My guitar is shocking me!

[wasteofo2]

I've a habbit of when I'm playing on the higher strings to rest my hand on the low E string. Yesterday I noticed that I was getting slight electrical shocks when I hit strings particularly hard, and today, the problem persists. I'm guessing it's only happening when I hit the strings particularaly hard because a greater signal is generated then, and I'm actually constantly being shocked, but can only feel it once it passes a certian level.

I only noticed the problem yesterday, but didn't do ANYTHING with the wiring yesterday, my guitar's been wired the same way without any modification for several months, and I just noticed the problem yesterday. Today, I switched the quarter pounder mid pickup to an Alnico II pro, and the problem persists. Since the problem began occuring without any change of wiring, I'm thinking that perhaps a component just became faulty? I checked all of my grounds and they all seem to be sturdy and unmoving.

Attached is a diagram of how my guitar is wired, maybe this could help diagnose the problem.

Thanks for any help,
Jacob

 

[wasteofo2]

Re: My guitar is shocking me!

I forgot to add, the problem happens even when my guitar isn't even plugged in. I'm positive the current generated from my pickups when I strike my strings is somehow being re-directed to my strings and my hand.

 

[theodie]

Re: My guitar is shocking me!

I had a problem with a guitar shocking me one time. I found out the cable I used between the amp and the guitar was bad. I switched out cables and everything worked normally.

 

[Artie]

Re: My guitar is shocking me!

Its unlikely that a guitar pickup would generate enough voltage to shock you. If its hot, and you have perspiration on your hands, I suppose its possible that your skin resistance might drop low enough to so that you could feel it.

Here's what may be happening: A guitar pickup generates an AC voltage. So, the "hot" wire is positive for a moment, and "ground" is negative. That polarity reverses at the frequency of the note being played. So, for exactly half the time, the "ground" is positive. Normally, the guitar amp would establish a reference ground, to keep that voltage from being impressed upon you. If the amps ground is bad, as in a bad cable, or if the plug polarity was backwards, I suppose its possible that you could "feel" that voltage.

Obviously, with the guitar disconnected, you have no "reference" ground, and might still feel the voltage. I'ld check first for a bad cable, then double-check the amps plug polarity.

 

[Marcel]

Re: My guitar is shocking me!

hm a guitar pickup generates 1 Volt or something like this. Mysterious if this can shock you imo!

 

[Artie]

Re: My guitar is shocking me!

hm a guitar pickup generates 1 Volt or something like this. Mysterious if this can shock you imo!

I agree. I imagine that wasteof02 is probably refering more to a "tingle" than an outright "zap". A high-output pup, with a hard "hit" can have an initial attack of several volts. And with it being AC, might be felt.

But I agree, its a long shot.

 

[wasteofo2]

Re: My guitar is shocking me!

Its unlikely that a guitar pickup would generate enough voltage to shock you. If its hot, and you have perspiration on your hands, I suppose its possible that your skin resistance might drop low enough to so that you could feel it.

Here's what may be happening: A guitar pickup generates an AC voltage. So, the "hot" wire is positive for a moment, and "ground" is negative. That polarity reverses at the frequency of the note being played. So, for exactly half the time, the "ground" is positive. Normally, the guitar amp would establish a reference ground, to keep that voltage from being impressed upon you. If the amps ground is bad, as in a bad cable, or if the plug polarity was backwards, I suppose its possible that you could "feel" that voltage.

Obviously, with the guitar disconnected, you have no "reference" ground, and might still feel the voltage. I'ld check first for a bad cable, then double-check the amps plug polarity.

It's nicely air conditioned in my room, my hand is no moister than usual. I have no idea how to check the amps plug polarity, but I'll buy a new cable, just for the hell of it.