Strat Ground Buzz - New Pot?

landsleaving

My strat with lace sensors just started buzzing until I touch a metal part the other day, and crackling when I turn the volume pot. Usual ground problem I assume, and lo and behold a ground wire had come loose from the volume pot. I soldered it back on and it's till buzzing pretty badly. I've cheked the thing with a multimeter and all the parts appear to be grounded, so what else could it be? Do I maybe just need a new volume pot?

I re-soldered every connection going from the pickups to the volume pot, did the same at the input jack. Before I go re-wiring the whole thing, what simple problem am I overlooking?

Dord

Same as what I commented on in your bass thread. You need to shield it.

landsleaving

I'm pretty sure thats not the problem with this, since it just started happening randomly after being nearly silent before. It seems fairly well shielded inside too.

Mataguri

With the wire reconnected does the buzzing remain when you touch something metal on the guitar? If you pull off the volume knob and and touch the pot does the buzzing disappear?

landsleaving

No once I touch metal it goes away and sounds like it did originally. And yeah touching the pot takes the buzz away

Mataguri

Since touching the volume pot grounds the guitar but touching the strings doesn't its safe to assume that your bridge isnt grounded. Make sure the ground wire from the volume pot is attached to the metal claw in the trem cavity.

landsleaving

Sorry, touching the strings does take the buzz away, as does any metal on the guitar at all. Just checked the back of the trem claw, it's fine, all the wiring is exactly the same as in this diagram: http://www.axesrus.com/strat.gif and nothing is loose.

Different guitar in the same amp is fine, even with normal single coils. The sensors were always dead quiet, even quieter than my one guitar with humbuckers, until this happened.

IVRZ

Heres a trick i use whenever i have that prob. Earth the guitar lead. You need a non moulded jack plug. Take a wire from the jack plug to the earth on your mains socket. Works every time for me. In fact whenever i get a new amp now the first thing i have a go at is soldering a wire from the jack socket on the amp to the earth.
Hope this helps:)

landsleaving

That sounds dangerous... but I'm probably just getting confused, can you post a pic of what you mean with the amp? Sounds like a handy enough idea if it doesn't blow me up

Good news! I found the problem with the guitar, cold solder joint. Sorted! It's all good again.

Cheers for the advice

eoin5

IVRZ wrote: »

Heres a trick i use whenever i have that prob. Earth the guitar lead. You need a non moulded jack plug. Take a wire from the jack plug to the earth on your mains socket. Works every time for me. In fact whenever i get a new amp now the first thing i have a go at is soldering a wire from the jack socket on the amp to the earth.
Hope this helps:)

:eek:

IVRZ

Its simple guys. Your amp is earthed (or should be) but your guitar isnt. Why is that? Always seemed dangerous to me. So earth the guitar through the amp earth. A connection from the jackplug/socket to the earth will do it. You dont get fried and the guitar doesnt buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anyway, glad you found the prob. not easy to spot.....:)