Reverse ground problem?

Rawb · December 2008

normally buzz or hum , till you touch the strings or play.... yes?

But I am getting the opposite. Buzz hum when I start playing.. ie picking the strings ?????

Any Ideas, solutions? p'ups going bad?

iliace · December 2008

What kind of PUs? What are you plugging into?

Tal Rules · December 2008

Hi Rawb...

This might help from the supply side to diagnose polarity...

http://www.prostatcorp.com/Detail.asp?id=45

Might want to check your grounding on the guitar..(Pots, etc..) as well.
(Make sure that you have continuity from ground of plug to pots, P/U's etc..)..

Does it do it in all positions of P/U selection?? or just one P/U involved??

Hope this helps..

Rawb · December 2008

Tal thanks, I'll keep that in mind. But I don't think that is the problem. No problem with other axes.

'61 strat, original pick ups. Depending on setting, now and then would get a mi-nute buzz but would go away once strings were touched.

But now it is the opposite. And intermitten. Power up and sometimes it is there, sometimes it isn't. If it is, I turn the volume down and put it down pick it up an hour or so later all is fine, no problem ie no buzz, perfect. Sometimes it's still there!
Once playing and the buzz just appeared, like someone flicked a switch. Weird!
When the buzz is there it is almost as loud as the guitar, very annoiying. And it is in all pu positions and tone positions. Tried diferent cable still there, when it's there.

Also I am going .. guitar to gnx to marshall jcm head out 1960 cab. Don't think it is an amp issue, buzz when there is in head phones too.

Gnx issue? But why only with this guitar?

jamminmj · December 2008

Do you have a ground wire that connects to the bridge? If this is a 61 and all original the wire could be broken inside, If it's not soldered somewhere to the bridge or spring plate it could be oxidized from years of sweat and not making good contact. I've seen a couple older strats where the end of the wire was just placed under the bridge plate and not soldered and held in place by the pressure of the bridge being screwed in place. Eventually the wire compressed into the body enough that it didn't
have proper contact. I would check the wire with a meter for continuity, and then heat up the solder joints and if it isn't soldered to the bridge in some fashion and just compressed under it, clean the end of the wire or tin it with solder. Mine is soldered to the spring adjustment plate.

Rawb · December 2008

jamminmj, I just had the back plate off last week tweaking the bridge and the ground and wire are still good and solid, soldered to the claw. As for the other end at the selector switch ??? Won't know till I lift the p'guard off. Since the surgical tubing on the pup adjustments needs replaced, I don't want to open it up till I procure the new tubing to get the job done.

As for the reverse buzz, it was happening before I did the minor set-up last week. I thought I would ask about in case someone has seen this before and could definitely say .... uh ya mate this is the problem.. Just a shot in the dark on my side. Thanks for you thoughts an suggestion/s

jamminmj · December 2008

A continuity meter between the bridge and the ground of your guitar 1/4
inch jack might tell you if something is amiss with the ground wire or the solder joints.

Reverse ground problem?

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