Horrible feedback - Undesired squeals and howls

[Verminaard]

First, hello everyone. I used to post many time ago in the old jemsite, and, because of the problem I have, I returned in search of help. I also hope to be useful to others who need advice and/or opinions.

I purchased a second hand Jackson PS-4 because it was really, really, cheap and I ned it as a backup (my band was beginning an intense season of live playing). For about 1/3 of a brand new one. And it was in excellent condition, appart from some bridge problems which are already fixed. The problem is that when I bring it to higher volume levels (Gig levels!!!) I get horrible feedback and screams... so I have to set the noise gate really high, even having undesired sharp feedback noises with palm-mutings. To completely eliminate them, I have to set volume around 4!!! (A Marshall at 4!!!!!!), with the noise gate making its best!!! It is also a very noisy guitar... lots of static electricity. So I decided to put a Dimarzio Tone Zone in the bridge. Those stock pickups didn't were beautiful. But I was surprised when, after installing it and crancking my Marshall to the end, the screams and squeals and howls and horrible noises were still there. Even static electricity continued there. I don't know what to do. Various friends of mine own the same guitar and they make the same strange and horrible noises. It is not my Marshall. It sounds perfect with my RG. Anyone knows what is happening and what can I do to fix the problem??? Yeah, it is a backup guitar, but I cannot play live with it. And I don't want to have my $70 Yamaha (it was my first guitar) as backup. Anyone could guess why. So, I will be very pleased if someone knows what is happening. Thank you all.

[bob]

It is very possible they used very crappy components when building the electrical subsystem of that axe. *It's also possible that the cavity is not sheilded well enough.

I would suggest changing out the POTs and switches with high-quality ones. *If that doesn't fix it, try shielding the control cavity better. *I think someone makes "spray-on" sheilding that you could use on the guitar itself. *You could then use some foil tape to do the inside of the cavity cover.

[strat110]

Check the earth wire is connected to the tremolo claw?? Otherwise the problem is most likely shielding, you could try all new better grade components, maybe a dry solder joint.

Could be as simple as *a dodgy guitar cable!

[kirk]

I would venture to guess that the pickups are lousy. *My singer experiences the same problem with her Jackson, and I think it is because of the cheap pickups that come stock in that guitar.

[Verminaard]

I also thought that the problem could be the pickups. Because of that I put the Tone Zone. After replacing the bridge pickup and seeing that the noises did not disappear (when using that p.u.) I started to think, as others have said before, of hardware as knobs and switchs. But, as you say, you think that the other pickups are producing the noises, even if the selected p.u. is the TZ. Ok??? So every p.u. participate to the final sound in some way, even if they are not activated??? So, to cut the noises, i should change all the pickups of the guitar??? I don't think so. I have never analized the p.u. switch, but it seems to cut any influence of the not-selected units, disconnecting them from the circuit which generates sound. At least, that is the way in which I would build one if I ned to. If not, it should not be very useful. Correct me if i'm wrong, please. By now, I think that I should change the knobs and the switch. Maybe even the jack connection.

By the way. Some time ago I met a guy who told me that to cut static electricity noises the best thing to be done is to connect the bridge to the volume knob with a piece of wire. I never tried it. Anyone knows if it works???

Thank you again.