It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:03 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:25 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:23 am
Posts: 1
My mex Tele is one of the the gems, its an amazing guitar

but it buzzes like hell sometimes

will applying shielding mess with the tone?

don't really want to replace the pickups cos they sound great to me.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:43 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Why it buzz ?
Any mod on guitar ? Any broken ground ?
Cell phone , computer , halogen lamp , neon lamp man induce some noise in guitar .

I do some guitar shield , with copper tape and some with black conductive paint . Don't know if sound is the same with copper tape. With black paint , still the same IMO .

Black paint is often use by Fender , not copper tape . Black paint is more expensive but look better when you remove pickgard .

I won't use copper tape anymore .


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:17 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 228
Location: Alabama the Beautiful
is it more of a grounding (constant) buzz, or static (when you rub it) buzz?

if it's the latter, shielding tape will help, and it won't change your tone besides cleaning the static from it.

_________________
You won't hurt its feelings boy, play it like you stole it!
ASPCA We Are Their Voice !
Speaking up for those that can't speak for theirself.....
Proud member of the ASPCA "Guardian Angel" program.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 1:16 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Shielding paint is not as good a shield as copper tape and sheeting. Copper does NOT change your tone because it does not interact magnetically with the pickups at all. Paint is an irreversible modification. Copper is removable with little evidence if any at all left behind!

Copper is diamagnetic, meaning it has about the same magnetic property as AIR, which is why it doesn't mess with the tone. Shielding paint is NOT as good or thorough as copper but it is cheaper which is why guitar makers sometimes use it.

Single coil hum can be greatly reduced if you do the shielding correctly. Shield control cavities, the back of the pickguard and pickup cavities and ground every cavity's shield. It helps.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 1:21 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Huh?! The hum is where the soul is... :shock:

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:07 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
brotherdave wrote:


Copper is diamagnetic, meaning it has about the same magnetic property as AIR, which is why it doesn't mess with the tone. Shielding paint is NOT as good or thorough as copper but it is cheaper which is why guitar makers sometimes use it.

.


You brings an interesting perspective. but I wonder if the copper does not change ( ? ) a little resonance in the body of the guitar. This is metal is added.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:43 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/tele.php

Good luck.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:50 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
stratele52 wrote:
brotherdave wrote:


Copper is diamagnetic, meaning it has about the same magnetic property as AIR, which is why it doesn't mess with the tone. Shielding paint is NOT as good or thorough as copper but it is cheaper which is why guitar makers sometimes use it.

.


You brings an interesting perspective. but I wonder if the copper does not change ( ? ) a little resonance in the body of the guitar. This is metal is added.


I don't think it hurts resonance at all. The copper tape and shielding available from parts outlets is really thin and ultra light in weight. I can't tell any difference in resonance on Strats, Teles or solid body basses. I can tell a great deal of difference in RFI rejection though on any single coil Fender. This lower noise floor allows you to crank up the treble and upper mids much higher with greatly reduced hum and buzz than without shielding. Therefore with shielding you have a wider tonal palate so you can actually hear more resonance if you want to do so instead of having to keep the treble down to reduce the buzzing.

Oddly enough some people LIKE the buzzy sound of unshielded single coils. I'm not one of them though. I've always liked the tone of single coil Fender first generation P-basses best of all, especially live. I just hated the buzz. You can get a big reduction in buzz with copper tape shielding, but not a total elimination. It is an improvement though.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: sheilding a mex tele
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:53 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
The shielding doesn't have to be thick at all - you're stopping a radio signal, so all you really need is a Faraday cage, where there's no gap big enough to let through the frequencies that cause a problem.
In the case of what the coil in guitars pick up, lining the edges with a wire might even be enough.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: