static
I recently built an electric guitar. It sounds great, but I have one problem. When you turn the amp on with the guitar plugged in there is a kind of static type noise. This noise goes away whenever you touch the strings or any metal part on the guitar. It gets worse when you toutch one of the pickups. Any ideas? I have a pretty good grasp of woodworking and playing, but the electrical concept eludes me.
# 1
It is most definetly a grounding (earthing) problem
Perhaps the strings are not earthed ( connection on the bridge )
OR it could be any other metal component
a good trick is to open up the electrics and plug the guitar in- so it's humming
Then with a length of insulated wire, touch one end of the wire to the jack plug body and touch the other end to every metal component
When you find the right component the humming will stop
If you've reversed the polarity on the jack socket - this will also cause a hum
Perhaps the strings are not earthed ( connection on the bridge )
OR it could be any other metal component
a good trick is to open up the electrics and plug the guitar in- so it's humming
Then with a length of insulated wire, touch one end of the wire to the jack plug body and touch the other end to every metal component
When you find the right component the humming will stop
If you've reversed the polarity on the jack socket - this will also cause a hum
if you always take the lazy route
The Devil knows your every move ![COLOR=RoyalBlue]
The Devil knows your every move ![COLOR=RoyalBlue]
# 2
Originally Posted by: GramboIt is most definetly a grounding (earthing) problem
Perhaps the strings are not earthed ( connection on the bridge )
OR it could be any other metal component
a good trick is to open up the electrics and plug the guitar in- so it's humming
Then with a length of insulated wire, touch one end of the wire to the jack plug body and touch the other end to every metal component
When you find the right component the humming will stop
If you've reversed the polarity on the jack socket - this will also cause a hum
A jack Plug is easy to wire, but a jack socket is not so visible and wires can get crossed
if you always take the lazy route
The Devil knows your every move ![COLOR=RoyalBlue]
The Devil knows your every move ![COLOR=RoyalBlue]
# 3
# 4
single coil or humbuckers? single coils will always have a bit of hum...
I recently made this post asking the same question...if the hum goes away when you touch the strings it is not a grounding issue but a RF interference issue, this can come from a number of sources (replacing the compact floresent lights in my "guitar room" with regular bulbs helped alot...)
Check the guitar nuts link in that thread for some good info on shielding your guitar from interference.
I recently made this post asking the same question...if the hum goes away when you touch the strings it is not a grounding issue but a RF interference issue, this can come from a number of sources (replacing the compact floresent lights in my "guitar room" with regular bulbs helped alot...)
Check the guitar nuts link in that thread for some good info on shielding your guitar from interference.
# 5
