Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
- Thread starter EDX
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DreX
New member
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
I'd like to hear an A/B test for hum before and after shielding is added. I just don't believe it makes that big of a difference. Switching from single coils to humbuckers makes a real, undeniable difference. I suspect a lot of people just assume cavity shielding must be worth while, they do it, assume it made an improvement and never look back. The tricky thing is that the amount of hum you hear is dependent upon the stray electromagnetism of the environment, so to even test the effectiveness of shielding you'd need to rig a well controlled experiment.
A couple notes about shielded wire; 1) if the braded shielding is bare, it can bump into the positive posts of pots and switches and short out the guitar 2) to the extent that cable capacitance matters, shielded cable will cause more capacitance than a shielded cavity.
I'd like to hear an A/B test for hum before and after shielding is added. I just don't believe it makes that big of a difference. Switching from single coils to humbuckers makes a real, undeniable difference. I suspect a lot of people just assume cavity shielding must be worth while, they do it, assume it made an improvement and never look back. The tricky thing is that the amount of hum you hear is dependent upon the stray electromagnetism of the environment, so to even test the effectiveness of shielding you'd need to rig a well controlled experiment.
A couple notes about shielded wire; 1) if the braded shielding is bare, it can bump into the positive posts of pots and switches and short out the guitar 2) to the extent that cable capacitance matters, shielded cable will cause more capacitance than a shielded cavity.
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
Well, I'd like to point out that my budget guitar has a ground running from the pot to the bridge and it still hums when my hand is not in contact.
Well, I'd like to point out that my budget guitar has a ground running from the pot to the bridge and it still hums when my hand is not in contact.
InbredJunk
New member
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
It really depends on your environment that you play in. If you jam in your bedroom without fluorescent light, light dimmer switches, older cvc computer monitors, and with a well grounded house, shielding will have minimal effects. If you play in a room with any of those things, shielding will help tremendously. But you have to shield your guitar the right way. There are some good before and after videos on YouTube about it. Guitar manufacturers wouldn't spend the money on the conductive paint if it didn't work. That stuff costs a fortune. Sure, there are some manufacturers that don't shield their guitars. I guarantee that my shielded guitar would be much more quiet than the exact same guitar without shielding.
It really depends on your environment that you play in. If you jam in your bedroom without fluorescent light, light dimmer switches, older cvc computer monitors, and with a well grounded house, shielding will have minimal effects. If you play in a room with any of those things, shielding will help tremendously. But you have to shield your guitar the right way. There are some good before and after videos on YouTube about it. Guitar manufacturers wouldn't spend the money on the conductive paint if it didn't work. That stuff costs a fortune. Sure, there are some manufacturers that don't shield their guitars. I guarantee that my shielded guitar would be much more quiet than the exact same guitar without shielding.
Lucid_Lunatic
Rebelyellologist
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
I had a Jackson USA Soloist and used tin foil to shield all the cavities with. It made a very positive difference.
I had a Jackson USA Soloist and used tin foil to shield all the cavities with. It made a very positive difference.
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
that's normal.
Some nice trouble shooting guides are here :
http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/electrical/trouble/index.php
that's normal.
Some nice trouble shooting guides are here :
http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/electrical/trouble/index.php
Last edited:
DreX
New member
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
As I understand it, a single coil brings about hum from it's 8000 +/- unshielded turns of wire, and the inductance action of the coil clearly plays a substantial role, since changing your guitars orientation changes the amount of hum drastically. How is a few inches of control cavity wire that barely inducts going to be responsible for much hum? I know some people say it makes a great difference, but frankly, I don't trust their evaluation.
As I understand it, a single coil brings about hum from it's 8000 +/- unshielded turns of wire, and the inductance action of the coil clearly plays a substantial role, since changing your guitars orientation changes the amount of hum drastically. How is a few inches of control cavity wire that barely inducts going to be responsible for much hum? I know some people say it makes a great difference, but frankly, I don't trust their evaluation.
Stratman
Guitaris Maximus
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
I just use shielding paint (4 coats) and ground EARTH the bridge.
(I also have a resistor and 400V cap in the circuit going to the bridge ground (EARTH - correct name used by electrical codes and standards) on my Stratocasters)
On my telecasters, I use a piece of copper shielding foil to contact the bridge, instead of any wiring connection to EARTH.
I just use shielding paint (4 coats) and ground EARTH the bridge.
(I also have a resistor and 400V cap in the circuit going to the bridge ground (EARTH - correct name used by electrical codes and standards) on my Stratocasters)
On my telecasters, I use a piece of copper shielding foil to contact the bridge, instead of any wiring connection to EARTH.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Shielded Wire Vs. Shielded Cavities
Passive-equipped guitars normally hum when you aren't touching any grounded metal parts. It's when there's excessive noise while you're touching grounded metal parts that is a grounding issue and should be looked at.
Proper shielding with both copper and aluminum will reduce noise from your normal external interference and "inferior light dimmers" respectively. Bill Lawrence
Personally, I just turn the gain down if I think it is too noisy. Just play louder and harder and you won't even miss the gain. I regularly use true single coils.
Passive-equipped guitars normally hum when you aren't touching any grounded metal parts. It's when there's excessive noise while you're touching grounded metal parts that is a grounding issue and should be looked at.
Proper shielding with both copper and aluminum will reduce noise from your normal external interference and "inferior light dimmers" respectively. Bill Lawrence
Personally, I just turn the gain down if I think it is too noisy. Just play louder and harder and you won't even miss the gain. I regularly use true single coils.
