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Grounding strings with non metal saddle

Ok so I've got a build done and I get some hum. It goes away when I touch the output jack which seems to indicate a grounding issue. It was recommended that I ground to the strings by either running a wire to a meal tail piece or a metal saddle. Problem, I don't have either. Strings run through the tailpiece and over an imitation bone saddle. So what other methods of grounding might work?

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on June 16, 2014 at 9:36pm

On this build I used a brass rod with a small hole drilled in the end, there I soldered the grounding wire into. Plus the round rod helps in a nice string break to the string pin`s.

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Permalink Reply by Bufo Bill on June 22, 2014 at 3:36am

That's some nice work Randy, and very ingenious too. Do you have a picture of that guitars headstock?

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on June 22, 2014 at 12:21pm

It`s the only Brick House sampler box I ever saw, and I had to have it !! I just stuck the peghead inside the sampler box, 2 small screws on it on.

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on June 22, 2014 at 12:27pm

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/albums/brick-house-custom

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Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on June 22, 2014 at 11:49am

I think my tailpiece design would solve your string grounding problem plus give you a better string bridge angle. You could put an extra machine screw through the butt plate and put a grounding wire under the nut inside the box. I use slots rather than holes so string changes are really quick. I haven't had ground buzzing problems, but if I do I will add the screw and ground wire.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Phillips on June 23, 2014 at 12:38am

Thanks for all the advice. I tried a different (and better) amp, plus added a couple strips of shielding tape to the inside of the boxes. I didn't completely shield the boxes just where the electric parts are closest to the box. Seems to have taken care of the issue. Now that all 4 are playing properly I can get them sold.

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on June 23, 2014 at 8:18am

I read this thread through and as I guessed the volume and / or tone pots could be causing the hum, it is difficult to eliminate completely and even if properly grounded there is sill always, for me anyway, the trace of grounding hum.

In my years as a hi-fi enthusiast the first rule was always "signal path is king" and "less is more" ...many manufacturers even omitted tone controls from amp designs or at least a bypass switch from them for the cleanest sound.

Going back to CBG's I decided to eliminate the hum problem by losing the volume and tone pots completely on all but necessary situations where the pots were needed, most amps have far superior volume and tone controls on anyway, so do we really need to fit them to our guitars? It is not mandatory, I have made and sold many potless hum-free builds without irritating unwanted noises in the background, except on the highest gain settings, just the sweet sound of the strings! (-: