Strat Project

[noisemaker]

???Started my first project....I have replaced the pups on my Mex Strat with Keystone singles...replaced all pots and 5 way switch....and then I saw an aluminum plate on the Callaham Site,it seemed to make sense to add this under the entire pickguard. the pots and switch make contact with this and everything is tied together with the ground..Is this the correct thing to do?
Please help...I'm in the final stages of this project and need all the help I can get!
Thanks for any direction anyone can give.

[wolf]

Well, it seems your posting has gone unanswered for a while.
Could you post a link for the aluminum plate that goes under the pickguard?

[noisemaker]

Thanks for your response....Thought I was abandoned....the website is ..www.callahamguitars.com...this is where I found this pickguard plate....Strat parts

Thanks again...any advice will be greatly appreciated

[wolf]

My Internet connection was down for a few hours otherwise I would have answered you sooner.
First, here is the corrected link:
www.callahamguitars.com/
So are you wondering how to connect the aluminum plate to ground? It seems that you have done a complete rewiring and so I think you would have no problem finishing this project. Does the pickguard come with any instructions recommending the best way to ground it?

[noisemaker]

Hi Wolf,
The plate has no instructions ...If I just run a wire from the ground side of the output jack and solder it to the plate ,would this be O.K.?
The thing that has me confused is all the talk about proper grounding and avoiding ground loops...I don't quite get it.
I just want the guitar to be as quiet as I can make it,and the more I read the more confused I get ...just don't have a real good knowledge of this "ground loop"thing and its relation to Hum...thanks for your help..

[Runewalker]

The thing that has me confused is all the talk about proper grounding and avoiding ground loops...I don't quite get it.

I absolutely hear that. We are guitarists first, who simply wanted more from our instruments ( or were too cheap to pay a tech).

So this theory is important but without having learned the electronic alphabet this is based on it is a little difficult to form words and sentences. I don't get the ground loop thing and just sound stupid asking the question. I don't need any help sounding stupid.

[noisemaker]

Hey Runewalker.....I guess I don't need any help sounding stupid....I don't mind paying for a tech ,but I thought I would be able to do most of the replacement work myself...Pup's,switches etc. and then have the tech do the fine tuning,so to speak....intonation,set the action,adjust the nut etc...and I thought I should learn a little bit more about the instrument....I didn't realize I had to learn a new language. I'm hoping to pick up a few pointers so I can get involved in another project.

[damian]

Noisemaker I would just line the routed cavaties of the guitar following the instructions on the first guitarnuts.com(under the quieting the beast mod. You could then( if you didnt want to do the whole mod) connect a ring connector to on of the pots run a wire from the ring connector to the wood with a screw to secure it. Make sure and find a meaty section of the wood to drill the screw. And definately use the shortest one you can! This would bring it into ground pretty easily. Also if you leave a little excess of the sheilding material(whichever you choose) up over the edge of one of the cavities(make sure its hidden by the pickgaurd!) this would also contact the pickgaurd sheild and you may not even need the jumper I spoke of. Good luck tell us how it went. Peace Damian