Hi! When my guitar strings are open I get this hum and when I touch them I get a little bit cracky sound(only at the moment i touch them with bare hands and also i tryed it with a coin =D), but when i touch the strings with a pick, there isn’t this cracky sound. And also, when I bend the guitar cable a little bit near the both output jacks(on guitar and on the amp) and hold it bended, the hum and the cracky sound stops. Could there be a problem with the guitar cable or is it something else?
I think I have this problem in my Jackson. Occasionally (though not all the time) I hear these buzzing sounds then touching my bridge and so on, and I have received several (very small) shocks.
@tardzillamovies - occasional/intermittent minor buzz is unfortunately fairly typical. Getting a shock through your guitar strings is NOT normal. It indicates a ground problem in your amp, guitar rig, or the mains wiring. Take a look at this: guitarnuts. com/technical/electrical/safety
Good day to you sir. I suspect that my guitar has a grounding problem because it produce a loud hum and when i turn the volume knob, it doesn't lower the volume of my guitar rather reducing the hum. Can you tell me how to fix this? Thank you in advance.
@09198384558 - you'll need to get in there and check the wiring of the volume pot. Sounds like the ground wire has become disconnected, or the solder joint is bad.
Could a crappy cable mimic a ground problem? M 06 Gibson V is about to under a 67' treatment so i will be dealing with the ground than, but my fender cables are about 6 or 7 years now with abuse. what would you advise is the cause? I notice a buzzyish sound coming from my amp. but its silenced when the strings are muted.
just bought a new decentish cable to try and sounds worse than before. must be the guitar. thanks man. i'll be messing with the guitars ground soon so i'll move it to the bridge if i can get the drill to get in there. going to make a faraday cage in there too.
Hello. My affinity stratocaster's A and D string are buzzing on an open chord, and when you press it on the 1st fret, and when I pluck it it is shaking inasanely. I only played it for two days, and it was from my father abroad and its been there for almost a year, before it was shipped to me yesterday. I wonder if I should only replace the strings, or increase or decrease the action.some one Please help me :(
@TheAmaterasu11 - that is certainly not a ground issue as described in this video. You're looking at a mechanical buzz - most likely from string buzzing against a fret.Check your action (string height), neck relief (truss rod). If it's not fret buzz, it could be a number of things. Make sure all screws and nuts are tight. Check the strings at the tuners. Check the bridge for loose screws/springs. Worst case would high frets, or warped neck.
@TheAmaterasu11 - fixing high frets is not an easy DIY job- best to take it to a luthier for fret level/crown/polish/dress. A warped neck is unlikely- and would probably require a new neck.
Hi i have a ground problem as well and need some advice on how to fix it. There is no bridge wire and im not sure how to wire it through a dean vandetta
@dodgemotorsports1 yeah but there is absolutely no hole for the ground in that guitar unless i make one. i think ill just make a jumper wire to the strings from the back lol.
I just completely rewired the inside of my guitar with new pots and switch and all, but the guitar still hums. I wired it with shielding wire from monte allums web site and installed a copper shield on the back of the pickguard.
The strange thing is, that the hum goes away, when I touch the metal on the output jack. Can you figure out, what the problem is?
@Esbenmad - all i can recommend is what i say in the video- use a multimeter and make sure you have good continuity between all metal parts and the ground lug of the jack. Don't forget the bridge wire to ground!
@johnplanetz The bridge wire. Is that a wire connected to the bridge of the guitar? That might actually be the problem. I will certainly check that out! Thanks a lot!
@Liquidsback - have you tried in a different physical location / electrical circuit? There may be a ground loop hum issue. Or it could be excessive EMI/RFI (can be caused by fluorescent lights, dimmer switches, appliances, electrical towers, etc, etc). Try at a friend's house?
hey my guitar does that but the sound doesn't change when i touch he guitar, it is always the same sound but it increases or decreases depending on my position.
the other day i tried my guitar on a store amp and it didn't sound at all. What is it?!
@m4f14d4d - do you have single-coil pickups? If so, what you describe is normal. Single-coil pickups are susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI). If you have two pickups reverse-wound-reverse-polarity relative to each other, you can eliminate hum by mixing the signal from both. This is the principal behind humbucking pickups.
@johnplanetz No, my guitar is a dean vmnt with duncan live wire dave mustaine active pickups. It's bothering me so much man. The thing is that it just happens in my house, when i play in stores and stuff it's completely silent.
@m4f14d4d - did you try your own guitar at the store, or just another VMNT? if your own guitar sounds perfect in another environment, then you have to blame your home environment- ground loops, dimmer switches, fluorescent lights, etc? If your own guitar sounds bad at the store, or if you have a different guitar which works perfectly at home, then you have to blame your VMNT - maybe adding shielding the guitar cavities, using shielded wire, etc? good luck!
@2chrizful - you'll need to look at the wiring and confirm that all the grounds are electrically continuous. You can do that with a multimeter. If there are any problems you will need to correct them with a soldering iron. See the FAQ at my blog at planetz for tips/resources. If you don't have time or interest to learn some basic electronics and soldering skills, you'll need to take it to a guitar tech. Good luck!
i get the buzzing with all my pickups but it is not bad the only one that is bad is when i switch it to my bridge pickup i took the back off and there is a wire connected to the spring connected to the bridge and it is not lose. any help?
ok,.... my bass guitar does not have a opening in the back,.. how do i open it up to see if theres anything loose inside? thanx for posting the video!
@dandianag - often pickups/components are mounted directly to the pick guard or electronics cover on the front of the guitar. e.g. on a strat, pickups, switches and pots are all mounted to a large plastic pick guard. on a tele or fender jazz bass or p bass, there's a small metal plate on the front, to which the switches and pots are mounted.
If i look at electrical diagrams theres always a cable going to the 'ground'. should that cable just be connected to the bridge then? i really have no idea i need some help!
@skaterocker666 - a little basic electronics would help. try getting an intro book (see resources at my blog faq at planetz), or search youtube for tutorials. the common ground in a guitar circuit is at the jack/plug shield. if the bridge is already connected to that point, then you can also connect your new ground wire to that point. search for "star grounding" (a good thing) and "ground loops" (something to avoid!)
@rkey16 - the strings act as an electrical conductor, so as long as the strings are making contact with the stop tailpiece, and the tailpiece is connected to ground, then they should provide continuity. you can confirm with a multimeter.
my noise gets quiter when i touch the strings or other metal parts unlike yours getting louder would i have the same problem? alsoi noticed my noise gets significantly louder in certain areas of my room more specifically near the main light switch in my room and one outlet. It is not a dim switch and all the grounds test fine on my outlets. this is kinda driving me crazy lol so help wud b appreciated.
@thedonace213 - are these single coil pickups? single-coils are prone to picking up electromagnetic interference (like light switches, etc). if you have a second RWRP pickup that you can blend in (like positions 2 and 4 on a strat 5-way), it'll buck some hum, but it won't be perfect. or move your guitar to a different location to avoid noise. as for the slight buzz when touching the strings, you'll sometimes get that even on a properly wired guitar. intermittent voodoo craziness...
