'Quieting the beast' noise problem

[oreo]

Hello, I have a problem.

I used the schematics on the original GN site for 'Quieting the beast' for my copy fender strat to reduce natural hum. After rewireing the electrics and reassembling the guitar, I picked it up and the amp immediately started to fuzz and crackle - much like when you take the lead from your amp and grab the end when the amp is still on. However when the guitar is placed on its back (and thumped a bit) - The amp again turns quiet, and as long as you don't move the guitar, it plays perfectly with greatly reduced hum.

Ive narrowed it down to the volume pot - when this is at all wiggled or moved from side to side it produces this terrible feedback which increases in volume when the strings are touched. Has anyone else had this problem? Ive checked for loose wires and ill do it again, but there is only one other cause i can think of that doesn't include loose connections / wiring.
(btw ALL the eletrics have been replaced so they are all new)

Would the pot size be too small? - After i ordered the 3 new 250k pots and a new 5 way switch off the net, the diagram sent with the 5 way switch suggested that the volume pot shoud be a 500k pot and the other two 250k (I am using all 250k pots inc the vol)

Any help at all would be gladly appreciated (and sorry for the long winded post)

Cheers

[jhng]

Welcome on board. If the buzz gets louder when you touch the strings that's often a sign that the leads to the jack are the wrong way round.

It's an extremely common error. We've all done it many times!

Also there may well be a dry joint- so go over everything to make sure that the joints look good and shiny.

Finally, if there is a wire/solder blob touching something it shouldn't this can account for such intermittent problems.

The pot value shouldn't make any difference. But if you got blobs of solder in the pot this might cause such a problem.

Hope that helps,

Hastings

[oreo]

I think I’ve discovered the fault - through my over eagerness to check for touching wires and short circuits, I’ve completely missed a wire! It connects the volume pot to the ground signal which would explain why the fault came from the volume pot! The reason it partially worked before I am surmising, is because a loose hair of wire was short circuiting the whole thing but actually causing it to work when it touched the inside shielding.

Well I'm off to see if that works.

Thanks alot Hastings and for the kind welcome. I'll post back if it works.

[oreo]

Yep Its works perfectly now. Now the only thing that creats feed back is my distorsion pedal and now its hardly noticeable leaving me with a crisp sharp tone. I really am impressed. I suggest everyone should attempt this poject. The insulation works better than humbuckers and is FAR cheaper too.

Cheers again Hastings for your suggestions.