Causes of noise!? - Page 2

Guitarist-Jonny · #16 10-25-2009, 10:05 PM

Hi all, thanks again for your input- except 6fingers because he writes silly comments in almost every topic I make- LOL

! I've tried insulating tape and resoldering most joints! I've not yet tried the aluminium foil but I think I could be coming to that next!

Recap

I've resoldered the hots to the right places and the same with the Earth/Ground. Turns out the tech had put the green where the red was to flip which coil was active in 2 and 4 split coil modes. My output is seemingly higher now, but my neck/middle coil (position 2 when looking down at the guitar pickup selector and numbering 1-5 left to right) isn't as nice a clean- I'll find a way of fine tuning the amp eq or something to compensate/rewire the selector (AGAIN xD) in future

!

I've checked every joint I can with a tester to try to figure out if any are bad joints, all are good.

I've covered the pickup selector joints and most joints with insulating tape.

Verdict:

-STILL THE PROBLEM REMAINS! However, I've found I can get rid of it if i link the volume pot to the tone pot with an unused string I had (this was outside the cavity, actually on the pots where I turn them).
-Is there some sort of "EARTH OVERLOAD"? The guitar is now wired pretty much exactly as the HSH recommendation from dimarzio (difference with pup selector and the Earth of the Volume pot is connected [checked with tester- good connection] with just solder.) I will triple check the wiring though.

Next bit:

Ok, so, if there is an "EARTH OVERLOAD," what should I do now? Should I use the aluminium foil to 'disperse' the current a little? To clarify, the noise is a scratching noise that occurs when I rub my finger ALONG the control knob of the volume pot, or where the control knob should be (I've done both.) I've found that this noise disappears when I create a conductive link to the control knob of the tone pot.
What do you think I should do?

This is getting more and more interesting, keep the advice coming please your really helping me out

!
Thanks
Regards
Jon

Vim Fuego · #17 10-26-2009, 06:24 AM

The important earth/ground connections are:
Pickup shielding/braiding.
Guitar strings/hardware (from trem claw (or bridge post for non trem guitars)).
Pickup ground wire (Green for Dimarzios).
Volume pot (both chassis and one of the solder lugs, signal goes to one lug, output is the middle and the earth is the other lug)
Tone pot (both chassis and one of the solder lugs)
Jack ground connection.
Optionally, switch chassis.

If all this is correct, then maybe check your other gear, is the amp main earth connected? have your leads got a broken earth connection? Remove any FX pedals and check without them...
Best of luck tracking it down.
Jim

Guitarist-Jonny · #18 10-26-2009, 07:11 AM

Thanks for your help, the noise is there with every amp I put it through. I've found the problem! It's the connection between the top of the pot (where I touch it and where the actual knob is) and the earth pin. I put a circuit tester on the volume knob; and on the earth pin, then volume pot casing in the cavity and on tone pot casing inside the cavity one after the other with each time I did the 'test'. I then rubbed my finger across the volume knob to sort of simulate what happens when plugged into the amp, and bamm. The circuit was opening and closing frantically! I think there must be some resistance between the knob(the bit that I touch to adjust the volume) and the earth pin, but I don't know what I can do now to get rid of this resistance!?
Thanks
Regards
Jon

Vim Fuego · #19 10-26-2009, 08:23 AM

This is going to sound bizarre, but if the knobs are made of metal, you could try undoing the grub screw and raising them just a little along the pot shaft, maybe the knob is making an intermittent scraping connection with the pot casing??
You could even take them off and wrap insulating tape round the shaft before putting them back on again if the pots have metal shafts, to make sure there is no contact between knob and pot (!).
Even plastic knobs might be worth a try?!
Jim

Guitarist-Jonny · #20 10-26-2009, 09:20 AM

I see what you're saying, but the scratching noise is there when I take the knob off too- all I have to do is rub my finger around the pot shaft (not turning it) and the scratch is there. I want to get rid of this problem completely, could there be dirt or something interupting complete connection of the pot shaft and the earth/ground pin? Should I just get a new pot? The problem is definitely inside the pot itself.
Thanks
Regards
Jon

nsabino · #21 10-26-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitarist-Jonny

I see what you're saying, but the scratching noise is there when I take the knob off too- all I have to do is rub my finger around the pot shaft (not turning it) and the scratch is there. I want to get rid of this problem completely, could there be dirt or something interupting complete connection of the pot shaft and the earth/ground pin? Should I just get a new pot? The problem is definitely inside the pot itself.
Thanks
Regards
Jon

Hi, I had a similar problem to yours a while back and I was usoldering this, resoldering that and the noise(s) wouldn't go away. What I did was take everything apart and purchase what I thought might not be up to scratch resoldered everything neatly and cleanly and voilá all my noises dissapeared.

Regards and good luck,
Nelson