Buzz from guitar, and a static pop if I touch anything

[deleted]

Ok so I have an question that I am hoping someone can guide me as to where the problem might be

I recently re wired my ES335. I had it in at Andy Mcgibbons, for a setup and clean and to check the electronics.

All was wonderful...

but this weekend when I plugged into the Vox, there is a terrible buzz.
When you touch the strings, bridge, input jack, etc etc the buzz goes away, but as you touch it makes a terrible pop (like a static shock pop for lack of a better word)
So take your hand of the guitar and the first thing that comes before a chord/note is a 'tick'... terrible

but here is some more info that might help

When the Tone pots are OFF completely, ZERO buzz... dial in the smallest amount, to 1.. and the buzz is there.
at the same time as above... the Volume pots must be FULLY open and on 10... Dial back the volume to 9, and the buzz starts...

so what I have is Volume 10, tone pots 0, buzz is gone..
any deviation from that, and the buzz is instant and terrible and pops when you touch anything...

woman tone is not THAT fun all the time :'(

Talk to me! Please!!!

costafonix

Did you say that at Andy's the same symptoms were not evident?
Check that you have not reversed you wires going out to your jackplug by mistake.
External devices (fridges, motors, flourescent lights etc.etc.) can also create havoc with your sound, have you tried playing the amp at another location in your house?
Have you tried another plug point?
Also check your guitar cable.

Bob-Dubery

I think you need to trace your wiring carefully - and make a diagram. Don't assume that you know how it's wired and draw that diagram, trace each connection and draw what you have in reality.

This may point you towards the problem. If it doesn't then at least you have a diagram you can post here for the experts to look at.

THere's a clue in the behaviour of the pots as you describe it. Clearly with your volume pots turned all the way up and your tones turned all the way down there is a path to earth that you lose if you adjust the pots.

[deleted]

CostaFonix wrote Did you say that at Andy's the same symptoms were not evident?

I was in a rush when I picked it up, but no, I cant recall... I didn't spend enough time with it... Might have been.

CostaFonix wrote Check that you have not reversed you wires going out to your jackplug by mistake.

Mark double checked the wiring and re soldered a pot that was actually broken, so he took it all out and redid that and said he neatened the soldering ?

CostaFonix wrote External devices (fridges, motors, flourescent lights etc.etc.) can also create havoc with your sound, have you tried playing the amp at another location in your house?

No... the amp is where it has always been, There is, but this is BAAAD buzz/hum... Tele and strat are all noiseless... These PAF humbuckers are making so much noise its not even fun to play and the static tick when it is grouded is the real problem..

CostaFonix wrote Have you tried another plug point?
Also check your guitar cable.

I tried 3 :sorry:

Same cable I used for the Tele, same cable I use to plug in my acoustics, George L's.. It ain't that..

Its the guitar... nothing else...

X-rated Bob wrote I think you need to trace your wiring carefully - and make a diagram. Don't assume that you know how it's wired and draw that diagram, trace each connection and draw what you have in reality. This may point you towards the problem. If it doesn't then at least you have a diagram you can post here for the experts to look at.

I would have to check if Mark changed anything.. I will give him a call today... I'm just not going to have the time to take it in till next week if I'm lucky so I thought I would ask and see if someone knows what the problem could be.

X-rated Bob wrote THere's a clue in the behaviour of the pots as you describe it. Clearly with your volume pots turned all the way up and your tones turned all the way down there is a path to earth that you lose if you adjust the pots.

thats what I found weird, but I dont understand the electronics are what specifically would cause the buzz when I turn the pots...

like I said, when tone pots are on zero and volume is at 10... its dead quiet... like a PAF should be... you turn one of those knobs and i have a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Reinhard

Sounds like a grounding issue, likely to be a bad solder joint. Check the joint where the braided pup wire attaches to the pot.

[deleted]

Reinhard wrote Sounds like a grounding issue, likely to be a bad solder joint. Check the joint where the braided pup wire attaches to the pot.

Argh so between Mark and myself we going to open up this baby for a 5th time! hahahahahahaha

I think I will just give him a call later and see if we can have a look one last time.. and maybe sort it out

Thanks Reinhard

costafonix

and don't forget to reportback as to what the issue was ?

AlanRatcliffe

Reinhard wrote Sounds like a grounding issue, likely to be a bad solder joint. Check the joint where the braided pup wire attaches to the pot.

+1.

Reinhard

Brentcgp wrote
Reinhard wrote Sounds like a grounding issue, likely to be a bad solder joint. Check the joint where the braided pup wire attaches to the pot.
Argh so between Mark and myself we going to open up this baby for a 5th time! hahahahahahaha

I think I will just give him a call later and see if we can have a look one last time.. and maybe sort it out

Thanks Reinhard

You are welcome. I feel your pain man, not fun to wire these suckers. That's why I decided to get a pre-wired harness for my ES-330, because I just don;t have the patience. It even has extensions so you can easily wire up the pups.

What you are describing has happened to me before. I had trouble getting a good solder joint between the thick braided wire and the pot.