It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:57 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 1:08 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:47 pm
Posts: 8
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK
I have noticed that my Eric Johnson Strat has developed noise whenever the strings, or the bridge is not being touched. I'm sure this is an earthing problem but I'm a little unsure as to how to cure it.
Can anyone assist?
Mike Ticehurst


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:09 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2013 12:57 am
Posts: 224
check the ground wire to your bridge, make sure it is soldered in place good, also you might want to shield the pickup and control cavity with some copper shielding tape, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... lding-tape There are plenty of good tutorials on youtube to assist you in shielding your guitar, but the likely cause is as you said a missing ground somewhere in the circuit, sounds like your bridge might not be grounded properly


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 5:53 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:15 am
Posts: 522
Does it do the same thing on a different amp?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:32 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
Got to suspect the ground wire. If you've got a multimeter then check for continuity between the bridge and the metal output jack plate. If there's no continuity then open up the back and see if the ground wire has come away from the spring claw.

Might also be worth trying a new lead, cheap or old leads can sometimes have resistance to ground. Trim and resolder if necessary, or throw them out and buy new.

If both are ok then check that the amp's input ground isn't faulty.

And if you don't have a multimeter - WHY NOT?

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:56 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:47 pm
Posts: 8
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK
Many thanks for your replies, and I will have a multi meter by the end of the day.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:09 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14050
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
GilgaFrank wrote:
Got to suspect the ground wire. If you've got a multimeter then check for continuity between the bridge and the metal output jack plate. If there's no continuity then open up the back and see if the ground wire has come away from the spring claw.

Might also be worth trying a new lead, cheap or old leads can sometimes have resistance to ground. Trim and resolder if necessary, or throw them out and buy new.

If both are ok then check that the amp's input ground isn't faulty.

And if you don't have a multimeter - WHY NOT?



+1000


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:37 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:47 am
Posts: 2967
Location: Westchester County, NY
SNick wrote:
Does it do the same thing on a different amp?


Good question, or does another guitar do the same thing in that same amp? Before you go and pull off PG.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:28 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Kreature wrote:
check the ground wire to your bridge, make sure it is soldered in place good, also you might want to shield the pickup and control cavity with some copper shielding tape, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... lding-tape There are plenty of good tutorials on youtube to assist you in shielding your guitar, but the likely cause is as you said a missing ground somewhere in the circuit, sounds like your bridge might not be grounded properly


+100000

Poor soldering of the wires is also a factor for the 60-cycle hum.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 2:20 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 4:52 pm
Posts: 1129
Location: UK
IMO, if the hum reduces when you touch the strings, then the guitar is grounded correctly, and you need to look elsewhere. Could be house wiring, dimmer switches, lights, amp location, computers etc. Single coils can be noisy!
Here's something that might be an interesting read for you.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/noisebucket.php


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 2:29 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14050
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Butterscotch wrote:
IMO, if the hum reduces when you touch the strings, then the guitar is grounded correctly, and you need to look elsewhere. Could be house wiring, dimmer switches, lights, amp location, computers etc. Single coils can be noisy!
Here's something that might be an interesting read for you.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/noisebucket.php


I desagree, you can't be sure of that before you test guitar ground with meter first.

For the house noise and even the gound issue with the E.J. guitar better to check with another ( working fine ) single coil guitar and another amps.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:44 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:18 pm
Posts: 5
Very interesting tips. Thanks for posting all the ideas.

I have the same problem with a brand new Am Deluxe Telecaster, where I get relatively loud noise when I don't touch the strings/tuners/bridge or control buttons/plate. I also have an Am Dlx Strat where I don't have that problem.

I took the tele to an authorized Fender repair shop, and to make a long story short, the conclusion was that it was normal noise level. The tele is louder than the strat because it has hotter pickups. They showed me other teles they had for repair with even hotter pickups and were predictably noisier. If I remember correctly, the tech measured the ohms from the jack signal to ground with volume and tone pots all the way up, and the strat was something like 5 kohms (or ohms?), the tele about 8, and the hot-pickups tele they had for repair at 11.

Also, I may be contributing to the noise problem during testing/practicing as I sit in front of a 50" plasma TV and in front of a 17" laptop LCD. I'll try the tests from guitarnuts web page tonight... very interesting article.

