Hi, everyone.

Last September I bought my first guitar--a Mexican Fat Strat Deluxe--off a friend and I've been having an odd problem with it. Actually, the problem was always present, I'm just fed up with it and have gained enough confidence to try and fix it.

The issue is that there's a loud crackling-type noise that comes out of my amp when the input cable is touched or moved a certain way. Also odd is that the noise starts up before the input cable is even plugged into the guitar. When you get within a few inches from plugging the cable into the guitar the noise starts. And it's loud. The volume of the amp has no effect on how loud the noise is. If the amp is on the noise comes and goes.

I'm fairly certain this is an issue with the Strat itself, and not the amp or the cable.

Things I've tried:

Bought a new cable--problem is still there, so it's not the cable.

Bought a second guitar--problem is not present in the new guitar, with either cable.

Bought a third guitar--problem is still not present, so I assume it's not the amp.

Opened up the input cavity doohicky, and re-soldered the connections. No dice.

At this point I'm not sure what to try next. I've searched google for this issue, but cannot find anything relevant. If I have to take the strings off an open the guitar up, I will, I just haven't yet because I just changed the strings, and IDK if they can be reused. This guitar has a Floyd Rose Trem, if that's relevant to anything. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

You could have a loose ground somewhere in the guitar. Take off the pickguard and look for any loose, out of place, or bare wire. Also check the ground going from the input jack to the claw. You can probably reuse the strings if you left enough winding, if not, I'd say the cost of a new set of strings is worth finding out what's wrong with the guitar. Good luck!

Bud


Keep on pickin' -- what else is there?

Wait a minute. You said: "Also odd is that the noise starts up before the input cable is even plugged into the guitar. When you get within a few inches from plugging the cable into the guitar the noise starts."

If the noise is ocurring before you even plug the cable into the guitar, then the problem is with either the cable or the amp. If the problem is occurring with a new cable before you plug into the guitar, than my money is on the amp input jack. You need to test with the original guitar and cable but a different amp. I do not see where you have done that yet. What kind of amp are you using?

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Bill

Actually, I have tested the Strat on my friends Roland Cube amp, and the same noise issue was present. I kind of forgot about that because it was a while back. My SG doesn't make any kinds of noises like this, which is why I'm convinced it's the Strat.

I have a Marshall Micro stack Lead 15. I plan on upgrading soon, but that's what I have for now.

If it is indeed a ground wire, do I have to remove the strings to get the pick guard off? Thanks for your suggestions.

Take out the 2 screws holding the input plate......pull it out and check the wires connected to the input jack. You could have a broken or loose connection, and maybe just a poor solder joint. Also make sure that the nut is tight that holds the jack on to the plate.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I already re-soldered them last night.

A outside the box suggestion.

Check the input socket of the amp. It could have some dirt in it, maybe it moves around when you walk on the floorboards near the amp! Stranger things have happened.

If you spray some switch cleaner into the jack socket of the amp, then some onto a guitar cable. Insert and remove the cable a good few times, rotate the cable in the socket. It should clean it and in 99% of cases sort the dirt problem. If that's what it is.

It could also be a pot gone bad on the amp or any other number of circuit problems. All out our scope to diagnose on a internet forum. But thats where I'd start. You can also try using a different electric socket in a different room. Amps are funny things and if one socket is giving dirty electric it can ruin your sound when used.
If you can try a different amp please do.

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No no and no

I get the same sort of thing with my Les Paul depending on which direction i face. sometimes if i am touching something metal the static goes mental. i don't know how to fix it .
i have re-soldered all of the connections and it still does it. It may be the amp but it is an Orange stack so i am hoping it isn't the amp.
any suggestions

Welcome to Dougefresh91 and iaperinafender!

With the Strat: Chances are that the tip of your input jack (+) is touching up against the guitar's wood underneath the jack cup (-). As the wood has a layer of carbon based paint for shielding, any pressure on the jack will cause it to make noise like this as it is literally shorting out.

With the LP: At your toggle switch, check that the bare wire (-) is not coming in contact with any of the plates which lead to any of the other terminals (+) on the switch. Also ensure that the two crimped positive terminals on the switch are not in contact with the wood inside or they to will be shorting out against shielding paint (-) as well.

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You dig?

I am still at a loss to understand/explain this statement.

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Bill

Sounds a little bit like a short across the front panel at the preamp stage of the amp to me.

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No no and no

Just a suggestion but check to be sure the cable you are using is a signal cable and not a speaker cable.

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OK, I'll hum a little bit, got it now?

I suggested a problem with the amp input jack in my original post but the OP said that the problem ocurred with a different amp.

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Bill

This, so far, seems to be the best answer, not suggesting anything else that was repeated or missed by the original posts/tests already performed. I will add that you make sure the bridge is grounded too. As for a bad pot, - very possible. I recently had one fail that made a squealing noise, especially if was running through a distortion pedal or "dirty" channel. It would only stop when I turned the knob all the way to the lowest position.

I think we're on the same page so far except for the fact that the noise starts before the guitar is plugged into the amp. When this happens you are obviously holding the cord with one hand. Where is the other hand when the noise starts before it's plugged in? Is it touching any metal like the strings or bridge on the guitar? You might try laying the guitar on its back and without touching it bring the cable near to see if the noise is there. If it isn't you can almost be sure it's with the guitar and probably some sort of grounding problem.

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OK, I'll hum a little bit, got it now?