Does this sound like a grounding problem?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 30, 2009 at 5:27pm

How'z it wired. Can you give us a diagram?

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Bookout on August 30, 2009 at 6:23pm

Yup, diagram AND pictures. Thanks in advance for any help!

Attachments:

• wiring diagram.pdf, 52 KB
• piezo and pot, 60 KB
• jack, 32 KB

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Bookout on August 30, 2009 at 6:25pm

Take a look at the diagram and pics. If black is ground, then I'm guessing it IS grounded, but, electrical work is not my forte...

Ted Crocker said:

Is the back of the pot grounded? If you post a pic it will be easier to diagnose.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 30, 2009 at 6:53pm

what type of files are the last two? I can't open them.

Daryl Bookout said:

Yup, diagram AND pictures. Thanks in advance for any help!

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Bookout on August 30, 2009 at 7:07pm

jpg's (pictures). I'm on my iMac, if the extension isn't .jpg, you should be able to rename them...

I attached a PDF in case you have trouble opening the jpegs.

Wes Yates said:

what type of files are the last two? I can't open them.

Daryl Bookout said:

Yup, diagram AND pictures. Thanks in advance for any help!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Leeworthy on August 30, 2009 at 7:24pm

If your are not using a metal bridge, are you running your strings through rivets at the tailpiece? If so you can ground the rivets with a common wire.
As well, what kind of wire are you using? Try RGU-74 coax shielded, it helps most buzzes.

The wiring diag I follow in on my page here. It has a vol and tone pot and a capacitor which helps noise.

Let me know how things work out.

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 31, 2009 at 6:59am

Ahhh, got it. And here I am, "Mr Photoshop". Sheesh. I can see them now.

Daryl Bookout said:

jpg's (pictures). I'm on my iMac, if the extension isn't .jpg, you should be able to rename them...

I attached a PDF in case you have trouble opening the jpegs.

Wes Yates said:

what type of files are the last two? I can't open them.

Daryl Bookout said:

Yup, diagram AND pictures. Thanks in advance for any help!

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 31, 2009 at 9:17am

This is my wiring. Works fine for me. I did not ground the strings but that should just go to the pot or ground.

Attachments:

• PiezoWireing.pdf, 152 KB

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Permalink Reply by Daryl Bookout on August 31, 2009 at 6:41pm

Thanks Wes, problem solved!! I ran a wire from the back of the pot to the 3rd lug on the jack and it all works great now - no hum, smooth tone!

Question... I was wired as per your diagram and still had the hum (solved by touching the pot and the metal jacket on the guitar cable). When I wired from the pot to the jack, problem went away... When you guys say "ground the pot" do you mean running a wire to the 3rd lug as I did?

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 31, 2009 at 7:24pm

Si, or bend the put lug back and solder that to the body if yer able. I hate to say it, I had mine wired exactly as shown -- that is three wires to the third lug. Black from the Piezo, one to the body of the pot and one to the ring lug. Too many wires IMHO.

-Wes

Daryl Bookout said:

Thanks Wes, problem solved!! I ran a wire from the back of the pot to the 3rd lug on the jack and it all works great now - no hum, smooth tone!
Question... I was wired as per your diagram and still had the hum (solved by touching the pot and the metal jacket on the guitar cable). When I wired from the pot to the jack, problem went away... When you guys say "ground the pot" do you mean running a wire to the 3rd lug as I did?

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Permalink Reply by Diydc on August 31, 2009 at 7:35pm

Yes, this is correct.

Wes Yates said:

Si, or bend the put lug back and solder that to the body if yer able. I hate to say it, I had mine wired exactly as shown -- that is three wires to the third lug. Black from the Piezo, one to the body of the pot and one to the ring lug. Too many wires IMHO.

-Wes

Daryl Bookout said:

Thanks Wes, problem solved!! I ran a wire from the back of the pot to the 3rd lug on the jack and it all works great now - no hum, smooth tone!
Question... I was wired as per your diagram and still had the hum (solved by touching the pot and the metal jacket on the guitar cable). When I wired from the pot to the jack, problem went away... When you guys say "ground the pot" do you mean running a wire to the 3rd lug as I did?

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 31, 2009 at 8:37pm

Ted, I actually wired mine based on _your_ diagram using the minty Amp :-) So I guess it comes full circle eh?

-Wes

Ted Crocker said:

What I do is solder a stripped length of solid core wire from the ground lug to the back of the pot and then solder all of the ground wires to that wire, including just one that goes to the ground on the jack. This way you apply the least amount of heat to the pot which could cause damage.

Daryl, from your pic it looked like you may have a stereo jack, maybe the original ground wire you soldered went to the wrong tab...

Also, I wire mine like the diagram that Wes posted, it looks like you reversed the wires on the outside lugs of the pot.

Glad it worked out!

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