Strat "Clicking"

[butterblum]

Hi all,
I have just rewired my G&L S-500. The only problem is, I have a clicking noise whenever I plug my guitar into my amp. I have tried my other guitars, and none of them make the same noise. The noise is present when the volume is turned all the way down and while the volume is all of the way up, but I can't hear it as much when it is in between. All of the pots work, and I don't have any other issues with sound, or any crackling or other noises. If I touch the plug on the cable when it is plugged into the output jack, the noise goes away. Is this a ground loop issue? Do I have bad solder joints?
Here is the wiring schematic that I followed: music-electronics-forum.com/attachments/22176d1362084933-g-l-s-500-wd-my-patrician-.jpg
Can anyone help me out and let me know how to properly ground this thing? I currently have all of the grounds coming into the case of the volume pot. The pot case is then connected to the output jack, and the main ground on the spring plate for the tremolo.
Any help would be appreciated. If you need pictures of my existing work, I can send them later.
Thanks

[newey]

I have a clicking noise whenever I plug my guitar into my amp.

Is this a one-time "click" or does it continue to click? Have you tried the other guitars through the amp with the same cable, or have you swapped cables as well? And, are any of the other guitars you tried equipped with single coils?

I doubt the issue has anything to do with any supposed ground loops. A bad solder joint might be a culprit, but I think we need more info to make that determination.

You should also try the guitar/amp using a different power circuit (move it to a different room that's on a separate breaker, or use a long extension cord to another room). This can help rule out other external sources of noise, so that we can see if it's truly the guitar in question.

You might also try testing it with the jack plate unscrewed (just hanging by the wires, IOW). Sometimes the jack can get shorted when mounted into the jack cavity.

[butterblum]

It is a persistent clicking. It is definitely electronic, because it occurs at a constant frequency. I have tried other guitars with the same cable, and I have also tried different cables. None of the other guitars have it (I have tried a Les Paul copy and another strat-SSH). I have also been testing with the pickguard off, so that I can monitor the wiring to see if anything is touching.

[sumgai]

butty,


You have an interaction between one or more capacitors and the Volume control. If the noise is present when the V pot is turned all the way down, then you have mis-wired the circuit, simple as that. With the pot all the way "down", the wiper, which is the 'hot' output, should be grounded, thus shorting the amplifier's input. No amp can amplify what isn't there to begin with, which means that your guitar is indeed sending something to the amp, even at Vol = 0.

This is easy to double-check with a multimeter, set to Ohms. Plug a cable into your axe, and leave it unplugged from the amp. Touch the two meter leads to the tip and the sleeve (or barrel) of that unconnected plug. If your meter reads anything more than 0Ω then your axe has a wiring problem. (Note that not all meters can read Zero Ohms. Sometimes they are a bit off, even when the two probes are touched together. Just take that two-probes-together number as if it were "Zero Ohms", and you're good to go.)

This should lead you to the problematical wiring, but if not, then post a couple of close-up images. Extra pairs of eyeballs, and all that.

HTH






sumgai

[butterblum]

I will check when I get home. It is strange, because I redid my wiring a few weeks ago, and discovered that my bridge pickup had a broken winding. I ordered a new pickup, and played with two while I waited on the other one to come in. I don't ever remember having this problem. Only when I soldered in the new pickup did it start making this noise.
I have already tried removing the new pickup, to recreate the last known good state, but it still does it.

[b4nj0]

It's not a battery powered wrist watch by any chance? Seems unlikely given the symptoms, but I get regular clicking from mine if I wear it whilst handling the guitar. It's only a thought.

e&oe

[butterblum]

Update:
I measured the resistance at the jack. With the wiper in the off position, I measure 0 resistance. With the wiper at 10, I measure ~78 (on the 200k setting). I plugged the guitar into a solid-state amp that I have (and I plugged it into the same circuit), and it did not make the noise. However, the sound was still present on my tube amp.

I also attached a clip of the sound.

Attachments:

rec_140609_193901.amr (8.53 KB)

[col]

To me, it sounds like interference from a slow motor; a refrigerator compressor maybe.

[butterblum]

Is this something that would be coming through the wiring in my house? Or is this something that shielding would solve? Seems strange as it goes away when I touch the plug when it is plugged into the output jack. Also seems strange that it only happens with one guitar on only one amp, even when they are on the same circuit.

[JFrankParnell]

cell phone? I've had plenty of 'clicky' noise from my cell (but not thru guitar)

[butterblum]

Nope. I know the cell phone click from experience with other speakers, and it's not the same noise. It is a constant click that doesn't fade.

[newey]

I plugged the guitar into a solid-state amp that I have (and I plugged it into the same circuit), and it did not make the noise. However, the sound was still present on my tube amp.

This would seem to definitively show that the guitar is not the problem, or, at least, it is something in the interaction of the guitar and your tube amp, not solely the guitar.

Others who have chimed in are suspicious of a source of noise from your environment, and I think they are likely on the right track.

Did you ever try the guitar and amp combo at another location, or at least on a different circuit?

It may well be that your HB-equipped guitar and your HSS Strat didn't have the noise, when played through the tube amp, as they were better shielded and/or had some noise cancelling effects with one or more humbuckers.

If the noise goes away when you are plugged in somewhere else, then you should take it back to your original location and begin unplugging electrical loads from that room as well as from elsewhere on the same circuit- when the noise goes away, you've found your culprit.

[butterblum]

I took it to another spot in my house and didn't have the problem. I am moving in two months, so I may not do anything now, but does anyone have any resources on shielding? Would shielding the controls cavity solve this or not?
Thanks for your help

[JohnH]

How about blowing a few feet of kitchen foil to find out? Ie.go back to the noisy room, plug in and get it clicking. Then wrap the guitar body in foil, making sure its grounded to the strings or jack barrel. If it reduces the click, then a proper shielding job might help.