Star Ground Ring Connector Position

[malloryboy]

Hi everyone,
I am a newbie so please forgive my haste and any faux pass.

Kinda feel like a dummy for asking but...

I have been doing the Quieting The Beast mod and there is only one thing that I do not understand from the directions.

Where does the ring connector for star grounding get attached?

Is it screwed into the back of the pickguard?
Or is it attached to the back of the pickguard & screwed down by a pickguard mounting screw?
Or is it soldered to the shielding foil on the back of the pickguard?
Or is it screwed to the shielding foil on the bottom of the cavity, which would make removal & attachment of the guard difficult in future.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks


This is also the connector that also links to the .33uF cap on a pot for shock protection.

[newey]

Malloryboy-

Hello and welcome!

Where does the ring connector for star grounding get
attached?

This is also the connector that also links to the .33uF cap on a pot for shock protection.

Your 2 statements above have me a bit confused, so let's both walk through the process as spelled out in the QTB directions.

There are 2 ring connectors used. The first is the one used as the star grounding point. It does not "attach" anywhere in the sense that the hole in the ring is not screwed down anywhere.

The star ground is insulated (use electrical tape) so that it does not contact the shielding (or anything else). It just "floats". A ring connector is used only because it makes a convenient place to assemble all the grounds/signal returns.

The star ground is "attached" in the sense that it attaches to one end of the safety cap. The other end of the safety cap is then attached to a second ring connector, which is slipped over the shaft of one of the pots, and thereby connects to the shielding on the underside of the pickguard, via pressure once the pot is installed with the hexnut.

If the safety cap is not used, the star grounding point may be connected directly to the shielding by several different methods. As you note, the advantage to using the "ring connector-over-the-pot-shaft" technique is that removing the pickguard is then much easier than if it is screwed to the side of the cavity.

HTH-

[malloryboy]

You answered my questions perfectly & succinctly.

It was the bit about the common wire connector floating (wrapped in insulation) that I couldn't see in the original instructions.

Now I understand.

Thanks newey.

[roger]

Jan 7, 2009 17:20:11 GMT -5 newey said:

Malloryboy-

Hello and welcome!

Where does the ring connector for star grounding get
attached?

This is also the connector that also links to the .33uF cap on a pot for shock protection.

Your 2 statements above have me a bit confused, so let's both walk through the process as spelled out in the QTB directions.

There are 2 ring connectors used. The first is the one used as the star grounding point. It does not "attach" anywhere in the sense that the hole in the ring is not screwed down anywhere.

The star ground is insulated (use electrical tape) so that it does not contact the shielding (or anything else). It just "floats". A ring connector is used only because it makes a convenient place to assemble all the grounds/signal returns.

The star ground is "attached" in the sense that it attaches to one end of the safety cap. The other end of the safety cap is then attached to a second ring connector, which is slipped over the shaft of one of the pots, and thereby connects to the shielding on the underside of the pickguard, via pressure once the pot is installed with the hexnut.

If the safety cap is not used, the star grounding point may be connected directly to the shielding by several different methods. As you note, the advantage to using the "ring connector-over-the-pot-shaft" technique is that removing the pickguard is then much easier than if it is screwed to the side of the cavity.

HTH-

Hi sir newey,
Would you kindly link me to any available video or visual step by step on doing the QTB if there is or available already.
I still can't visualized how the artist rendering provided on QTB, it would be great if it is a real picture.
I already bought and have the required materials but still reluctant to do it co'z i might mess up everything . I do know how to solder and have a little background on electronic.
Would really appreciate your big help and many thanks,

Roger

[newey]

Roger-

I already bought and have the required materials but still reluctant to do it co'z i might mess up everything

That's why we're here. Tell us what guitar you're starting with and the materials you are using and we can walk you through it.

As for a video or photo instructional, check the Stew-Mac website. I believe they had a photo-based walk-thru in their newletter a while back, although I couldn't find the link to it just now.

And "Sir Newey" makes me sound old. Which I am.

[roger]

Jan 21, 2009 6:51:04 GMT -5 newey said:

Roger-

I already bought and have the required materials but still reluctant to do it co'z i might mess up everything

That's why we're here. Tell us what guitar you're starting with and the materials you are using and we can walk you through it.

As for a video or photo instructional, check the Stew-Mac website. I believe they had a photo-based walk-thru in their newletter a while back, although I couldn't find the link to it just now.

And "Sir Newey" makes me sound old. Which I am.

sure newey, btw i'm also already antique 1961 birth model hahah going 49 this year.
My Squier California Series with SSS pickup .
I do have 3M 1218 copper foil with adhesive and i already figure out how t o use this, the only problem is i can't figure out the wiring behind those artist rendering specially the star ground with malloryboy had asked. Is that ring is just floating and at attached to the back of the pickguard? I'll check that photo based by stew-mac and come back if still not clear to me and many thanks my friend.

Roger