@johnplanetz I happen to have a similar problem to thedonace213....my guitar is a 1 humbucker, 1 volume guitar (EVH style). When I touch the strings, or anything metal connected to the strings (the floyd rose for example), all the static goes away. But when I do not touch the metal pieces there is an annoying static sound. Any suggestions for getting rid of this?
@baconbag Wouldn't it make noise all the time if it was the pick up itself? Because otherwise the giutar is dead silent...except when I play that is xD. And i checked and everything is "fine"
I took my guitar to be repaired for this and now, the grounding issue is louder because the repairman thought I had a sheilding issue. Now the unit is shielded more than it is but the bridge to my acoustic electric is plastic. Maybe there is a loose wire or could it be that the electrical card connecting to the 9 volt battery is messed up. Would the repairman need a multimeter? Just curious.
@XB0XFR34K - it would be pretty hard to diagnose remotely like that. if you don't feel comfortable experimenting with your guitar or its electronics, probably best to take it to a local guitar tech.
@97warlock- check for continuity between all metal parts. From the FAQ at my blog at planetz:
Use a multimeter to confirm that each two points that should be connected together really are connected, and that there’s no undesirable short-circuits. (Set your multimeter to resistance mode, any scale, and test by touching two points with the test leads- if they’re connected, you will see zero resistance. If you see infinite resistance, that means no connection)
@mesvidsfavoris - not so much what's "most" important. unfortunately, it's ALL important. check all the metal parts for continuity to the jack sleeve, using a multi-meter. make sure it's all connected!
My multimeter shows a connection between ALL metal parts and the jack socket, and also the top 3 strings and the jack socket. However the the connection between the D, A, and low E to jack socket is intermittent.
@gfmcc - that's odd. what type of bridge is it? we're simply talking about metal-to-metal contact here. the string is metal, resting on a metal saddle, which makes contact with the metal bridge. and one of the metal bridge posts is wired to a ground point like the back of the pot. so make sure the saddles are seated properly and there's nothing obstructing the string-to-saddle contact, etc.
i have an epiphone gothic les paul and it have the humming sound as well, when i touch the bridge or some other parts it stops. so then i took my guitar apart and found that the ground wire is there but is not connected to the bridge, instead is connected at the string saddle, do i have to change it so its at the bridge? if so how do i change it on my own??
@rkey16 - they just need to be connected electrically. if the wire is soldered to something metal which is making contact with the bridge or other metal parts, then it should be ok. confirm with a multi-meter as I describe in the video.
I'm running a GFS VEH through one volume knob and then the output jack. the ground is connected to the back of the pot, and I'm getting an incredibly annoying brittle/static hum. How do I fix this?
@RockVoltz - is the back of the pot also connected to common ground (i.e. the jack ground lug). use a multimeter to confirm you have good ground connection all the way from pickup shield to jack shield- as described in the video. good luck!
@johnplanetz I'm in the same situation, everything is grounded to the one volume pot. Don't even have a tone, Already checked and REsoldered the ground to bridge wire!! Help?
I just replaced the neck pickup.I didn't touch anything else.My grounding wire is on the back to the tremolo thing( i don't know the word sorry) where she is supposed to be.So the problem is that i have this buzzing sound like yours in this video but when i touch the strings or anything metal sound disappears. Any tips???Please
@Martin870620 - confirm that you have good ground connection between all metal components, and between all component grounds (including your new pickup ground/shield) as described in the video.
My guitar kind of does the opposite of what yours did with the ground unplugged. As soon as I touch the bridge, the hum goes away. I think it might be that the ground wire connected to the bridge came off. What do you think?
ok so my bass has this however, I run EMG-HZ pickups and if i have the neck pickup on or blended and touch the neck pick up with my finger I get a high pitch squeal. If I blend it to just the bridge pickup no squeal. I have replaced the battery already, do you think this is a ground issue as well?
@decomposing1 - certainly sounds like a wiring problem to me. open it up and check the connections with a multimeter. see the tips in the faq at my blog.
@decomposing1 This sounds like a problem with the neck pickup itself, I'd check all the wiring first, just to make sure, but typically the high squeal is caused by microphonic feedback meaning that the bits inside the pickup are moving and they shouldn't be. With regular pickups you can 'pot' them (seal them with wax). This principle certainly applies to the EMG's too but depending on how they're constructed it may not be that quck a fix. You might need a new pickup.
I get more buzz on my Gibson LP on high gain than I would like. I have checked all grounds in the guitar (switch, pots, jack, bridge) and all are connected. The noise gets worse when not touching the bridge. However when touching it there is still noise. Im finding it hard to tell if its a grounding, shielding, or pickup issue. It seems that as I move around my room the noise will vary but it never goes away. Turning off electrical circuits in my room also decrease noise, but does not remove it.
@Clipster15 - yes that does sound like an EMI issue, which is always worse at high gain. it may be improved by shielding. check the guitarnuts tutorials on shielding.
@Clipster15 I have the same problem on my LP, I double checked and all the grounds are connected per the diagram I used but they weren't connected well enough. Check the continuity between all the individual parts and the ring on the jack.
they are mass produced, but I am hesitant to start taking it apart as I dont have the tools are skills to put it back together. If I take it to the shop, what should I say, and is there any way to shield semi hollow electronics?
@JCopper11 - see my reply to thedonace. sounds like the bridge wire may be missing or broken. check with a multimeter! it wouldn't be easy to shield the interior of a hollowbody, but you could at least verify that the wire runs are as short as possible and use shielded wire.
i have an epiphone riviera with gibson p94s in it. Just like thedonace, my guitar beggins to hum when I'm not touching the strings. As soon as I touch it, it quits (although, there is quite a bit of hum that happens regardless). When I reach across my guitar and my arm brushes agains the strings, I receive a small shock. IDK if i cant feel it through my calouses or what, but it doesnt happen when i touch it with my hands. I think it is probably a ground issue seeing as it is an epiphone and
My problem is that there is noise when I'm not touching anything it makes noise and once I touch any metel part or the strings then the noise goes away. It is worse at different times of the day or less at different times of day. I have used an outlet tester on the outlets that my gear is plugged into and they all check out fine. What could be my problem, doubt it is the grounding of my guitar(s) as my main one is brand new and the others ALL do it too, and both my tube amps as well.
@thedonace213 - it's possible that the bridge ground wire may be broken or missing. if you have a multimeter, make sure you have continuity between your strings and your jack shield. Hold one lead on a string, and the other lead on the sleeve of the jack and check for 0 resistance. If it's not, you'll need to ground the bridge.
@johnplanetz you mean the bridge pickup? anyway, my other guitars have the same buzzing problem but I'll check the ground wiring I don't really know how to fix it myself but I'll check it out. Thanks!
@thedonace213 - the bridge itself is typically grounded to provide ground the metal parts of the guitar-top (tuning heads, strings, bridge). if that's grounded ok, and all your guitars are doing it, then i would suspect EMI or AC line noise. check fluorescent lights and dimmer switches, etc. for EMI issues, check the guitarnuts guides on shielding. good luck!
