Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on June 6, 2011 at 3:17am

James, its pretty straight forward as per the diagram. .047uf cap and run a copper wire or copper shield strip from a piece of metal at the bridge to the case of the (Vol) pot. Make sure the strings are in contact to what you are using for a bridge or at least the strings touch that connection to the pot in some way. Strings are prolly the most receptive of EMF.

 

-WY

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 6, 2011 at 3:22am

If you don't want to mess with the soldering and wiring stuff, just buy a pickup from CB Gitty that has the volume and tone control harness already wired and soldered. He sells inexpensive single coil pickups for under $15.00.

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on June 6, 2011 at 3:40am

Well, I'm sure others will disagree with me, but I've never bothered with grounding to a bridge since my strings are insulated by the non-conductive wood of the the bridge and bone of the saddle.  I've not had any feed back problems due to this issue, so if that's your set-up I'd say forget it. 

Don't know, can't say if you are using a metal saddle, sounds like grounding in that situation may be valid.  A capacitor looks like a glob of epoxy on a wire that stores electrical energy.  Go to your local Radio Shack and look in the small drawers where they still have electronic parts.  If the guy behind the counter is an older man, he can hook you up.  If it's a young kid, he won't know what a capacitor is and will try to sell you a phone.  Run away.

Permalink Reply by James O'Connor on June 6, 2011 at 4:27am

How do you connect the cap? Sorry, the only wiring ive ever done is a single coil straight to a jack.

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on June 6, 2011 at 4:32am

Solder it.(not to sound sarcastic)

 

-WY

Permalink Reply by James O'Connor on June 6, 2011 at 4:49am

I had another look and it suddenly makes a lot more sense... Thanks

 

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 6, 2011 at 4:51am

You need to be careful and use a heat sink when you solder the capacitor to the pot. You can burn out the cap, and then when you turn the knob, the sound won't change.

 

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 6, 2011 at 5:00am

Hal..grounding the strings & bridge is nothing to do with feedback, it's about making best efforts to stop electrical humming being picked up and amplified..by the amp. This is more noticeable on single coil pickups, but you may notice that when the guitar is plugged in, if you touch the metal outer part of the jack, (or any other grounded part of the instrument), the background noise or hum is reduced.  If the strings are part of this grounding, through a metal bridge or tailpiece, then it'll be quieter when you are touching the strings - it's generally regarded as normal practice to ground the strings.  Humbuckers are generally better in this respect..as they are designed to "buck the hum".

 

All this probably makes no odds if you are just playing at home, but if you are on a stage with a lot of lighting and other power cables, it can be very noticeable.

Permalink Reply by James O'Connor on June 6, 2011 at 5:02am

heat sink?

 

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 6, 2011 at 5:09am

Yea. Something that will draw off the heat generated by the soldering iron away from the capacitor itself. If you clip a spare alligator clip to the leg you are soldering, it will help keep the capacitor cool so it doesn't burn out.

If you don't use one, and you get the leg of the cap too hot, it can carry up the leg to the cap, and burn out the cap, and it won't be any good.

 

James O'Connor said:

heat sink?

 

Permalink Reply by James O'Connor on June 6, 2011 at 5:16am

Never thought of that, will do thanks

 

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on June 6, 2011 at 5:29am

You can also wrap the pot with a damp cloth, that'll keep it cool. Leave the leg you're soldering exposed. 

Dan Sleep said:

Yea. Something that will draw off the heat generated by the soldering iron away from the capacitor itself. If you clip a spare alligator clip to the leg you are soldering, it will help keep the capacitor cool so it doesn't burn out.

If you don't use one, and you get the leg of the cap too hot, it can carry up the leg to the cap, and burn out the cap, and it won't be any good.

 

James O'Connor said:

heat sink?