Been putting together my "new" Tele - Baja neck + Axesrus body + regular wiring setup (replacing the Baja-standard S1 switching, of which I've only ever used three tone options) and I'm getting a ground hum. Do we call it "earth" in the UK?
My soldering's rubbishish but the pickups are tested and working fine. I've just got this fucking drrrrllllyghhh hum thing so want to fix it, I suppose by checking continuity or something like that etc etc. (I have a multimeter and I have a vague idea how to use it) if that nails it.
Has someone done this? Where does a guy start? I just want a Tele that doesn't go zheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....
'kin 'ell! ground hum!
Moderated By: mods
My DT teacher certainly would insist on earth, although I'm afraid ground has rather slipped into my lexicon, poor show.
You can use the multimeter to check if various point are connected to earth. The bridge, baseplate on the pickup, back of volume pot, et cetera. Or just poke around until you get the hum to stop and/or change in pitch that can often give you a clue as to where to problem is. If you don't have confidence in your soldering it might be worth re-doing. It could be a bad joint or a blob of extra solder bridging something, or you could have made a mistake following the diagram... It doesn't take that long to get pretty good with a soldering iron, so it is almost worth it to get a neat job.
You can use the multimeter to check if various point are connected to earth. The bridge, baseplate on the pickup, back of volume pot, et cetera. Or just poke around until you get the hum to stop and/or change in pitch that can often give you a clue as to where to problem is. If you don't have confidence in your soldering it might be worth re-doing. It could be a bad joint or a blob of extra solder bridging something, or you could have made a mistake following the diagram... It doesn't take that long to get pretty good with a soldering iron, so it is almost worth it to get a neat job.
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Ok, thanks Stuart. 'Earth' it is. Aye, i don't mind doing a bit of poking around inside th thing, and/or resoldering.
I suppose its th understanding I'm low on: i know how to check for continuity - multimeter probes at either end of a wire should show zero resistance. Not sure how to check uh...'earthedness' tho. I've got th pups earthed to th volume pot (i used th seymour duncan diagram) so am i checking for continuity between each solder joint I've made, including earth points?
Later: I figured I should check continuity to earth by connecting one of the multimeter probes to the sleeve of the jack at one end of a short lead, plug the other end into the guitar, and touch basically every point that should be earthed: back of vol pot, pups, bridge, saddles, knobs etc etc. Every point came up with a zero reading, and all my other point-to-point soldering comes up the same. Yet I'm still getting that buzz until I touch metal with me hand.
Why?
I suppose its th understanding I'm low on: i know how to check for continuity - multimeter probes at either end of a wire should show zero resistance. Not sure how to check uh...'earthedness' tho. I've got th pups earthed to th volume pot (i used th seymour duncan diagram) so am i checking for continuity between each solder joint I've made, including earth points?
Later: I figured I should check continuity to earth by connecting one of the multimeter probes to the sleeve of the jack at one end of a short lead, plug the other end into the guitar, and touch basically every point that should be earthed: back of vol pot, pups, bridge, saddles, knobs etc etc. Every point came up with a zero reading, and all my other point-to-point soldering comes up the same. Yet I'm still getting that buzz until I touch metal with me hand.
Why?
humm this sounds like a pain the in arse. I'd check 'groundedness' as it were, by checking continuity to the sleeve of the jack, which you've done right?
When this happens it is usually the bridge that isn't grounded because the wire has worked lose or something, but if that isn't the case, then that obviously isn't the case.
Are these standard tele pickups?
When this happens it is usually the bridge that isn't grounded because the wire has worked lose or something, but if that isn't the case, then that obviously isn't the case.
Are these standard tele pickups?
obscure pop culture reference
I think I've been uncharacteristically thorough on this - I've checked everything to the jack sleeve. The bridge on the Baja Tele isn't grounded, by wire at least. Anyways, I've checked bridge to jack sleeve and that's got continuity like everything else.
I must be missing something.
It buzzes through my Classic 30 and my Fender 85. Neither my Gretsch (filtertrons) or my goldtop (humfuckers) makes this kinda racket.
Pickups - nah, its' the Baja Tele pairing: CS Twisted Tele (Neck) and 1 CS Broadcaster (Bridge).
All this aside, with the changes I've made - as well as the new (lighter) body, I took out the S1 switching and put in better 250K pots, three-way switch and 0.047 orange cap - it sounds smart as fuck.
When I've got my hands on it, that is.
I must be missing something.
It buzzes through my Classic 30 and my Fender 85. Neither my Gretsch (filtertrons) or my goldtop (humfuckers) makes this kinda racket.
Pickups - nah, its' the Baja Tele pairing: CS Twisted Tele (Neck) and 1 CS Broadcaster (Bridge).
All this aside, with the changes I've made - as well as the new (lighter) body, I took out the S1 switching and put in better 250K pots, three-way switch and 0.047 orange cap - it sounds smart as fuck.
When I've got my hands on it, that is.
As far I know if the buzzing reduces when you touch any metal part then it's 'earthed' properly.sonicboom wrote:Yet I'm still getting that buzz until I touch metal with me hand.
Why?
Is it still a problem when you're actually playing it ? i.e. when hands on strings etc ... they are singles so could just be inherent thing.
What you may need to look at instead is shielding the cavities etc... ??
I aluminium foiled the back of a guard once and it sounded heaps quieter.