@johnplanetz hmm what's EMI? I jave flourescent lights in my room and a dimmer switch downstairs that's gone bad (would this affect it even though it's downstairs?). And yeah I've been looking into shielding I think I will do that. My Les Paul does it too and I've heard those don't require shielding.
plus If i stand with the guitar facing north or south it's somewhat tolerable. but as i turn to either direction the hum gets loud and is just undesirable and extremely irritating, and kind of scary.
note: There is a power pole in my backyard, and on that pole is a transformer. now if a little guitar amp transformer makes noise, what will a 200 amp tin can do?
@cumulo25 - single coil pickups all have similar issues with electromagnetic interference- this is the hum that changes when you move the guitar around in the air. The middle pickup on a strat is typically reverse-wound reverse polarity relative to the other two pickups, so that when you play in switch position 2 (neck+mid) and 4 (bridge+mid), it should cancel that hum. does it? if so, consider it basically normal unfortunately. for shielding tips, see the guitarnuts tutorials.
@johnplanetz guitar was made in usa and already shielded. but shielding will never do it's job unless there is a good ground. I want every pickup to be as quiet as it was in the store. the 2 + 4 settings are nice, but they don't have that punch like the 1,3,5
@cumulo25 - unfortunately, you have limited control over EMI. try playing in a different location. this is mostly just a fact of life with single coil pickups, but may be improved be good potting. this is why they invented humbuckers :) i too love the sound of my single coils, but usually have to play in positions 2 or 4 when i'm playing at gig levels or in environments with lots of EMI
@johnplanetz oh well, thanx anyway! my uncle is a certified master electrician and were going to talk to him. i want to try getting an extension chord and plug it into a ground lifter, BUT resting the prong directly onto the grounding rod and if it still hummoing then we have a problem. pouring a good amount water onto the rod, oe a HumX, but those are kind of expensive for a piece of plastic with and, and small PDB.
I bought a new American (so it's shielded and grounded) Standard strat to replace my squier that hummed obnoxiously. I checked out the same guitar at 2 different stores and took my amp & wah, so much quieter than my squier! I ended up buying it, and when I took it to my house, it hums just like my squier. the amp buzzes slightly without the guitar plugged in (ground loop) and the mains hum on the guitar (shitty grounding=shielding useless). I think it's both, what do YOU think?
@cumulo25 - if your amp buzzes with nothing plugged in, it could be bad ground in the amp - have you lifted the ground, or plugged into a power strip with no ground? don't do that :) Do you have a light dimmer or fluorescent lights which could be introducing buzz?
@johnplanetz the buzz in the amp and the 60hz hum is only heard plugging into my house, the guitar I bought was the same exact one I had checked out the day before with my own amp and wah and it was a dream come true, and there were lights everywhere, but it was still quiet.
I built a guitar, one volume one pickup no tone... and i get buzz constantly and more so when i touch the mounting screws or anything on the humbucker... the buzzing stops when i touch the jack plate... i touched wires to everything but i cant figure out what the problem is.. please help
I have a problem with buzz on my Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV bass, when the settings are at full treble and are at the bridge pickup. The noise disappears when the metal of the jack plug is touched. Is this a grounding problem? How could this be fixed?
@JohnHowell00 - could be a grounding issue. use a multimeter to check continuity between all the metal parts. there may be a loose or broken connection, which you could repair with a soldering iron.
I just finished installing a new tone cap in my project telecaster, but when I tried the guitar it had a ground problem, so I went through and fixed some suspicious looking connections, then checked with a multimeter to make sure all everything was grounded, which it was. But now my guitar still buzzes and the tone pot doesn't work now. What should I do to fix this?
@StratocasterDude177 - since the tone pot doesn't work, you have some bad wiring in there which is probably also causing your buzz. The only answer is to carefully check through every connection, referring to a wiring diagram if necessary. See the faq at my blog for some tips. Good luck.
@StratocasterDude177 - sure but it's MUCH more common to have a wiring mistake or break, rather than a failing pot. don't rule out a bad pot, but suspect your wiring first!
im having a buzz problem with noiseless pickups, it stops buzzing with i touch the strings... or even reduces when i touch metal on my effects machine ( even when im not touching the guitar.) i heard that if the volume and tone pots are touching the metal foil on the pickguard ( stratocaster) it could cause this ground problem? other than that... my wiring looks good. thanks john
I just refinished a Epiphone Sg and i think there is a grounding problem. The ground wire goes through the body into a hole where the the bridge is slides in. Am i just supposed to set the bridge on top of it and hope it touches?
@saynotoemo84 - yep, that's it. solder one end of the wire to the bottom of the bridge post, and the other end to a ground point (like pot back) that's electrically connected to the jack ground lug.
@johnplanetz this is probably a stupid question but i am not to keen on the wiring yet. I have not soddered the ground wire to the bridge post, but even when i touch the ground wire to the post it makes that loud buzzing noise ( the one when you touch the strings or any metal part on the guitar). Does it only do that because i'm holding the ground wire or the bridge post?
@saynotoemo84 - double-check that the other end of the wire is soldered to a good ground point. as i described in the video, all these grounds have to be tied together and ultimately connect to the ground lug of the jack. Use a multimeter to double-check they're all connected (see the faq at my blog for details on how to do that).
hey john great vids by the way, I've just built my first guitar & about to put in the electrics. I'm going for a very simple setup as I don't use multiple tone knobs or pickup combinations..so I've got a 2 way dpdt switch, 1 volume 500k, 1 tone 500k & a set of p90's. I will also be using a .022 orange drop cap on the tone pot (thanks for explaining that by the way). My question is do I have to link a ground wire to both pots & the brid
@fawnication - your comment was cut off. but if i can guess the rest of the question, then yes, you do need to link all the metal parts of the pots, the switch, the bridge - they all must be electrically connected to the ground lug of the output jack. So you typically run a wire between the pot backs, and run a wire from the bridge to one of the pot backs, and a wire to the jack ground lug, Hope this helps.
@GibsonKLO - You could try to just open it up and look for loose/broken wires, but even if you find one it may not be obvious where to reconnect it without a bit more understanding of the circuit Sounds like you'll need to get some basics sorted out, like how to use a multimeter, and how guitar circuits work. You can check the FAQ at my blog for some books and resources...
@outforblood77 - i think it's just a variation on the same issue. Shielding would typically be a buzz that's happening all the time, whether you're touching or not.
my jackson dose somthing diffrent it dose buzzing sounds when you strum it and press down the frets and strum and its on all the frets and strings also on the middle high and down sides of the frets heeeeeeeeelllllppppppppppp
@mrmoney185 -if i'm understanding you correctly, it sounds like you're talking about strings buzzing against frets, not buzz that's in the guitar audio signal? to remedy fret buzz, you need to set your action properly (by adjusting bridge/saddle height), and your neck relief (adjusted with the truss rod). Look up dan erlewine's books for how-to's (links in my blog FAQ). May also be a popped fret that's sitting too high, or frets that need dress/crown/polish - pay a guitar tech to fix those.
hi I think I have same problem,I have an accoustic guitar yamaha CGX 171 CCA nylon ..when I increase the 'low' on the guitar EQ the noise more bigger ..but when I try to touch the jack that connect to the guitar, the noisy is disappear..
then i try to change the wire inside the guitar,the problem it still there..i worry about the guitar EQ was broken???
