I just purchased an Americal Standard and noticed that there is noise (Hum) when im switched to a single pickup. Switsh to two (2nd and 4th position) there is no noise. Has anybody experianced this? Is it normal? Before i fuss about it i wanted a couple other opinions from you all out there.
Thanks

Yes it is normal and what is called 60 cycle hum. When you are in positions 2 and 4 it is canceled out. I for one hate 60 cycle hum as do most players. First off when you start playing you will not hear it at all it is when you stop. You now have to look into getting your guitar shielded which involves using copper paint or tape under the pick guard to cancel out the hum.Any good tech will be able to do the job.

To be sorta expected from single coils, 2 and 4 positions involves another pickup that is wound in a way to cancel out the hum from the other.

Thanks for the replies. I will check with the shop about the copper.

You have an American Standard. The guitar came from the factory with shielding paint as one of the body's base coats. Literally shielding the shielding with copper is not only redundant but useless and will further suppress your pickups tonality and volume. Treat the cause, not the symptom: If the 60 cycle hum is really that annoying to you, replace the OEM pickups with humbucking types.

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You dig?

I just replaced a pickguard in one of my strats and I figured why not shield it. Well it didnt really make a difference anyway.

Thanks for all of the imput. I can totally live with the hum. Just wasent sure if my ax needed work or had a defect. All good here. This forum is great. Its like having a very experienced guitar buddy at your fingr tips

Hi Arena man welcome to the 60 cycle hummers club,you'll get used to it. Sometimes you can decrease the amount of it by just changing the angle of your guitar in relation to the amp,turning a certain way could increase or decrease the hum.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I installed Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups into my American Series Strat, killed the hum. All five of my positions are usable and musical. Experiences vary, since the VN set includes different controls and a different capacitor in the package. The sound may be slightly different than your current sound; in my guitar positions 1, 3 and 5 are not as glassy as the original pickups, but I couldn't use the originals anyway because the hum was too loud.
Before, the pickup covers were bright white:

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The VN covers match the pickguard: