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Electric shocks off guitar!! ..ouch

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  • 29-05-2002 12:11am
    #1
    Paulj
    Registered Users Posts: 326 ✭✭


    Ok ... does this happen to anyone else. I'd be playing guitar and if i touch anything thats earthed (like a radiator or the back of a pc) while touching a metal part of the guitar i get an electric shock...its very painful and very annoying as you can imagine!!! :eek:

    Once, i touched the car outside (i wasn't even connected to the dam guitar) and got an awful rap of a shock off it.

    I have a fender squier strat.

    Is this a fault in the guitar or is this standard on electric guitars?
    Maybe im just more succeptable to shocks than other people.

    Maybe i could earth the strings or something to prevent it from happening again.

    What i assume happens is that static builds up in me while playing and then when a voltage is put across me(~20v -> 0v) a current flows.


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    #2
    Dr.Seagull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 96 ✭✭Dr.Seagull


    id dont play the guitar but i do get static shocks off cars sometimes and yes it can realy hurt it only happens to some ppl im not sure why


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    #3
    Gordon
    Registered Users Posts: 35,523 ✭✭✭✭Gordon


    It must be static electricity if you get it when not connected to your guitar.

    You probably get it by sitting down with woolen/nylon trousers and slight friction from moving around on the plastic amp or chair of yours. This builds up static in your body I believe. Ways to get round this are to keep earthing yourself every once in a while and discharge frequently or... not wear any pants.

    (Your shoes have something to do with it as they are not letting your electricity connect to the earth. I guess you just gotta be a hippy and be at one with the earth!)

    But if it is a problem with earthing on your guitar and it is electricity you should get that fixed... you really should.


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    #4
    VonBon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭VonBon


    If it happens when you're plugged into your amp, that could be the problem, too. But bring your guitar in to the shop, tell them about it. You need to fix that.


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    #5
    bombidol
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,638 ✭✭✭bombidol


    I remember getting fried at a gig once, there i ws all ready to rock infont of the crowd with my guitar on i went to start singing into the mic and my lip hit it and boom, i have it on tape , me stumbling back, i didnt stop playing though! funny as hell


    bomb


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    #6
    Paulj
    Registered Users Posts: 326 ✭✭Paulj


    hmmm.....i guess i better get it checked out before i get fried!

    Thanx for all the help guys :)


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    #7
    Giblet
    Registered Users Posts: 11,977 ✭✭✭✭Giblet


    There should be an earth wire that runs from from the pickups, to the volume and tone pots, and through the back of the guitar where it connects to the plate where your trem screws into your guitar (check under the plate at the back).


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    #8
    Paulj
    Registered Users Posts: 326 ✭✭Paulj


    just checked ......there's a wire connected to the trem alright.


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