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Post subject: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:41 pm
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Hello,

I recently purchased the Fender Starcaster Strat pack (seen here: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Fender%26%2 ... Id=9952217). It has a 5 way pickup selector switch. I noticed that when using 3 out of the 5 positions, I instantly get a lot of noise out of the amp. It seems positions 2 and 4 are okay, and 1,3,5 introduce some noise. I am very new to the guitar world. Is this normal, or did I get a dud?

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:45 pm
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Hi There.

Welcome to the world of the "Single coil 60 cycle hum".

All single coil pick up do this to some degree of another.
Shielding, better cables and a line filter on the power in can all help.
Also, florescent lamps are very noisy, make sure there are none in the area, and make sure the amp is grounded.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:50 pm
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Thanks.

I did some googling before I signed on here and saw searches that alluded to the 60 cycle hum but the pages the search found were no good. Is there any reason why it is on some settings but not noticeable on others? It also seems like the tone controls only seem to change anything on the affected pickup selections.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:32 pm
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60-cycle hum is just present in single coil pickups; it is just the way they are made. You'll find the same hum in a $5K Fender MasterBuilt Strat. Good shielding will help reduce the hum, but it won't eliminate it.

I'm not sure how the Starcaster is wired (there are several ways a Strat-type guitar can be wired). However, the tone controls do only work for certain pickups, and therefore would only work in specific setting of the 5-way swich. Typically the tone knob closest to the volume knob functions for the neck pickup in virtually all wiring variations. The two most common wirings for the second tone control are "vintage" and "modern"; it will be one or the other.

In typical "vintage" wiring the second tone knob functions for the middle pickup only. In typical "modern" wiring the second tone knob functions for both the middle and bridge pickups.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:51 am
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+1 on the 60 cycle hum.

Now, regarding the pickup selector in conjunction with noise! I assume you get less noise on positions 2 and 4. Reason being is that the middle pickup is reverse wound. So when you combine the bridge and middle or neck and middle, it cancels hum. This is because, like a humbucker, it's combining two coils that are wound opposite to each other.

A little 60 cycle hum never hurt, and can actually be considered a "true part" of the single coil sound.

If it's really bad however, I suggest checking the ground on the guitar. You can do this by listening for changes in hum when you touch anything metal on the guitar(minus the frets). If it does change, then you have a ground problem in the guitar which can easily be checked out and fixed by a decent guitar tech.

Other ground issues you might want to check is with the amp and the outlet you plug into. You can get a ground tester from places like radio shack. Improper socket ground will allow hum to exist in the sound, rather then being diverted to ground.

It may also be some magnetic interference in the room you're in. Try moving around the room with the guitar and see if the intensity of the hum changes. There's not too much you can do about this except either moving to a different room, or shielding the whole room. But again with ground, noise from interference will be greatly reduced.

Also! Your cable! If you're using a cheapo cable, don't expect much shielding from it. However, you don't need to buy a super expensive cable, but something at least thicker than a pencil would be a sign of a decent cable.

Other things high gain on the amp can increase hum too so just be aware of that.

Good luck on your quest for quiet. HAHA seems like we guitarists are always trying to make things quieter so we can play louder!

Hope the info I gave helps and happy playing!

Much luck on your quest for quiet!


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:54 am
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rickwakeman wrote:
Thanks.

I did some googling before I signed on here and saw searches that alluded to the 60 cycle hum but the pages the search found were no good. Is there any reason why it is on some settings but not noticeable on others? It also seems like the tone controls only seem to change anything on the affected pickup selections.


With a standard 5 position strat switch, 1 is bridge 2 is bridge+middle 3 is middle 4 is middle+neck and 5 is neck pickups.
Most of the newer strats have a middle pick up that is reverse wound and reverse polarity.

This gives a sorta humbucker effect that will cancel the hum.

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At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:31 pm
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Bad switch.


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Post subject: Re: New Fender Starcaster / Noise On Some Pickups
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:58 pm
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dixiedan wrote:
Bad switch.


Actually the switch is doing it's job. It would be bad if it was humming in all positions.

Hey this is your first post! WELCOME TO THE FORUM! =)


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