Odd clicking when I touch pickup height screws.

I own a partcaster tele of which, for years I have had the Suhr tele bridge pup and a HB in the neck. Just this week I decided to have the matching Suhr neck pup installed. At first everything appeared to be normal (pickups sounded great, they were RW/RP with each other etc. etc.) but just today when using it in a quiet studio for practice I noticed that whenever I touch the screws holding the new neck pup to the guitar i get a loud "click" or "pop" that is very noticeable through the amplifier. I have tested this with 4 different amps in many different outlets with a variety of cables just in case. Sometimes all it takes is for me to touch the pickguard for this clicking sound to occur, but the only way that I know how to make it appear consistently is to touch the pickup screw with my finger. It is exceedingly annoying when the clicking occurs while I am playing. This makes me think that it is some form of grounding issue, because the problem does not occur if I touch the screw with a pick/nail etc.

Just for some additional information, the problem does not occur with any of the bridge pickup screws, only with the newly installed neck pup. Also, if it makes a difference, the pickguard is brand new (genuine fender 3 ply) and the screws are brand new (came with the pickup).

Get a multimeter and check for continuity between those screws and ground. Based on what you've said, my guess is that the frame of the pickup isn't grounded.

The pickguard thing is a different issue. It's building up static.

Wipe the pickguard with unscented Bounce (anti-static dryer sheet).

Sounds like it could be static electricity.

Some put foil shielding tape ( even just aluminum foil for cooking) under the pickguard......just make sure you ground it.


re-checked my post while I was working on it and see koko is here too as I was going to mention the pup cover grounding, no need to know.

Get a multimeter and check for continuity between those screws and ground. Based on what you've said, my guess is that the frame of the pickup isn't grounded.

The pickguard thing is a different issue. It's building up static.

Thanks for the help (I've actually seen you reply to a very similar post when I googled my problem.) Just another quick question; if it's the pickup frame that's not properly grounded, why does this problem only occur when I touch the pickup screws and not the metal pickup casing itself?

Just another quick question; if it's the pickup frame that's not properly grounded, why does this problem only occur when I touch the pickup screws and not the metal pickup casing itself?

good question, could be it's just the static then.

A hb's cover and legs ( where the mount screws thread to) should all be connected to ground then, with the pickups lead. Usually a braided wire to the back of a pot.

http://www.paulreedsmith.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/prs-313671404572754271.jpg

Update: In case anyone else's telecaster suffers the same affliction I believe I may have come up with a possible solution (no way to verify until I visit the shop Monday.) When using the bridge pickup there is very little noise either when i'm touching the guitar or not. However, when I switch to the middle or neck positions there is a slight buzz/hum. (In other words, the middle position which is supposed to be noise cancelling, is louder than just the bridge on it's own, but equal in buzz to the neck pickup on it's own.) However this buzzing ceases as soon as I ground the guitar somehow (touch the strings, control, bridge etc.)

So what I want to know is EXACTLY what to tell the tech to get the neck pickup properly grounded. I can't afford to be making these trips to the shop this often.

Just another quick question; if it's the pickup frame that's not properly grounded, why does this problem only occur when I touch the pickup screws and not the metal pickup casing itself?

I'll be honest: I'm stumped. Every combination of possibilities I can think of only jives with one or two of the symptoms, but not all of them.

Like sjtalon said, typically the shield wire is soldered to the frame, as is the cover. If the screws go into tabs on the frame, they should also be grounded.

Maybe the shield wire/braid didn't get grounded? That's why you need to start with the meter to check for continuity. Gotta establish a baseline that the basics are in place before you go after the more complicated stuff. Skip the basics and you'll almost always be sorry you did.

Could be something screwy like wax on the threads keeping the screws from making contact. At this point I'm just shooting in the dark.

As for what to tell the tech: the less the better. You tell him that you get a pop when you touch the screws and sometimes the pickguard, and ask him to diagnose it and offer solutions. Too much information or guessing can throw him off the trail, and isn't as helpful as you think.

There's a difference between diagnosis and guessing at possible causes. Right here we're guessing. This is usually the long way to figuring out how to solve a problem, unless you get lucky. Diagnosis involves measuring and logical tests, and the right process will almost always lead you to the correct answer. However, it's way faster than getting lucky on an early guess.

Do I understand you correctly: the middle position is louder than the bridge ? Could the PUs be wired in series somehow and not in parallell? Just another shot in the dark but strange things happen. Very confusing since the cover and the screw normaly are connected as mentioned.

Another shot: is the PG shieled with foil and if so does the foil toch the screw and if so is the foil grounded? Tech time ?

Bad switch?
Regards, Longneck