So far my workaround is to use a noise gate on the pedal board, or touch the tuners or the strings beyond the nut if I need to play all open strings. I want to try foil-shielding the pickup and control cavities once the 1-year warranty expires.

I tried the multi-meter test last night, and do have continuity from bridge and control buttons/plate to the jack ground, except ohms did measure intermittently between 5 to 50 ohms in some cases (not the fraction of an ohm I'd expect). I'll prorably try replacing the wiring after the warranty expires.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 1:22 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14050
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
sram wrote:
Very interesting tips. Thanks for posting all the ideas.


I tried the multi-meter test last night, and do have continuity from bridge and control buttons/plate to the jack ground, except ohms did measure intermittently between 5 to 50 ohms in some cases (not the fraction of an ohm I'd expect). I'll prorably try replacing the wiring after the warranty expires.



You must have very good contact to have a proper reading . Bridge chrome to outside of output jack give me 5 ohms . If touch on a used metal screw on bridge to the outside of output jack the reading go to 0.5 ohm ( 1/2 ohm)

Meter on ohms scale use very very low current . Any small insulation , grease , dirt give more resistance , more ohms.

I read my 2 Tele bridge 's plate to output jack ground . One is a 52 reissue made in 1999 like new .

My reading tell me no reading between bridge and output jack ground . With that reeding I must have some noise problem !!!! No nothing , quiet as my other 1983 American Tele wich read 0.5 ohms . Same for my Stratocaster.
I know by my experience as I work in Electronic , some time the meter can't not read Ohms corectly . My Telecaster play fine with no noise , so for sure all the ground are there and are good.
By the way , my meter is a Fluke .

About noise source ; your cell . You forget it in your pocket ....this make noise in the guitar or amp.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:27 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:07 am
Posts: 34
[quote="Butterscotch"]IMO, if the hum reduces when you touch the strings, then the guitar is grounded correctly, and you need to look elsewhere. Could be house wiring, dimmer switches, lights, amp location, computers etc. Single coils can be noisy!
Here's something that might be an interesting read for you.

+1 I agree 100%. I have raked my brain with this type of issue on both my Tele and Strat. Definately not a ground issue but rather and invironment issue.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How do I get rid off noise on ny Eric Johnson Strat?
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 12:17 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:18 pm
Posts: 5
Quote:
You must have very good contact to have a proper reading . Bridge chrome to outside of output jack give me 5 ohms . If touch on a used metal screw on bridge to the outside of output jack the reading go to 0.5 ohm ( 1/2 ohm)


Yes, I saw the same result. If I measured from one of the screws on the bridge plate or the control plate vs. the ground in the output jack I got about 0.6 ohms. So, the chrome plating does inhibit conduction a bit, right?

Just sharing some thoughts and what I got on the test that the guitarnuts web page suggests:

1) touching the tip of the 1/4" jack of the cable connected to the amp did raise the noise, as predicted,
2) touching both the tip and the ground at the same time did reduce the noise level a bit, and the more I touched the ground sleeve of the jack the less noise.

This is where it deviated from the prediction of guitarnuts:

3) touching the flat panel tv or the latptop LCD with one hand while touching the tip of the 1/4" jack with the other hand did not raise the noise level. The only way I could raise the noise level is if I brought the pickups like within 1 or 2 inches from the sreens. Perhaps the guitarnuts artible was assuming a CRT-type monitor/tv.

similar tests:

4) touching the flat panel tv or the laptop LCD with one of my hands while holding the guitar (strapped on, ready to play) without touching the strings did not raise the noise level.
5) I put the guiter on a stand with neoprene sleeves (i.e. no contact of the string/bridge/tuners with the stand), and walked away several feet; the noise level stayed the same.

Because of 4) and 5) I can't conclude that I'm acting like a noise reflector or noise antenna. Also, because of 5) I can't conclude that I'm a source of noise (a bucket of noise, like guitarnuts mentions). The only logical conclusion so far is that when I touch the strings I may be improving the shielding effect over the pickups; but it runs contrary to the idea that our skin/flesh is not a very good conductor at low voltages/current...


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: omar59 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: