stumpdk
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 2
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Post by stumpdk on Nov 2, 2009 13:04:07 GMT -5
So... I've been doing a rewiring as described in "Quieting the Beast", and while doing it, replaced my old pickups with a three new Fender Custom '69 pickups. My problem is noise. I had noise at my old setup as well, but it has become worse, and I simply can't figure the problem out - hence the panic. Here is a very simple (and bad) diagram of my current setup: I'm pretty sure that the problem isn't a ground-problem, as I'm experiencing a only small reduction in noise when I'm thouching and/or connecting the setup to ground (tremelo). I think that the problem is related to the setup, but I can't confirm this, as my technical know how is almost no-existing. Therefore, a word of advice would be very welcome, before I jump out my window (lucky, I'm living at the first flore, but it surely would seem strange for bypassers).
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Post by newey on Nov 2, 2009 15:28:37 GMT -5
Stumpdk-
Hello and Welcome! No jumping out windows allowed!
First, your diagram shows the 400V .033µf cap connected between the ground and the back of the tone pot, while the shared tone cap is going separately to the ground. Wired this way, that cap is not providing any protection against shock (which is its purpose). The idea of the use of this cap it that it is wired between the signal ground (the jack negative terminal, ultimately) and all other signal grounds.
This is not likely to be causing your noise problem, though. There could be a number of reasons for that, and I'll let others weigh in on that. But first, tell us about how you shielded this. What technique did you use? Are all the pieces of your shielding electrically continuous (meaning, did you check with a meter)?
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Post by pete12345 on Nov 2, 2009 16:57:10 GMT -5
Also check you haven't got the wires reversed at the jack. Doing so will make the strings, shielding and anything else 'grounded' into one big antenna.
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stumpdk
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
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Post by stumpdk on Nov 2, 2009 17:53:12 GMT -5
Hey Newey Thank you for your quick reply.
I shielded the guitar with alufoil, the cheap method. I've checked, and there's connection in all parts of the shield.
I've been doing some more research, and found that the noise changes alot if I walk around in my apartment. This could indicate, that the shield is bad, couldn't it? (But how can it be, if there is connection al the way through it?) Tried wrapping the hole thing in alufoil, but that didn't help either...
Are there any rules about using shielded wires or other things I've miss while doing the rewiring? And much effect does the capacitator have? I mean, could it help changing the value?
And once again, thank you for your help, it's highly appriciated. I'll do the changes about the placement of the 400 volt capacitator as soon as I can.
EDIT: And by the way, tried to switch the connections on the jack, but that just made things worse...
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Post by newey on Nov 2, 2009 23:57:16 GMT -5
stdk- Noise problems are devilishly difficult to suss out over the web. First, recognize that shielding is not a cure-all for noise problems. You should see some reduction in noise with a good shielding job. Ok, so it's not the jack wiring and the shield is continuous. Do you also have good contact with the pickguard shielding? Do several of the pickguard screws contact both the cavity foil as well as the pickguard foil? You mention that the noise level changes as you move around your apartment. Some environments are just particularly electrically "noisy". When you hear the most noise, are you near any fluorescent lamps or a CRT monitor? Try turning electrical items in the room off as you monitor the noise level in your rig. See if you can isolate the noise source to a particular electrical appliance. I don't know if you meant the tone cap or the QTB "blocking cap", but neither should be a source of noise if properly wired. If you mean the "blocking cap", that should not have any effect, it's there for safety purposes only. More information on the blocking cap, and how to wire it, can be found here: guitarnuts2.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wiring&action=display&thread=4187
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