Members elsupermanny14 Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Hey guys just looking for some tips to reduce some of the hum in my Strat. Here's the deal, I ordered a new bridge to drop in my Strat. I figured that while the strings are off I'm going to shield the inner cavity of my guitar as well as the back of the pickguard. Thankfully I already shielded my pickups a long time ago and don't have to worry about that. Anyways, the wiring is still pretty much factory and could definitely be cleaned up a little. So I'm gonna clean up the electronics a little bit to hopefully try to further reduce any hum. I wanted to know if there is anything I could wrap around the electrical wiring to maybe further shield a bit or insulate? I'm not trying to do any re-wiring, just wondering if I can cover the wires with anything? I was wondering if maybe black electrical tape would help a bit? Any advice would be great! Also if you guys want to add in an extra advice that could potentially decrease hum that would greatly appreciated. Like I said, I already shielded the pickups, and am going to shield the cavity and pickguard. So anything else you could want to suggest, I may be willing to try it if it doesn't involve any major alterations. Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mighty Coogna! Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 Electrical tape is just plastic with an adhesive on one side. It's a dielectric ( I think that's what an insulator is called) but has no shielding properties. If you're really dying to shield I suggest copper tape or shielding paint from a supplier like Stew mac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 no you need a grounded conductive shield Try this... http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 no you need a grounded conductive shield What he said. Also, twisting the wires can help. Here's an example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ten56gibby Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 So you have to ground those big copper shields for them to work, eh? LOL - I always thought you just slapped 'em on there. No, really. I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members samuraiBSD Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 noyou need a grounded conductive shieldTry this...http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php This man is correct. Electrical tape does nothing to stop or slow down electromagnetic fields in any noticeable capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 What he said. Also, twisting the wires can help. Here's an example. That looks cool. Kinda like... BTW I added a link: http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlinytheWelder Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Shielding/1/Self-adhesive_Shielding_Kit/Instructions/I-3789.html#details http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/tele.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 That looks cool. Kinda like... Thanks. The idea came to me while I was watching Predator vs. Alien. Ya know maan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 That is one of the neatest wiring jobs I've ever seen! Very nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members samuraiBSD Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 I'd previously been using zip ties to keep wires together inside my Strat, but I think I'll go to braiding like that...probably cheaper that way, and with the added benefit of shielding...well, it works out nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sbeirnes Posted December 30, 2008 Members Share Posted December 30, 2008 How did you sheild your pickups? They need their magnetic field under the strings to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Ok so I have to ground the shielding? Ok thanks for letting me know! I didn't know that, I was just going to get some spray on adhesive and copper foil and just shield the whole cavity. I didn't know I had to ground it. Wow thanks guys! Also if one needs to ground the shielding? Then how is the shielding on pickguards grounded? I have seen many examples where only the pickguard is shielded on the back, but not the cavity. Is the shielding grounded on the pickguard? Thanks for the braiding idea! Definitely going to try to braid the wires together! Anymore help would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axegrinder Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Also if one needs to ground the shielding? Then how is the shielding on pickguards grounded? I have seen many examples where only the pickguard is shielded on the back, but not the cavity. Is the shielding grounded on the pickguard? I usually run some excess foil outside the cavity near a few screw holes so that positive copper-copper contact is made between guard and cavity. On this one I ran a lip around the whole perimeter...OCD alert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funderbunk Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Also if one needs to ground the shielding? Then how is the shielding on pickguards grounded? Usually, when shielding the cavities, you leave a small tab or two of the copper foil that is folded up and onto the top of the guitar. When you put the pickguard on, the copper on the pickguard is in contact with the copper tab from the cavity, thus turning it all into one nicely shielded unit. If the cavity isn't shielded and there's just foil on the back of the pickguard not connected to ground, it won't have nearly as much effect if any. EDIT: I'm not a quick enough typist - Axegrinder beat me to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EllenGtrGrl Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 What he said. Also, twisting the wires can help. Here's an example. Ah yes!! Twisted pairs! That's one of the oldest types of noise reduction around. It's not 100% effective, but it does make a noticeable difference in the hum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catsandstrats Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 The braids are fantastic. I have been wrapping wires for years, for a long time, I thought the only reason we did it that way was because it looked cool, but I got lazy one time and didnt wrap, and HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsupermanny14 Posted December 31, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Is there a way to ground the foil in the body cavity without soldering? I have never soldered before. I have read on here that soldering is easy to learn, but if I can ground it without soldering that would be most easiest on me. Is it possible to ground without soldering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted December 31, 2008 Members Share Posted December 31, 2008 Is there a way to ground the foil in the body cavity without soldering? I have never soldered before. I have read on here that soldering is easy to learn, but if I can ground it without soldering that would be most easiest on me. Is it possible to ground without soldering?The copper tape I use is from StewMac. It has a conductive adhesive so soldering is not necessary. I've also used cheap aluminum tape like the kind at Walmart used for ducts. The adhesive isn't conductive so I had to implement an elaborate method of folds to ensure there would be contact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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