| Author | Message | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1783 Registered: 7-2004 |
I just installed Alembic "Strat" pickups and electronics in my Fender Strat XII. The problem is that it apparently isn't grounded as it hums and squeals until I touch the bare metal of the Q switch. How do you ground these? I can't just solder a wire from the bridge to the back of the volume pot - it's plastic! Anybody out there that can steer me in the right direction? Thanks, Bill, tgo | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 960 Registered: 12-2002 |
Try soldering a (ground wire)to the 1/4 jack post (bottom portion)to the wire leading to the bridge.by-passing the volume pot. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1142 Registered: 6-2002 |
Not sure about the after-market sets, but in a 'proper' Alembic the shielding paint acts as ground. All metal parts touch the shielding paint, and you're grounded. Apply shielding paint to the cavity (after dismounting all the electronics). If the cavity has a plastic cover then paint the inside of that as well. Make sure that the paint in the cavity and the paint on the cover touch, so spread the paint from the cavity onto the ridge where the cover sits. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3816 Registered: 6-2000 |
Bill - surely you had the cavity shielded? The system is self-grounding as adriaan notes. If you're still having grounding, issues, I have a feeling we'll be seeing you soon. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1788 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thanks everyone, and Mica, in the infamous words of Peter Graves: DON'T CALL ME SHIRLEY! hehehehehehehe or, more appropriately in this situation, I should quote Homer Simpson: DOOOOHHHHHH! In other words, off to the Stew-Mac site for shielding paint. Bill, tgo | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 217 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey, shielding the cavity won't hurt, but in the short term you should be able to get significant buzz reduction by doing a simple grounding of the bridge. Keavin's way will work (the lug he's describing on your output jack is the "sleeve" or ground lug). You may be able to more easily access the ground by removing one of the pots (e.g., take off the control knob and remove the big nut that's threaded on to the pot's shaft). Find a big, thin washer that the pot shaft can fit through, then put it on the shaft first, then reinstall the pot in the body. Any exposed metal part of the pot body is ground, and there may have been a lug, but if there wasn't, then you can solder the bridge wire onto this washer. It may be challenging to find a washer big enough and thin enough to work well, so if you don't find anything at the hardware store, you can see if they'll give you a little scrap of sheet metal flashing which you can cut a hole in and use as a ground lug. You'll only need about a 1" square piece, so they'll probably just give it to you. Once you've grounded the bridge, the strings and your body will act as shields while while you're in contact. The bad part of this is that you can accidentally become part of the AC circuit if there are any grounding issues with your amp or any of the other equipment on the stage. You should take proper precautions, since the line voltage can be lethal! If you shield the cavity of your instrument, it will pose the same potential danger to you. David Fung | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2006 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hey everyone, I ordered the shielding paint from Stew-Mac, along with some copper tape. With the holidays and everything, this project got put on the shelf - literally - the one I built over the closet just for guitars. Anyway I started painting the cavities (main and recessed jack) with shielding paint last weekend - 3 coats 24 hours apart, and coverd the back side of the pick guard with copper tape. I put it all back together last night and VOILA! No hum! My wife was duly impressed. Can't wait for Saturday when I get to plug it into my rig at the studio. So far it sounds great on my little Fender Frontman 25R at home. Alembic electronics and 12 strings were meant for each other. Thanks to everyone for your help. Bill, tgo | ||
| precarius
Intermediate Member Username: precarius Post Number: 117 Registered: 11-2005 |
Bill- BTW it wasn't Peter Graves, it was Leslie Nielsen of Police Squad fame. Mike (the trivial one) | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 731 Registered: 6-2002 |
"I just want you to know... We're all counting on you."  | ||
| inthelows
Advanced Member Username: inthelows Post Number: 301 Registered: 11-2006 |
So is the shielding paint the only way to go? Or will the hard wire approach be ok? NLP |
