Do I need to ground my pickups ?

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:22 pm

Unlike all other metal parts on my jag, when I touch the pickups pole pieces there is a buzz. Is this an issue ?

I removed the claws a while back to eliminate microphonic feedback and the metal wire coming from the PUP is currently taped up. Should I solder a wire from this to another metal part of the guitar ? if so where ? or is it fine to leave it as is ?

What would be the correct thing for me to do...

cheers
O

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:27 pm

it's fine. leave it as it is. if the pickups weren't grounded they wouldn't work at all.

it buzzes because you are acting as an antenna.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:46 pm

Oh really ? they wouldn't work at all ?

Ok, so this a fairly usual then ? No biggy ?

I'm always the worrier !!!

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:48 pm

check that little ground wire that goes into the trem cavity and touches the plate.

i forgot to wedge it between the trem plate and the body once after taking the unit off and i had lots of noise issues.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:57 pm

Okee dokes... it's purely just the pickups poles that buzz when i touch them the opposite can be said for everythin everything else that's metal on the guitar. Only noticed today when I fiddling. The neck pickup has been this way for about a year now.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:00 pm

ah, i kinda glossed over the OP.

i can't say i've ever actually had any reason to touch the pole pieces on my jag pickups.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:11 pm

Cool, no probs.

I'm only speculating because that small wire that was once attached to the claw is hanging there taped up... so I wondering if the buzz is only there (when I touch the pups) because it's not attached to something metal. AND if this is even an issue.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:12 pm

that wire shouldn't really matter but it does seem kind of odd though, maybe some kind of ground loop is going on. maybe through you... since I don't know how you could touch the pole pieces with touching the strings at the same time

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:13 pm

I tucked the strings underneath the bridge out of the way.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:14 pm

ok, wait I was just able to do it with my musicmaster. yeah it buzzes.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:24 pm

O.k. that's good to know... thanks for that. My knowledge of electrics is terrible !!!