@mikraj - could be an issue with the preamp, but your description implies a ground issue like i describe in the video. are you sure you've checked all the ground points for good electrical connection?
i kinda have the same problem but not exactly. there is a buzzing sound when im NOT touching a metal part but when i touch the strings or the jack it goes away. is this the same problem?
i have a Epiphone les paul.. and i have this exact same problem... how ever i know nothing about electronics but i do have a friend who does.... but he doesn't know anything about guitars.... how can i explain this to him???
I have some noise problems so I decided to shield my B.C.Rich Warbeast which has 2 humbucker cavities, the electronics cavity and the tremolo one. I am trying to copper shield them but I was wondering how to shield the humbucker cavities and the floyd rose since they are not covered by any plastic cover. Does it still create a Faraday Cage? Also, do I have to wire all the shieldings to ground?
@Nicolauru - yes the shielding needs to be grounded. humbuckers don't generally need additional shielding. stewmac has a great article on shielding your cavities - search for it.
I'll be testing out the amplifier and cable soon enough though, since I think those might be the problem. Is there any way to use the multimeter to check if the amp/cable might be defective? Or must I switch them out and check that way?
And let's say my Amplifier is the problem, is there an easy way to ground it myself? Or will I need to go to a professional/buy a new amp?
@Burninator718 - based on your last msg, I doubt it's your amp or cable since your other guitar sounds ok (minor buzz aside). if your amp were bad, i'd probably leave the repair to a pro unless you're willing to really learn enough electronics to avoid killing yourself :) you can electrocute yourself in there if you're not careful and touch the wrong thing.
OK, so I've checked with my multimeter all the pots in the back of the guitar, and they're connected. I've also checked between the bridge/strings and the pots, and they're connected. The jack seems to be connected also. And the metallic plates over my humbuckers are also connected. Is there something I'm missing? Because I do have the symptoms you described and yet it doesn't seem to be working. Should I just recheck or was there something I missed?
Hi! When my guitar strings are open I get this hum and when I touch them I get a little bit cracky sound(only at the moment i touch them with bare hands and also i tryed it with a coin =D), but when i touch the strings with a pick, there isn’t this cracky sound. And also, when I bend the guitar cable a little bit near the both output jacks(on guitar and on the amp) and hold it bended, the hum and the cracky sound stops. Could there be a problem with the guitar cable or is it something else?
Arnoldx1992 4 hours ago
I have the same issue except for the following:
The pickups arent working and i get the loudest 'noise' when I touch the switch casing. help/suggestions please?
Dazcam 3 days ago
I think I have this problem in my Jackson. Occasionally (though not all the time) I hear these buzzing sounds then touching my bridge and so on, and I have received several (very small) shocks.
tardzillamovies 1 week ago
@tardzillamovies - occasional/intermittent minor buzz is unfortunately fairly typical. Getting a shock through your guitar strings is NOT normal. It indicates a ground problem in your amp, guitar rig, or the mains wiring. Take a look at this: guitarnuts. com/technical/electrical/safety
johnplanetz 5 days ago
Good day to you sir. I suspect that my guitar has a grounding problem because it produce a loud hum and when i turn the volume knob, it doesn't lower the volume of my guitar rather reducing the hum. Can you tell me how to fix this? Thank you in advance.
09198384558 1 week ago
@09198384558 - you'll need to get in there and check the wiring of the volume pot. Sounds like the ground wire has become disconnected, or the solder joint is bad.
johnplanetz 5 days ago
thanks for the tip... my tele has this problem too :(
watwillwedonext 2 weeks ago
Could a crappy cable mimic a ground problem? M 06 Gibson V is about to under a 67' treatment so i will be dealing with the ground than, but my fender cables are about 6 or 7 years now with abuse. what would you advise is the cause? I notice a buzzyish sound coming from my amp. but its silenced when the strings are muted.
RSdarkknigth13 1 month ago
@RSdarkknigth13 - one way to find out if the cable is the problem. Try another cable! :)
johnplanetz 1 month ago
@johnplanetz
just bought a new decentish cable to try and sounds worse than before. must be the guitar. thanks man. i'll be messing with the guitars ground soon so i'll move it to the bridge if i can get the drill to get in there. going to make a faraday cage in there too.
RSdarkknigth13 1 month ago
@RSdarkknigth13 - good sleuthing! Check the guitarnutz site for lots of advice on shielding.
johnplanetz 1 month ago
i have tha same problem with my new mexican strat and mustang 2 Amp. & u r saying that i have to open it up? OH my god Fender!
actuallyNFxC 2 months ago
@actuallyNFxC - yes, probably. sorry for that bad news :)
johnplanetz 1 month ago
@actuallyNFxC Not omg fender but omg Mexico fender :(
quivsha 1 month ago
Hello. My affinity stratocaster's A and D string are buzzing on an open chord, and when you press it on the 1st fret, and when I pluck it it is shaking inasanely. I only played it for two days, and it was from my father abroad and its been there for almost a year, before it was shipped to me yesterday. I wonder if I should only replace the strings, or increase or decrease the action.some one Please help me :(
TheAmaterasu11 2 months ago
@TheAmaterasu11 - that is certainly not a ground issue as described in this video. You're looking at a mechanical buzz - most likely from string buzzing against a fret.Check your action (string height), neck relief (truss rod). If it's not fret buzz, it could be a number of things. Make sure all screws and nuts are tight. Check the strings at the tuners. Check the bridge for loose screws/springs. Worst case would high frets, or warped neck.
johnplanetz 2 months ago
@johnplanetz thank you sir, can it still be fixed if its neck is warped or fret is high? :(
TheAmaterasu11 2 months ago
@TheAmaterasu11 - fixing high frets is not an easy DIY job- best to take it to a luthier for fret level/crown/polish/dress. A warped neck is unlikely- and would probably require a new neck.
johnplanetz 2 months ago
@TheAmaterasu11 damn! thank you sir!
TheAmaterasu11 2 months ago
@TheAmaterasu11 That awkward moment when you replied to yourself..
AngryRobot87 1 month ago
THANK YOU!!!
banchukita 3 months ago
Thanks this is a great video! Well done...
starsighter13 3 months ago
Hi i have a ground problem as well and need some advice on how to fix it. There is no bridge wire and im not sure how to wire it through a dean vandetta
dodgemotorsports1 4 months ago
@dodgemotorsports1 - it's usually soldered to the bottom of the screw that holds the bridge in place (accessible from inside the control cavity).
johnplanetz 4 months ago
@dodgemotorsports1 yeah but there is absolutely no hole for the ground in that guitar unless i make one. i think ill just make a jumper wire to the strings from the back lol.
dodgemotorsports1 4 months ago
Hi:-)
I just completely rewired the inside of my guitar with new pots and switch and all, but the guitar still hums. I wired it with shielding wire from monte allums web site and installed a copper shield on the back of the pickguard.
