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Post subject: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:03 pm
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I've noticed on various occasions a strange clicking sound when touching any metal parts on the guitar:

    When one hand is on another metal part at the same time the 'clicking' doesn't happen

    The normal hum from the single coils is the same (normal sounding) whether touching the strings or not

    When rubbing a finger lightly over the neck pickup other volume and tone controls (second pup circuit) the clicking/crackling is quite a lot louder

    The clicking is not heard when the master tone pot is at 0

    This happens on two different amps plugged into different power outlets

    Rubbing the guitar down with dryer sheets does not help

    My other two guitars are doing the same thing but not as loud (their pickups are not as hot as the Jazzmaster's)

    All ground wires look present and correct

I will try my guitars in different amps in different buildings before taking any action.

This seems to be a common issue when searching online, but I'm yet to find a definite answer. Humidity and static may be causes and could be why it's doing it with all my guitars.

Many thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:52 pm
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Sounds like a grounding/shielding issue to me.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 6:34 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Sounds like a grounding/shielding issue to me.


It does sound like that, but it's pretty impossible.

My guitars produce no hum (the hum that you get from a poorly grounded guitar), I have installed new pups and fully shielded one of them myself (Strat) and my Jazzmaster was new last year. The fact that all my guitars are doing it suggests that something else is happening here.

Although I will say that the shielding effort on my Classic Player MIM Jazzmaster is pretty poor.

I'm beginning to think that it's a problem with my amp (Marshall 8080 Valvestate) which is pretty old now and hasn't been serviced for many many years.

I won't get to try them in another building with different amps for a few days, so I'll let you know how that goes in due course.

Karl


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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:57 am
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It could indeed be an amp issue. You might also be a victim of "dirty power" coming from your wall socket. If the latter is the case, a power conditioner may help.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:10 am
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Dirty power is looking likely at the min as I get the same effects from different amps in the same building but using different power sockets.

When checking the resistance of the ground circuit the multimeter should be reading zero right?

Are there any easy ways to check my amp over myself with the multimeter?

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:27 pm
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Not sure if this means anything but if I touch the front panel of my marshall amp the sound is no longer there....I guess that's just the same as touching another metal part of the guitar.

On testing the grounds again everything has good continuity (strings, bridge, trem, switchs) apart from the rhythm circuits' tone wheel...the volume one is fine (they are metal) Bit strange I think.

What you think?

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:50 pm
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Is your amp's power cable grounded to the wall socket?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:41 pm
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I'm in the UK, it has a 3 prong plug. Both amps that I've tried do.

Tried different power and instrument cables...still the same.

I'll borrow someone else's guitar too and try it with the amps I have.


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Post subject: Re: Clicking/crackling when touching metal parts of Jazzy!?
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:01 am
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Been into Uni today, I could get a similar sound with one of their Marshalls but hardly anything at all.

Looks like it's the space I'm playing in at home that's the problem.

Will be doing a gig with my amp this Friday so will check that then.

Karl.


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