squealing, etc.) coming from the amp when I first plugged it in.

I checked the amp with another guitar; then I checked the guitar in all positions, but in both cases the noise was still there. It almost sounds like the pickups have gone microphonic because they are picking up even the slightest finger movement (not as great as it might seem), and I get a shuffling (for lack of a better word) noise when I rub my finger against any of the metal parts (even the jack on the amp end).

I followed the wiring diagrams supplied with the Hot Rails when I put everything together, but it's been about 5 years since I've done any guitar modding...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Installed SD pickups and they are buzzing, grounding problem?

If this is a Strat, did you attach a ground wire to your bridge or to the tremolo claw around the back? Did you attach the white wires to the switch and black to the ground? I'll bet you're not grounded properly and that there's no ground to the trem claw or bridge. Lew

 

[roadsleeper]

Re: Installed SD pickups and they are buzzing, grounding problem?

Hi, thanks for the reply!

I did indeed connect a grounding wire from the back of the tone pot, to the trem claw. The other ground wire went to the ground terminal of the input jack, and the other terminal was the 'hot' lead from the main circuit.

I'm just confused because as you mentioned it's a grounding problem, but I followed the Duncan schematics to the T... I'm taking it apart over the weekend to figure things out, but any other ideas what it could be? Perhaps a problem with the pickups?

 

[roadsleeper]

Re: Installed SD pickups and they are buzzing, grounding problem?

OK, I started checking all my soldering points today and couldn't find anything wrong and the buzzing/microphonics persisted.

So I took a chance and snipped the ground wire to the trem claw... and the buzzing/microphonics stopped!!!

Anyone know what gives?

As it stands, aside from the main circuit, only the input jack has anything soldered to it (i.e.: no ground).