The strange thing is, that the hum goes away, when I touch the metal on the output jack. Can you figure out, what the problem is?
Best regards Esben Madsen
Esbenmad 4 months ago
@Esbenmad - all i can recommend is what i say in the video- use a multimeter and make sure you have good continuity between all metal parts and the ground lug of the jack. Don't forget the bridge wire to ground!
johnplanetz 4 months ago
@johnplanetz The bridge wire. Is that a wire connected to the bridge of the guitar? That might actually be the problem. I will certainly check that out! Thanks a lot!
Esbenmad 4 months ago
@Esbenmad - yes, there should be a wire connected to the bridge, usually soldered to the bottom of the screw that holds the bridge in place.
johnplanetz 4 months ago
@johnplanetz Thanks! I hope that it solves my problem.
Esbenmad 4 months ago
I have many guitars, amps, and cables but I'm still getting a humming through each combination. Help?
Liquidsback 4 months ago
@Liquidsback - have you tried in a different physical location / electrical circuit? There may be a ground loop hum issue. Or it could be excessive EMI/RFI (can be caused by fluorescent lights, dimmer switches, appliances, electrical towers, etc, etc). Try at a friend's house?
johnplanetz 4 months ago
@Liquidsback Thank you, this might be it.
Liquidsback 4 months ago
hey my guitar does that but the sound doesn't change when i touch he guitar, it is always the same sound but it increases or decreases depending on my position.
the other day i tried my guitar on a store amp and it didn't sound at all. What is it?!
m4f14d4d 5 months ago
@m4f14d4d - do you have single-coil pickups? If so, what you describe is normal. Single-coil pickups are susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI). If you have two pickups reverse-wound-reverse-polarity relative to each other, you can eliminate hum by mixing the signal from both. This is the principal behind humbucking pickups.
johnplanetz 4 months ago
@johnplanetz No, my guitar is a dean vmnt with duncan live wire dave mustaine active pickups. It's bothering me so much man. The thing is that it just happens in my house, when i play in stores and stuff it's completely silent.
m4f14d4d 4 months ago
@m4f14d4d - did you try your own guitar at the store, or just another VMNT? if your own guitar sounds perfect in another environment, then you have to blame your home environment- ground loops, dimmer switches, fluorescent lights, etc? If your own guitar sounds bad at the store, or if you have a different guitar which works perfectly at home, then you have to blame your VMNT - maybe adding shielding the guitar cavities, using shielded wire, etc? good luck!
johnplanetz 4 months ago
@NickR1980 - see my channel, I have a whole video series on changing out the electronics (including the jack) in the Riviera.
johnplanetz 5 months ago
very helpful, thanks john
iancage65 5 months ago
:D and how can i do this grounding? by taking off the cables and wire them up again?? need some details :/
2chrizful 5 months ago
@2chrizful - you'll need to look at the wiring and confirm that all the grounds are electrically continuous. You can do that with a multimeter. If there are any problems you will need to correct them with a soldering iron. See the FAQ at my blog at planetz for tips/resources. If you don't have time or interest to learn some basic electronics and soldering skills, you'll need to take it to a guitar tech. Good luck!
johnplanetz 5 months ago
i get the buzzing with all my pickups but it is not bad the only one that is bad is when i switch it to my bridge pickup i took the back off and there is a wire connected to the spring connected to the bridge and it is not lose. any help?
mrguit4rmaster 6 months ago
@mrguit4rmaster - double check the ground/shield wire for the bridge pickup itself, to make sure it is properly connected to a ground point.
johnplanetz 6 months ago
thanx John
RavenMadd9 6 months ago
ok,.... my bass guitar does not have a opening in the back,.. how do i open it up to see if theres anything loose inside? thanx for posting the video!
dandianag 6 months ago
@dandianag - often pickups/components are mounted directly to the pick guard or electronics cover on the front of the guitar. e.g. on a strat, pickups, switches and pots are all mounted to a large plastic pick guard. on a tele or fender jazz bass or p bass, there's a small metal plate on the front, to which the switches and pots are mounted.
johnplanetz 6 months ago
thank you very much
human453 7 months ago
Thanks a lot man. That helped a lot! good demonstrations and what not, Good video !!
neochase1 7 months ago
thanks man they asked 100 bux to fix my grond problem think i can do it bymself now
lbmix100 7 months ago
@lbmix100 - excellent! good luck.
johnplanetz 7 months ago
If i look at electrical diagrams theres always a cable going to the 'ground'. should that cable just be connected to the bridge then? i really have no idea i need some help!
skaterocker666 7 months ago
@skaterocker666 I have the same exact problem and im not sure either... really wish that someone would answer
evilbunneh666 7 months ago
@skaterocker666 - a little basic electronics would help. try getting an intro book (see resources at my blog faq at planetz), or search youtube for tutorials. the common ground in a guitar circuit is at the jack/plug shield. if the bridge is already connected to that point, then you can also connect your new ground wire to that point. search for "star grounding" (a good thing) and "ground loops" (something to avoid!)
johnplanetz 7 months ago
i got a epiphone les paul, is the ground wire in the wrong place if its connected to the stop tailpiece instead of the bridge??
rkey16 8 months ago
@rkey16 - the strings act as an electrical conductor, so as long as the strings are making contact with the stop tailpiece, and the tailpiece is connected to ground, then they should provide continuity. you can confirm with a multimeter.
johnplanetz 8 months ago
hey, awesome video man! good job!! i have one question : can this work with humbuckers?? i have the same problem but i have an epiphone les paul...
2chrizful 9 months ago
@2chrizful - sure, proper grounding is a common requirement of any electrical circuit. so, yes this same explanation applies to any guitar circuit.
johnplanetz 9 months ago
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2chrizful 9 months ago
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dannyo009 9 months ago
my noise gets quiter when i touch the strings or other metal parts unlike yours getting louder would i have the same problem? alsoi noticed my noise gets significantly louder in certain areas of my room more specifically near the main light switch in my room and one outlet. It is not a dim switch and all the grounds test fine on my outlets. this is kinda driving me crazy lol so help wud b appreciated.
thedonace213 10 months ago
@thedonace213 - are these single coil pickups? single-coils are prone to picking up electromagnetic interference (like light switches, etc). if you have a second RWRP pickup that you can blend in (like positions 2 and 4 on a strat 5-way), it'll buck some hum, but it won't be perfect. or move your guitar to a different location to avoid noise. as for the slight buzz when touching the strings, you'll sometimes get that even on a properly wired guitar. intermittent voodoo craziness...
johnplanetz 10 months ago
@johnplanetz I happen to have a similar problem to thedonace213....my guitar is a 1 humbucker, 1 volume guitar (EVH style). When I touch the strings, or anything metal connected to the strings (the floyd rose for example), all the static goes away. But when I do not touch the metal pieces there is an annoying static sound. Any suggestions for getting rid of this?
