Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on September 3, 2012 at 11:52am

Thank you all for your suggestions. All of them were helpful. I finally fixed it by sheilding the entire inside of the box . I think there was actually magnetic interference from my body when the guitar rested against it and when I would touch the knob it would settle down. It sounds awesome now. Thanks again for allowing me the tap into the Nations think tank.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 4, 2012 at 6:44am

Can you post pics of what it looks like with the shielding in place?

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Permalink Reply by Robert Phillips on September 4, 2012 at 4:52am

Wow, the entire inside of the box. I'll keep that in mind should I have a similar problem. I'm getting more into the electronics with my guitars and am sure I will at some point encounter a similar problem. Glad to have been of some use :) Have fun.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Gotshall on September 5, 2012 at 10:07am

I had a similar problem and solved it by painting the entire inside of the box and the backside of the tailpiece with shielding paint from Stewmac.

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on September 6, 2012 at 7:02am

I'm going to start sheilding the entire inside of every box. Chasing this problem was a huge waste of time and energy (although I did learn something).

Special thanks to the Phrygian Kid. Your advice is always spot on and this isn't the first time you helped me out.

Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Monaco ( Whittling Guy) on September 17, 2012 at 7:35pm

I like the shape of the lap steel.  If you haven't put the fret board on it got to Lowes and get a piece of 1/8" x 3"  x 36" oak board) and get a water slide fret decal from  E-Bay http://www.ebay.com/itm/220896933382?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_...  This guy from the UK sells them for $13.00.  That way you won't have to fret with a sharpie or cut frets ...etc  P.I.T.A ss.. It is like the little decals from a model car.  You wet it and slide it on the fretboard.  How easy is that.  That is what I am going to use.  Check out my No.2 build. My name is Paul Monaco.  I just joined the forum.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Monaco ( Whittling Guy) on September 17, 2012 at 7:41pm

If you take the (-) ground lead (black ) from the 1/4" jack and solder it to the back of the pot body and the (-) of your pickup to the same spot then put a small jumper from the tab on the pot to the back of the pot. You may have to scratch the back of the pot to solder to it.  That should work. 

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Permalink Reply by Nobby 1974 on September 19, 2012 at 12:07am

I wonder if all of these types of problems are really down to shielding or if some of them are actually ground loop problems? Shielding materials are typically conductive, and if applied to the areas to which the pots and switches are attached, might indirectly solve ground loop problems too. I don't know for sure, and I expect the majority really are shielding issues, but, well.. just saying "maybe"!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 19, 2012 at 1:10am

Here is some information that goes into a little greater detail about humming problems.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=example+of+an+electrical+ground...

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