My strat is a Japanese model - serial E523346, bought in Alberta in about 1985. I have had it "apart" before (curiosity mostly) to resolder the wires to the jack, since it had become loose and had twisted the wires until one broke. That is years ago, but lately - say in the last year - I have this problem...although it seems to play fine (all controls and pickups function), if I get my lip too close to my mic, or if I am touching the strings and also touch the input jack from the mic, at the amp - I get zapped!

I have attempted to educate myself by reading in forums such as this one, but I have yet to find any source that will show me a picture of the wiring of this particular guitar. It has 3 pickups, a 5-way switch, a 2-way toggle switch, 1 tone and 1 volume control - and the pickup is on the edge of the guitar (not on same surface as the controls).

I also keep seeing posts about ground wires - including those that indicate there should be one to the bridge - but mine has no such grounding wire.

Could this be the reason why I get zapped? It seems unusual that I played it for about 25 years and did not have this issue...or maybe I am looking at the wrong equipment - maybe the mic is the problem, not the guitar wiring.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks for your help.

Grant

Make sure you have a ground wire attached on the trem claw.

It may have nothing to do with the guitar at all unless you notice that only while touching the strings you get a shock instead of just holding the guitar.
In that case there is a grounding problem.

You should really get a mains earth tester to show if there is an earthing problem at the wall and any socket where you plug your guitar amp and PA into.

For safety reasons if that all checks out then look at the guitar amp and mic PA themselves. You should take them into a proper electrical repairer that is familiar with earthing issues.

Cable layout and extra long guitar and mic leads, rack and pedal effects, rack earthing can all cause this problem.

Lastly if could be low humidity or a static electricity build up on you. If you are wearing shoes or clothes that build static electricity or walking across carpet you cab be charged this way. Then as there is no discharge on your guitar as this static electricity builds up you walk to the mic you find a ground/earth with your lips.

Thanks for the info.

While waiting for answers, I also read that basement (concrete) floors can be part of the problem...and that is the situation here...I have a "Music Room" in the basement, and all the floors are concrete and unfinished - although I do have a carpet in the room, but it does not cover all of the surface.

In addition, I am playing thru a 60's Ampeg, with a 2-prong plug - that should maybe be changed - right?

So many possibilities...so little time...I've got 2 guys coming here tomorrow to try and make some music, and my guitar is downstairs on the floor waiting to be put back together!!!

Gotta make some decisions soon.

It's a polarity issue with the amp and the pa system. If you get shocked reverse the plug. I would take it to a tech and get a 3 prong cord installed. If the conditions are right, you could be electrocuted. There are testers to check for this.

You have a grounding issue or a short someplace other than the guitar. It could be the mic, or the amp.

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I have a 60`s amp and was getting shocked with a 2 prong plug. Mine had to be rewired and now has a ground... that was my problem, but not sure if you have issues other than that.

Ditto to the last three posts. It's nothing to do with the innards of the guitar (though yes, you should have the ground on the trem spring claw): it is being caused by a grounding issue between the amp and the PA.

Take this seriously. Every year musicians are killed by bad grounding. I saw Matt Schofield get blown right across a stage by his lip touching a badly grounded mic. Now he won't go on stage till he's seen the sound guy hold his guitar with everything switched on and French kiss the mic...

Have a proper electrician sort it out for you, and install some sort of trip protection while you're about it.

"So little time?" Take the time to fix this right - or the next electric shock just might be your last.

Cheers - C

grounding is a big issue. if i recall properly (and please let me know if i'm wrong) garry thain from uriah heep was electrocuted this way, and died from it. don't want to see that happen to anybody.

You should take it in and get it modified to a 3 pin plug and fix the grounding on your guitar before your use it. Then test the power sockets for problems. You must have a good earth present. Go to an electrical wholesalers and ask for a plug in device you can use to test it. You can get ones that automatically cut off it there is a problem and you leave permanently in place (called an isolation transformer).

If on the other had if it is static electricity build up AFTER you do the above repairs the static build up should discharge more freely.

If clothes, dusty concrete, carpet or foot wear are causing the issue. These types of static shocks are non lethal. First thing is try different clothes and foot wear. If it becomes a problem just in that area you can also purchase anti static mats.

Bad wiring in anything electrical that runs off the mains can kill you. Be sure to get that sorted first.

I was in a lesson with my mentor and close friend (an amazing guitarist named Joe Bennett) and I was sparking all over the place... it was so strange: this one spark literally went 6inches from my shoulder to the door.

I don't think it was grounding since it was more like static charge and I was wearing this polyester windbreaker...

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I agree with Ceri 100% and take your equipment in and get this soughted out. This is no joke and not worth getting yourself hurt bad or worse for something that will cost a few dollars to figure out.