WhatAFluke 7 months ago
@WhatAFluke - could also be a bad ground connection. check for continuity as i described in the video. if that doesn't help, then i dunno!
johnplanetz 7 months ago
Do all types of of switches need to be grounded?
baconbag 10 months ago
I only get a buzz in my guitar when i touch the screws of my Bridge Pick up...any ideas?
thehornypuppy 11 months ago
@thehornypuppy My guess would be the ground of the bridge pickup itself.
baconbag 10 months ago
@baconbag Wouldn't it make noise all the time if it was the pick up itself? Because otherwise the giutar is dead silent...except when I play that is xD. And i checked and everything is "fine"
thehornypuppy 10 months ago
I took my guitar to be repaired for this and now, the grounding issue is louder because the repairman thought I had a sheilding issue. Now the unit is shielded more than it is but the bridge to my acoustic electric is plastic. Maybe there is a loose wire or could it be that the electrical card connecting to the 9 volt battery is messed up. Would the repairman need a multimeter? Just curious.
The72Rabbit 11 months ago
@The72Rabbit - the guitar tech should really know what to do-- let him know you suspect a grounding problem and not a shielding issue.
johnplanetz 10 months ago
please help me!?! if i make a video and you watch it can you tell me whats wrong?
XB0XFR34K 11 months ago
@XB0XFR34K - it would be pretty hard to diagnose remotely like that. if you don't feel comfortable experimenting with your guitar or its electronics, probably best to take it to a local guitar tech.
johnplanetz 11 months ago
great demonstration. greatly appreciated.
thebchsbassplayer 11 months ago
Can resolving a ground issue be resolved Without a multimeter? currently dont have one cuz im Broke broke.
97warlock 11 months ago
@97warlock - a cheap multimeter is sufficient. for this kind of thing you should be able to get one for under $10
johnplanetz 10 months ago
@johnplanetz and what should i use the multimeter for? if i get any reading,its not grounded,right? no numbers means grounded,correct?
97warlock 10 months ago
@97warlock- check for continuity between all metal parts. From the FAQ at my blog at planetz:
Use a multimeter to confirm that each two points that should be connected together really are connected, and that there’s no undesirable short-circuits. (Set your multimeter to resistance mode, any scale, and test by touching two points with the test leads- if they’re connected, you will see zero resistance. If you see infinite resistance, that means no connection)
johnplanetz 10 months ago
U need massive overdrive when doing a ground problem video. OD will bring that HUM right out.
97warlock 11 months ago
@mesvidsfavoris - not so much what's "most" important. unfortunately, it's ALL important. check all the metal parts for continuity to the jack sleeve, using a multi-meter. make sure it's all connected!
johnplanetz 11 months ago
@johnplanetz
My multimeter shows a connection between ALL metal parts and the jack socket, and also the top 3 strings and the jack socket. However the the connection between the D, A, and low E to jack socket is intermittent.
What does this mean?
gfmcc 11 months ago
@gfmcc - that's odd. what type of bridge is it? we're simply talking about metal-to-metal contact here. the string is metal, resting on a metal saddle, which makes contact with the metal bridge. and one of the metal bridge posts is wired to a ground point like the back of the pot. so make sure the saddles are seated properly and there's nothing obstructing the string-to-saddle contact, etc.
johnplanetz 11 months ago
Maybe i missed it, but did you tell us what was causing the hum in your guitar?
journeyquest1 1 year ago
i have an epiphone gothic les paul and it have the humming sound as well, when i touch the bridge or some other parts it stops. so then i took my guitar apart and found that the ground wire is there but is not connected to the bridge, instead is connected at the string saddle, do i have to change it so its at the bridge? if so how do i change it on my own??
rkey16 1 year ago
@rkey16 - they just need to be connected electrically. if the wire is soldered to something metal which is making contact with the bridge or other metal parts, then it should be ok. confirm with a multi-meter as I describe in the video.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
my guitar make a buzz but when i touch the strings the buzz stop is the ground??
ronyahoo07 1 year ago
@ronyahoo07 - could be! try the suggestions in the video
johnplanetz 1 year ago
I'm running a GFS VEH through one volume knob and then the output jack. the ground is connected to the back of the pot, and I'm getting an incredibly annoying brittle/static hum. How do I fix this?
RockVoltz 1 year ago
@RockVoltz - is the back of the pot also connected to common ground (i.e. the jack ground lug). use a multimeter to confirm you have good ground connection all the way from pickup shield to jack shield- as described in the video. good luck!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz I'm in the same situation, everything is grounded to the one volume pot. Don't even have a tone, Already checked and REsoldered the ground to bridge wire!! Help?
syn5643 1 year ago
@syn5643 - did you check all the metal parts for continuity to the jack sleeve, using a multi-meter?
johnplanetz 11 months ago
I just replaced the neck pickup.I didn't touch anything else.My grounding wire is on the back to the tremolo thing( i don't know the word sorry) where she is supposed to be.So the problem is that i have this buzzing sound like yours in this video but when i touch the strings or anything metal sound disappears. Any tips???Please
Martin870620 1 year ago
@Martin870620 - confirm that you have good ground connection between all metal components, and between all component grounds (including your new pickup ground/shield) as described in the video.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
You rock dude!
GusMOfficialChannel 1 year ago
My guitar kind of does the opposite of what yours did with the ground unplugged. As soon as I touch the bridge, the hum goes away. I think it might be that the ground wire connected to the bridge came off. What do you think?
jbabob 1 year ago
Thank you for this excellent video!
drkam6 1 year ago
ok so my bass has this however, I run EMG-HZ pickups and if i have the neck pickup on or blended and touch the neck pick up with my finger I get a high pitch squeal. If I blend it to just the bridge pickup no squeal. I have replaced the battery already, do you think this is a ground issue as well?
decomposing1 1 year ago
@decomposing1 - certainly sounds like a wiring problem to me. open it up and check the connections with a multimeter. see the tips in the faq at my blog.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@decomposing1 This sounds like a problem with the neck pickup itself, I'd check all the wiring first, just to make sure, but typically the high squeal is caused by microphonic feedback meaning that the bits inside the pickup are moving and they shouldn't be. With regular pickups you can 'pot' them (seal them with wax). This principle certainly applies to the EMG's too but depending on how they're constructed it may not be that quck a fix. You might need a new pickup.
sirsteven88 1 year ago
I get more buzz on my Gibson LP on high gain than I would like. I have checked all grounds in the guitar (switch, pots, jack, bridge) and all are connected. The noise gets worse when not touching the bridge. However when touching it there is still noise. Im finding it hard to tell if its a grounding, shielding, or pickup issue. It seems that as I move around my room the noise will vary but it never goes away. Turning off electrical circuits in my room also decrease noise, but does not remove it.
Clipster15 1 year ago
@Clipster15 - yes that does sound like an EMI issue, which is always worse at high gain. it may be improved by shielding. check the guitarnuts tutorials on shielding.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@Clipster15 I have the same problem on my LP, I double checked and all the grounds are connected per the diagram I used but they weren't connected well enough. Check the continuity between all the individual parts and the ring on the jack.
sirsteven88 1 year ago
great info, and cool exit music!
diz52nd 1 year ago
they are mass produced, but I am hesitant to start taking it apart as I dont have the tools are skills to put it back together. If I take it to the shop, what should I say, and is there any way to shield semi hollow electronics?
JCopper11 1 year ago
@JCopper11 - see my reply to thedonace. sounds like the bridge wire may be missing or broken. check with a multimeter! it wouldn't be easy to shield the interior of a hollowbody, but you could at least verify that the wire runs are as short as possible and use shielded wire.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
i have an epiphone riviera with gibson p94s in it. Just like thedonace, my guitar beggins to hum when I'm not touching the strings. As soon as I touch it, it quits (although, there is quite a bit of hum that happens regardless). When I reach across my guitar and my arm brushes agains the strings, I receive a small shock. IDK if i cant feel it through my calouses or what, but it doesnt happen when i touch it with my hands. I think it is probably a ground issue seeing as it is an epiphone and
JCopper11 1 year ago
My problem is that there is noise when I'm not touching anything it makes noise and once I touch any metel part or the strings then the noise goes away. It is worse at different times of the day or less at different times of day. I have used an outlet tester on the outlets that my gear is plugged into and they all check out fine. What could be my problem, doubt it is the grounding of my guitar(s) as my main one is brand new and the others ALL do it too, and both my tube amps as well.
thedonace213 1 year ago
@thedonace213 - it's possible that the bridge ground wire may be broken or missing. if you have a multimeter, make sure you have continuity between your strings and your jack shield. Hold one lead on a string, and the other lead on the sleeve of the jack and check for 0 resistance. If it's not, you'll need to ground the bridge.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz you mean the bridge pickup? anyway, my other guitars have the same buzzing problem but I'll check the ground wiring I don't really know how to fix it myself but I'll check it out. Thanks!
thedonace213 1 year ago
@thedonace213 - the bridge itself is typically grounded to provide ground the metal parts of the guitar-top (tuning heads, strings, bridge). if that's grounded ok, and all your guitars are doing it, then i would suspect EMI or AC line noise. check fluorescent lights and dimmer switches, etc. for EMI issues, check the guitarnuts guides on shielding. good luck!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz hmm what's EMI? I jave flourescent lights in my room and a dimmer switch downstairs that's gone bad (would this affect it even though it's downstairs?). And yeah I've been looking into shielding I think I will do that. My Les Paul does it too and I've heard those don't require shielding.
thedonace213 1 year ago
@thedonace213 - EMI = Electromagnetic interference. also known as RFI = radio frequency interference.
This is what you're trying to block when you add shielding to your guitar.
Yes- fluorescent lights can be a problem, as well as dimmers. Experiment and see if that makes any difference!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
plus If i stand with the guitar facing north or south it's somewhat tolerable. but as i turn to either direction the hum gets loud and is just undesirable and extremely irritating, and kind of scary.
note: There is a power pole in my backyard, and on that pole is a transformer. now if a little guitar amp transformer makes noise, what will a 200 amp tin can do?
cumulo25 1 year ago
@cumulo25 - single coil pickups all have similar issues with electromagnetic interference- this is the hum that changes when you move the guitar around in the air. The middle pickup on a strat is typically reverse-wound reverse polarity relative to the other two pickups, so that when you play in switch position 2 (neck+mid) and 4 (bridge+mid), it should cancel that hum. does it? if so, consider it basically normal unfortunately. for shielding tips, see the guitarnuts tutorials.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz guitar was made in usa and already shielded. but shielding will never do it's job unless there is a good ground. I want every pickup to be as quiet as it was in the store. the 2 + 4 settings are nice, but they don't have that punch like the 1,3,5
cumulo25 1 year ago
@cumulo25 - unfortunately, you have limited control over EMI. try playing in a different location. this is mostly just a fact of life with single coil pickups, but may be improved be good potting. this is why they invented humbuckers :) i too love the sound of my single coils, but usually have to play in positions 2 or 4 when i'm playing at gig levels or in environments with lots of EMI
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz oh well, thanx anyway! my uncle is a certified master electrician and were going to talk to him. i want to try getting an extension chord and plug it into a ground lifter, BUT resting the prong directly onto the grounding rod and if it still hummoing then we have a problem. pouring a good amount water onto the rod, oe a HumX, but those are kind of expensive for a piece of plastic with and, and small PDB.
cumulo25 1 year ago
@cumulo25 - lucky uncle to have :) if you guys figure it out, please post back with your results!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
I bought a new American (so it's shielded and grounded) Standard strat to replace my squier that hummed obnoxiously. I checked out the same guitar at 2 different stores and took my amp & wah, so much quieter than my squier! I ended up buying it, and when I took it to my house, it hums just like my squier. the amp buzzes slightly without the guitar plugged in (ground loop) and the mains hum on the guitar (shitty grounding=shielding useless). I think it's both, what do YOU think?
cumulo25 1 year ago
@cumulo25 - if your amp buzzes with nothing plugged in, it could be bad ground in the amp - have you lifted the ground, or plugged into a power strip with no ground? don't do that :) Do you have a light dimmer or fluorescent lights which could be introducing buzz?
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz the buzz in the amp and the 60hz hum is only heard plugging into my house, the guitar I bought was the same exact one I had checked out the day before with my own amp and wah and it was a dream come true, and there were lights everywhere, but it was still quiet.
cumulo25 1 year ago
@cumulo25 - sounds like you need to do a little research on testing for ground loops and hum in your A/C. good luck!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
that helped me a lot, really thank you
vZamfir 1 year ago
great video. thanks
southflorida561 1 year ago
thank you very much.
arakennel 1 year ago
I built a guitar, one volume one pickup no tone... and i get buzz constantly and more so when i touch the mounting screws or anything on the humbucker... the buzzing stops when i touch the jack plate... i touched wires to everything but i cant figure out what the problem is.. please help
keithgatti 1 year ago
@keithgatti - use a multimeter to check continuity between all the metal parts. there's probably a missing or broken connection somewhere.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz will do thank you
keithgatti 1 year ago
I have a problem with buzz on my Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV bass, when the settings are at full treble and are at the bridge pickup. The noise disappears when the metal of the jack plug is touched. Is this a grounding problem? How could this be fixed?
JohnHowell00 1 year ago
@JohnHowell00 - could be a grounding issue. use a multimeter to check continuity between all the metal parts. there may be a loose or broken connection, which you could repair with a soldering iron.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
non of it made sense to be till 2:47 then i made sure they all where and one wire didnt go back to the jack in anyway and the problem was then solved
xom400 1 year ago
I just finished installing a new tone cap in my project telecaster, but when I tried the guitar it had a ground problem, so I went through and fixed some suspicious looking connections, then checked with a multimeter to make sure all everything was grounded, which it was. But now my guitar still buzzes and the tone pot doesn't work now. What should I do to fix this?
StratocasterDude177 1 year ago
@StratocasterDude177 - since the tone pot doesn't work, you have some bad wiring in there which is probably also causing your buzz. The only answer is to carefully check through every connection, referring to a wiring diagram if necessary. See the faq at my blog for some tips. Good luck.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz Thanks!
StratocasterDude177 1 year ago
@johnplanetz Could a broken tone pot cause this?
