Guitar Ground: Dealing with ground noise problems

http://www.planetz.com/?p=266 .
In this short video, I demonstrate what it sounds like when you have a ground connection problem in your guitar, and show how to diagnose and fix the problem.
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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• guitar
• ground
• hum
• buzz
• electronics
• P-90
• pickups
• bridge
• wire
• Epiphone
• Riviera
• P93
• DIY
• howto
• Vox
• VT30
• Rode
• NT1
• Canon
• HF-200

[indrakuda]

i have the same problem with my ibanez. When i touch the pickup mounting frame, i hear loud buzzing sounds. could there be a problem with the ground or something else? what is the best solution?should i try to shield the pickup cavity?

thanks

[johnplanetz]

@indrakuda - follow the steps I described in the video, using a multimeter to confirm a good connection to ground between all the metal parts, to the jack shield.

[Arnoldx1992]

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?

[johnplanetz]

@Arnoldx1992 - definitely could be the cable, or it could be a loose solder connection in the jack, etc. Process of elimination: Try a different cable. Try a different guitar through same cable. Try your own guitar, cable and amp into a different outlet (at someone else's house for example). Should quickly become obvious who is the culprit.

[Dazcam]

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?

[johnplanetz]

@Dazcam - sounds like a broken wire or short to ground. Double/triple check all your wiring and solder connections.

[johnplanetz]

@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]

@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.

[tardzillamovies]

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.

[09198384558]

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.