Just finished my first build.
CBG plays nice, but getting a hum / buzz from the pickup when its not wide open (volume on CBG).
I can touch the volume knob or the cord end that goes to the amp and it all
but stops.
Wiried like diagrams. Everything is grounded.
Sounds like a grounding thing to me.
Any ideas ????
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I have only built two pick ups so far but have not had any off sounds. I just followed some general rules that others put in their instructions. I made sure there was a good connection and no exposed wire(completely covered by solder). I got shiny new reels of wire from Radio Shack, Worth buying since I won't run out any time soon and it was cheap. I also saw one build that someone put foam padding around the piezo. So I used some double sided sticky foam tape on both sides of the piezo for mounting. I haven't had any sound issues. My friend that actually plays guitar said you couldn't belive I built an electric cgb and my first one sounded great. I don't even play, But, I'm learning.
If all the above have not resolved it one thought is that if touching the volume pot resolves it is the pot grounded? I tend to use the volume pot as my common earth which I then ground to the output jack - I have noticed in books and in the forum comments that the pots often have like a varnish over them that needs filing off a bit to ensure a good contact.
Also If the magnetic pick up is a single coil it will pick up a hum from any electric supply (some of my strat copies hum a bit at night when the lights are on but less so in the day).
If you are able to post a photo of the wiring it would be good to see how it is connected up.
I have the same issue. I have looked into this and here is what I found out....The most important thing that needs to be grounded is the strings themselves, that is where (supposedly) the buzz is coming from. If you put a thin strip of metal under the bridge and then run a ground wire from that to the volume pot. Now, I haven't put this into practice but I am told that it will work. It may be worth a shot.
I'm dead ignorant on magnetic pickups, but believe the received wisdom that grounding the strings is crucial when using them. I haven't found it needful to ground strings when using a piezo: my tiny knowledge of the physics invovled says that it couldn't possibly help, as the piezo is purely a mechanical transducer.
Generally speaking, redoing each solder joint with care has removed any buzz from my piezo-only rigs.
I have the same issue. I have looked into this and here is what I found out....The most important thing that needs to be grounded is the strings themselves, that is where (supposedly) the buzz is coming from. If you put a thin strip of metal under the bridge and then run a ground wire from that to the volume pot. Now, I haven't put this into practice but I am told that it will work. It may be worth a shot.
Sam, were you the one who was looking at a cheap Mag pickup off ebay or was that Tom Langford? Anyhow, I think the solder connections on those are crap (just had to resolder something on mine). You might be onto something.
-WY
Wichita Sam said:
before you get crazy with shielding, check your solder connections... most piezo's and humbuckers shouldn't hum... You can try grounding, but I would look for "cold solder" joints or just resolder everything.... take your time, make sure that iron is hot and hold the joint still until it is throughly cooled....
I gotta tell ya, Ive tryed all this as I have the same problem. The only way I get rid of the buzzzzzzzz is to get rid of the volume jack. This is a pain in the a$$ that buzzzzzz it is
If your wiring is all good & the strings are grounded, it's likely to be a dodgy guitar lead. If replacing the lead doesn't work I'd try wiring it without the volume pot in the circuit to c if it's faulty
before you get crazy with shielding, check your solder connections... most piezo's and humbuckers shouldn't hum... You can try grounding, but I would look for "cold solder" joints or just resolder everything.... take your time, make sure that iron is hot and hold the joint still until it is throughly cooled....
Replies
I have only built two pick ups so far but have not had any off sounds. I just followed some general rules that others put in their instructions. I made sure there was a good connection and no exposed wire(completely covered by solder). I got shiny new reels of wire from Radio Shack, Worth buying since I won't run out any time soon and it was cheap. I also saw one build that someone put foam padding around the piezo. So I used some double sided sticky foam tape on both sides of the piezo for mounting. I haven't had any sound issues. My friend that actually plays guitar said you couldn't belive I built an electric cgb and my first one sounded great. I don't even play, But, I'm learning.
If all the above have not resolved it one thought is that if touching the volume pot resolves it is the pot grounded? I tend to use the volume pot as my common earth which I then ground to the output jack - I have noticed in books and in the forum comments that the pots often have like a varnish over them that needs filing off a bit to ensure a good contact.
Also If the magnetic pick up is a single coil it will pick up a hum from any electric supply (some of my strat copies hum a bit at night when the lights are on but less so in the day).
If you are able to post a photo of the wiring it would be good to see how it is connected up.
Regards,
David
I'm dead ignorant on magnetic pickups, but believe the received wisdom that grounding the strings is crucial when using them. I haven't found it needful to ground strings when using a piezo: my tiny knowledge of the physics invovled says that it couldn't possibly help, as the piezo is purely a mechanical transducer.
Generally speaking, redoing each solder joint with care has removed any buzz from my piezo-only rigs.
-WY
Wichita Sam said:
Wichita Sam said:
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