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Post by casinoplayer on Jan 22, 2007 20:51:55 GMT -5
I just found this forum today, and maybe it will be the answer to my prayers.
A few years ago I picked up an Epiphone Casino. Great guitar but the sucker has a terrible hum. The thing is so bad that I can't record with it.
I am planning on replacing the pickups, and would like to ensure that I eliminate (or reduce) the hum.
I see lots of help on shielding a solid body, but what about a hollow body. Can it be done.
Any help would be great
Steve
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servant
Meter Reader 1st Class
Posts: 64
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Post by servant on Jan 22, 2007 21:07:43 GMT -5
Hi casinoplayer,
I haven't been around this forum for quite a while so I feel a little silly, speaking on behalf of the regulars, but: Welcome!
Sorry that I can't answer your question regarding shielding. My guess is that it would be difficult to impossible to do...
What year and country of origin is your guitar? I have a 2005 Casino (Korean). It is fairly quiet. When I am recording, I swivel in my chair until it buzzes the least, and then I hit Record. There is always one direction (orientation of the strings, I think it is North to South) where it is the most quiet. Have you tried that? It also magically got a lot quieter when I switched from an older CRT to an LCD display. If you have a CRT, turn it off when you record - that makes a huge difference.
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Post by casinoplayer on Jan 22, 2007 22:00:03 GMT -5
Thanks Servant
I think mine is a 96 also from Korea although I can't find a "made in" tag.
I know the thing has been rewired because the controls are backwards. I want to put it back to it's original settings and remove as much of the hum as possible.
I didn't think I could shield it like a solid body, but what about using shielded wire.
Steve
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Post by johan on Jan 23, 2007 2:55:08 GMT -5
I think starground, or lack of decent grounding is most probably the main cause. If the pickups are ok and not microphonic. On Korea Epi's that the first thing I would change...
shielding and open guitar makes little sense, i believe.
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Post by sumgai on Jan 23, 2007 4:40:58 GMT -5
servant Welcomes are never out of place! ;D
And welcome back yourself!
sumgai
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Post by sumgai on Jan 23, 2007 4:42:56 GMT -5
casinoplayer, Hi, and to the forums! johan has it correct, it's impossible to install effective shielding inside of a semi-hollow (or fully hollow) body guitar. Cost-effectively speaking, the best you can do is upgrade the current wiring harness with better quality shielded cable. What you have in there now is not what I'd call 'choice quality stuff'. You'll never arrive at a truly quiet axe, but you can make it somewhat acceptable. Better pots might also help, but that's if you get more than 2 or 3 percent improvement, I'd be surprised. And it goes without saying that the pickups themselves have to be of top quality. Only you can determine what your budget will withstand, but chances are excellent that what you have in there now can be improved upon, both tone- and noise-wise. HTH sumgai
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Post by ChrisK on Jan 23, 2007 12:51:14 GMT -5
Well, you could pour shielding paint into one of the "F" holes. tape both of them closed, and shake it aboot fer awhile. . . . . Or not.
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Post by sumgai on Jan 23, 2007 14:46:58 GMT -5
Yeah, but watch out as you pull the tape off the F-holes, you don't wanna spoil the guitar's finish, right? And the beauty is, after you're done making like shake-and-bake, you can pour the leftover paint back into the can - shouldn't use up more than a few ounces, right? Plenty left over for doing your friend's guitars, and you can can charge them enough to cover your expenses - that's gotta be a good thing. ;D
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