StratocasterDude177 1 year ago
@StratocasterDude177 - sure but it's MUCH more common to have a wiring mistake or break, rather than a failing pot. don't rule out a bad pot, but suspect your wiring first!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz Thanks!
StratocasterDude177 1 year ago
hey john awesome vids,
im having a buzz problem with noiseless pickups, it stops buzzing with i touch the strings... or even reduces when i touch metal on my effects machine ( even when im not touching the guitar.) i heard that if the volume and tone pots are touching the metal foil on the pickguard ( stratocaster) it could cause this ground problem? other than that... my wiring looks good. thanks john
cryglory 1 year ago
I just refinished a Epiphone Sg and i think there is a grounding problem. The ground wire goes through the body into a hole where the the bridge is slides in. Am i just supposed to set the bridge on top of it and hope it touches?
saynotoemo84 1 year ago
@saynotoemo84 - you'll need to solder the ground wire to the bottom of the bridge post.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz and thats all it is? well sweet! thank you so much!
saynotoemo84 1 year ago
@saynotoemo84 - yep, that's it. solder one end of the wire to the bottom of the bridge post, and the other end to a ground point (like pot back) that's electrically connected to the jack ground lug.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
@johnplanetz this is probably a stupid question but i am not to keen on the wiring yet. I have not soddered the ground wire to the bridge post, but even when i touch the ground wire to the post it makes that loud buzzing noise ( the one when you touch the strings or any metal part on the guitar). Does it only do that because i'm holding the ground wire or the bridge post?
saynotoemo84 1 year ago
@saynotoemo84 - double-check that the other end of the wire is soldered to a good ground point. as i described in the video, all these grounds have to be tied together and ultimately connect to the ground lug of the jack. Use a multimeter to double-check they're all connected (see the faq at my blog for details on how to do that).
johnplanetz 1 year ago
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samueldl722 1 year ago
Dude your incredible. I didint know how to diagnose it myself. I just got a SA120 Ibanez so I guess its heading straight back.
chain2222 1 year ago
hey john great vids by the way, I've just built my first guitar & about to put in the electrics. I'm going for a very simple setup as I don't use multiple tone knobs or pickup combinations..so I've got a 2 way dpdt switch, 1 volume 500k, 1 tone 500k & a set of p90's. I will also be using a .022 orange drop cap on the tone pot (thanks for explaining that by the way). My question is do I have to link a ground wire to both pots & the brid
fawnication 1 year ago
@fawnication - your comment was cut off. but if i can guess the rest of the question, then yes, you do need to link all the metal parts of the pots, the switch, the bridge - they all must be electrically connected to the ground lug of the output jack. So you typically run a wire between the pot backs, and run a wire from the bridge to one of the pot backs, and a wire to the jack ground lug, Hope this helps.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
I have the same problem but i don´t know anything about the guitar electronics. Ihave a les paul, wich wire would it be than ?
GibsonKLO 1 year ago
@GibsonKLO - You could try to just open it up and look for loose/broken wires, but even if you find one it may not be obvious where to reconnect it without a bit more understanding of the circuit Sounds like you'll need to get some basics sorted out, like how to use a multimeter, and how guitar circuits work. You can check the FAQ at my blog for some books and resources...
Good luck!
johnplanetz 1 year ago
My Gibson Sg does the opposite...when a metal part is touched the buzzing stops.
Is it a shielding or grounding problem?
outforblood77 1 year ago
@outforblood77 - i think it's just a variation on the same issue. Shielding would typically be a buzz that's happening all the time, whether you're touching or not.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
my jackson dose somthing diffrent it dose buzzing sounds when you strum it and press down the frets and strum and its on all the frets and strings also on the middle high and down sides of the frets heeeeeeeeelllllppppppppppp
mrmoney185 1 year ago
@mrmoney185 -if i'm understanding you correctly, it sounds like you're talking about strings buzzing against frets, not buzz that's in the guitar audio signal? to remedy fret buzz, you need to set your action properly (by adjusting bridge/saddle height), and your neck relief (adjusted with the truss rod). Look up dan erlewine's books for how-to's (links in my blog FAQ). May also be a popped fret that's sitting too high, or frets that need dress/crown/polish - pay a guitar tech to fix those.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
hi I think I have same problem,I have an accoustic guitar yamaha CGX 171 CCA nylon ..when I increase the 'low' on the guitar EQ the noise more bigger ..but when I try to touch the jack that connect to the guitar, the noisy is disappear..
then i try to change the wire inside the guitar,the problem it still there..i worry about the guitar EQ was broken???
mikraj 1 year ago
@mikraj - could be an issue with the preamp, but your description implies a ground issue like i describe in the video. are you sure you've checked all the ground points for good electrical connection?
johnplanetz 1 year ago
i kinda have the same problem but not exactly. there is a buzzing sound when im NOT touching a metal part but when i touch the strings or the jack it goes away. is this the same problem?
gabel159 1 year ago
@gabel159 - yeah, it probably is.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
HI
i have a Epiphone les paul.. and i have this exact same problem... how ever i know nothing about electronics but i do have a friend who does.... but he doesn't know anything about guitars.... how can i explain this to him???
cololoco 1 year ago
@cololoco - find a circuit diagram for your guitar at the guitarelectronics website and show him this video. he should be able to figure it out.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
Thanks! this helped a lot!
themodrocker1 1 year ago
I have some noise problems so I decided to shield my B.C.Rich Warbeast which has 2 humbucker cavities, the electronics cavity and the tremolo one. I am trying to copper shield them but I was wondering how to shield the humbucker cavities and the floyd rose since they are not covered by any plastic cover. Does it still create a Faraday Cage? Also, do I have to wire all the shieldings to ground?
Nicolauru 1 year ago
@Nicolauru - yes the shielding needs to be grounded. humbuckers don't generally need additional shielding. stewmac has a great article on shielding your cavities - search for it.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
You can't even imagine how helpful you have been!!!
MrMember12 1 year ago
are yor p90s stacked or something???
MrMember12 1 year ago
@MrMember12 - no, not stacked. just single coil p-90's
johnplanetz 1 year ago
I'll be testing out the amplifier and cable soon enough though, since I think those might be the problem. Is there any way to use the multimeter to check if the amp/cable might be defective? Or must I switch them out and check that way?
And let's say my Amplifier is the problem, is there an easy way to ground it myself? Or will I need to go to a professional/buy a new amp?
Burninator718 1 year ago
@Burninator718 - based on your last msg, I doubt it's your amp or cable since your other guitar sounds ok (minor buzz aside). if your amp were bad, i'd probably leave the repair to a pro unless you're willing to really learn enough electronics to avoid killing yourself :) you can electrocute yourself in there if you're not careful and touch the wrong thing.
johnplanetz 1 year ago
thanks John
zambarino 1 year ago
OK, so I've checked with my multimeter all the pots in the back of the guitar, and they're connected. I've also checked between the bridge/strings and the pots, and they're connected. The jack seems to be connected also. And the metallic plates over my humbuckers are also connected. Is there something I'm missing? Because I do have the symptoms you described and yet it doesn't seem to be working. Should I just recheck or was there something I missed?
Burninator718 1 year ago