Aleks Hello guitar community ? I recently acquired a Squier Strat and fixed it up (it even sounds sweet) but there is a huge problem. I get the "hum" (you know, that buzz from 50-60hz which makes a solo sound like it's crap) so I can't play in the 1(bridge) position even if all the tone knobs are at 0. I can play in all the other positions but ONLY if all the tone knobs are at zero and I keep the volume knob at ten. If I turn the volume any lower, somehow the hum gets louder. I have tried shielding the wood cavity and this has brought me no joy. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated ? Thanks
Gearhead How do you know it sounds sweet when you've got all the tone pots closed? ? The cavity shielding is actually the last step on your way to hum-free playing. The first steps are to check if the grounding is okay for: - the trem block (connects your strings to earth); - the shield of each and every wire in the guitar (if it does not have shielded wires, here's your problem); - the back of every pot. The best way to check is to measure resistance (not beep through, measure resistance) between the jack socket and the individual parts. Don't stop until you have checked all and put shielded wire everywhere before plugging back in.
costafonix Do you know if anyone else has worked on it before? Sometimes people mess with the wiring. Check also your wiring going to your jackplug.
Aleks Thanks for a swift response! I will get to work on it! Also, just to be sure, every time I touch any metal on the guitar (machine heads, bridge, strings and string ends, not strap buttons though) the hum is louder? How do I ground the tremelo block? Can I shield the strings with tin foil or do I need an insulator? For the back of my pots (I assume this is the issue) what needs to be done? And no-nobody else has worked on any other internal part of this guitar aside from the input jack, which I had to replace anyway. ?
PeteM Aleks wrote And no-nobody else has worked on any other internal part of this guitar aside from the input jack, which I had to replace anyway. ? Are you sure you've soldered to the correct terminals on the jack?
AlanRatcliffe PeteM wrote Aleks wrote And no-nobody else has worked on any other internal part of this guitar aside from the input jack, which I had to replace anyway. ? Are you sure you've soldered to the correct terminals on the jack? +1000. That sounds like your problem to me.
Aleks I bow down to your wisdom! And I am humbled by my simple, yet troublesome dilemma. I soldered the correct wires onto the correct terminals and now it doesn't buzz more when I touch the strings. ? There is only buzz if I use a single pickup (as is standard on a Strat), the volume now REDUCES buzz, I can use as little (or as much =D) tone as I please and I am very happy! ? Thanks for your insight and wisdom! I will return to this forum when I have the money to upgrade the pickups. ? Actually, just a quick question-should I upgrade the pups or pots first? And pot is short for Potentiometer, right? Sorry if my questions and antics seem amateur-today was the first time I opened up a guitar. ? Once again-THANK YOU! ?
costafonix There's nothing wrong with being inquisitive and experimenting, thats how most people learn things, and don't be embarrased to ask questions. You're correct about the meaning of pot. Upgrading the pickups :-\ depends on how much you want to spend, may be an idea to rather save up your money and put it towards a higher spec guitar?
MikeM I always used to be a believer in cheap guitars. But I now know that there's only so much you can polish a turd. Save up for a better guitar, or quite possibly a proper amp which is far more important.
