QTB Modification, Final Check Up

[png123]

So i am planning to do the Quiting the beast modifcation shown on Guitar nuts.

I own a Yamaha Pacifica (Strat Copy),

Now i am undecided between which method to use :S
John first wrote QTB the QTB for Tele,
The Tele version is quite simple and i understood it (except for the pat of that small wire you pass frm somehwere)

The Strat Version (for me) is more complicated and i will make a mistake for sure.
Also my guitar only has 1 Tone (unlike the one John uses). Since this will be the first time i am going to touchthe wiring i am not going to try and complicate stuff.

This is what i want to achieve:
1) No Hum
2) Add 400 Watt Capacitor (as a precaution against shock)
3) If i could add any thing else (which is dead simple) whilst i am at it i mightt as well.

---
Firstly you must know that the interior of the guitar is one big Cavity in which 3 pick ups and the controls rattle around /

Now here are some questions:

1) I have Aliminium foil (1 side matt, other side shiny) that my mum uses in kitchen,
Is this good?
and which side up?

2) IN the Tele article, John uses Alumium on the pickguard and Copper in the Cavity (should i do that??), or just use aluminium/copper everywhere?

3) Do i need to cover back of pick guard with foil?

4) If all contols, and pick ups are in the same cavity ,do i need to fit in that small wire? (Oh and if i understood well that small wire is to join the two cavities right? So when i do my Telecaster i have to solder the wire into the foil in the Neck Cavity to the Foil in the COntrol cavity , right?)

5) If i were to se aluminium foil, how do i stick it?

6) How (and Where) do i stick the capacitor?

[UnklMickey]

hi png123,

i usually like to leave topics like this for others, but you haven't had a reply.

so..........


i don't know if you have had a proper welcome.


Welcome to GuitarNuts2


the QTB should be thought of as 3 ideas rolled into 1 mod.


1 -- shielding

2 -- stargrounding / separating shielding paths from signal paths.

3 -- shock protection


since most strats have plastic knobs and a plastic cover on the switch handle,

95% of the shock protection can be achieved by simply connecting the the string ground wire through the 400 Volt cap to the signal ground.

a newbie will find this much simpler than separating all the shielding from the signal ground.

(you will give up a slight improvement in hum-reduction, but it be much easier to do this way)



if you are going to use aluminum foil, use the "heavy duty" kitchen foil, because it's thicker, and will be more effective.

it won't make any difference for shielding, but i think the dull side against the adhesive will stick better.

i can't advise on which adhesive would be best, but i would try some on a scrap piece of wood, and see if it hold the foil well enough, before using it on your guitar.


be sure to cover any exposed connections of your pots and switches with electrician tape or some other insulator to reduce the possibility of shorting those connections to the foil when the pickguard is put in place.

foil shorting out connections is a common, but avoidable problem.

good luck,


unk

[png123]

Thanks for answering Unk,
but:

1) I have Aliminium foil (1 side matt, other side shiny) that my mum uses in kitchen,
Is this good?
and which side up?

2) Do i need to cover back of pick guard with foil?

3) If all contols, and pick ups are in the same cavity ,do i need to fit in that small wire? (Oh and if i understood well that small wire is to join the two cavities right? So when i do my Telecaster i have to solder the wire into the foil in the Neck Cavity to the Foil in the COntrol cavity , right?)

4) How (and Where) do i stick the capacitor?

[UnklMickey]

1 -- good? yes, but thicker is better.

2 -- yes

3 -- separate cavities need to be connected together.

but you CAN'T solder aluminum. (we'll it can be done, but you won't find the stuff to do it with, at your hardware store.)

you will need to make connection between cavities, by leaving excess on the foil ends, and folding or rolling the ends together, then flattening them together.

4 -- you should know better than to phrase a question that way, when you're asking me.

i'm gonna let you off, without making a smart a$$ed remark this time.

put it wherever it fits.


cheers,

unk

[png123]

Thanks Unk

Regarding No.4 i didn't understand what you mean :S,
I really don't know what to do with the capacitor . SERIOUSLY!

What do i connect it to?