VellaJ
So I'm in the process (and have been for about 2 or 3 years :-[ ) of building my own guitar. I wanted to check what the general consensus was regarding the earthing of the pots, etc.
The Vester guitar I've take parts from was equipped with a tremelo bridge, so the electronics were earthed to the claw for the springs. My axe will be a hard tail, so where do you guys suggest I take my earthing wire to? Am I correct that the idea of this is to earth to a relatively large piece of metal somewhere on the guitar? If so, would I be able to earth to a backplate made of some form of conductive metal?
Thanks in advance ?
Gearhead
The earth of your guitar is connected through the lead to the earth of your amp - a much bigger piece of metal than your tremolo. Well, that is, if you have a proper amp. In any case, the earth wire to the tremolo is earthing the strings, a necessety. So whether your hardtail weighs in at 10g or at 10kg, put the wire there.
VellaJ
Ah, I see. I was obviously thinking about this in reverse...
What's the best way of earthing the hardtail then? Drill through the wood and solder underneath the bridge? Would I have to strip the chrome from the metal?
AlanRatcliffe
You still earth the bridge via a wire through a hole from under the bridge to the controls. You are actually earthing yourself via the strings and the bridge, which is why just earthing your control cavity cover isn't enough. When you are earthed, you work as a big screen for interference.
