Cut the guitar buzzing

Posted on

Member Since: Jul 23, 2004

www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/menu.php

The listed URL offers some great methods for cutting the hum and buzz from electric guitars.
My guitars and basses tend to be a bit noisy, but after following the instructions my Tele is way quieter and much better for recording.

If you follow the link, scroll down to "shield the beast" or in my case I used "shield the beast's cousin" (for Tele's)

Basically what I did was line the interior with copper foil (conductive through the adhesive side!) and star ground the pickups which reduces ground loops in the guitar... and installed a high voltage capacitor between the hardware ground leg and the star point, this cuts down on electric shock potentials as my main amp is an antique from the fifties.

It might sound complicated but the directions are very clear and easy to follow... the hardest part is deciding wether to go with copper foil, shield paint, or else... but stained glass stores carry rolls of copper tape in varying widths. That's the easiest way to go. If you have a multimeter.. you could probably take it to the store and ask if you can test it. Put a lead on the copper side and a lead on the adhesive side, and test for continuity.. if current flows.. it's good.

I highly recommend doing this if you are frustrated with guitar noise.

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jun 17, 2006 09:39 am

Yup, I think that site has helped quieten many a Fender. It's the first place I point people complaining of hum from their Fenders.

Member
Since: Jul 23, 2004


Jun 17, 2006 09:44 am

a quick and easy way out of buzz, which I used to do... is alligator clip a wire to the bridge and connect it to a piece of steel, stick this "paddle" into your waistband.. touching skin. This worked very well with my single coil guitars.
But I found the above URL and decided to make permanent improvement as I got tired of being clipped into my guitar. But it works.

If you experience pops and clicks while you play.. you might have static building up in the pickguard. I know several regular players who put an anti static dryer sheet under their pickguard to remedy this. They swear it works.. though I've never tried it. They change it every so often.

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