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Post subject: Custom Shop Claptons: some noiseless are noisy?
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:35 am
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I am fortunate to own five Custom Shop Clapton Strats with VNs.

This all sounds a bit strange, but try to follow....

Three of my CS ECs were from a TeamBuilt Custom Artist Blackie series dated 2004 through the Guitar Center. It was simply a special run of 50 with flamed necks that the GC offered. My other two CS ECs, also with VNs (blue, BTW), were purchased randomly. I love them all!

The strange thing is that the 3 Blackies (VN pups) from the Series buzz loudly, but only under certain conditions. In my basement with dimmer light switches up, all three Series Blackies buzz like crazy. Dimmer switches are notorious for causing buzz, but my blue ECs are quiet under the same conditions.

Also, the Blackie buzz happens in various venues, depending on the certain lighting.

Since these Blackies were made "together" in the series, I am guessing that there is some common quirk that is causing the buzz under certain conditions. The buzz is dampened if you touch the bridge. So it is a classic 60 cycle hum? Maybe the pickguards were not shielded on these models? Something with the ground wire or perhaps shielding on the guitars. Any suggestions? Anyone else have a noisy Clapton?


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Claptons: some noiseless are noisy?
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:11 pm
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[quote="ECSTRATOCASTER"]I am fortunate to own five Custom Shop Clapton Strats with VNs. Three of my CS ECs were from a TeamBuilt Custom Artist Blackie series dated 2004 through the Guitar Center. It was simply a special run of 50 with flamed necks that the GC offered. My other two CS ECs, also with VNs (blue, BTW), were purchased randomly. I love them all!

Were the latter two Masterbuilt, because I had issues about a Teambuilt guitar about five years ago and would likely not go that route again for a special order guitar.

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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:56 am
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They are all TeamBuilt. Did you have a buzz/hum problem?
Overall, I am extremely happy with the guitars. The buzz is a quirk, just hoping for an easy fix.


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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:00 am
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ECSTRATOCASTER wrote:
They are all TeamBuilt. Did you have a buzz/hum problem?
Overall, I am extremely happy with the guitars. The buzz is a quirk, just hoping for an easy fix.


My guitar was built on a Clapton platform using SCN pickups. It was finished like an SRV, gold hardware, all black plastic. Nice, but they never got the neck profile or neck finish correct. I waited nearly 18 mos for the guitar and another 6 mos for the neck to be redone. I did not have the patience to wait longer. The project was handled through my local Guitar Center. Though my relationship with the manager there was guite cordial, a wonder would a single owner Showcase Dealer been preferable. (We'll se how I make out with The Music Zoo and my standing backorder on the '57 AVHR.) In all other respects, the guitar was perfect, played well both in hand and sonically.

That was pre-Forum. Had I known then what I know now, I would have gone the extra bucks and had TK do that build. I'd likely still have it. The guitar was swapped out for a Gilmour. Though I have to accept the Gilmour neck as is, my preference as a player is for both the Clapton and AVHR necks, with the 10/56 generic soft-V running third.

In general, I suspect that the margin for error increases with the size of a run, no matter which production line handles it. A single order should have the potential for more care, one on one, though my experience shows that even that approach can be faulty. Masterbuilt is likely the best way to go for a single unit special order.

Doc :wink:

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