Shielding Paint. Don't waste your time with copper tape.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Shielding/Conductive_Shielding_Paint.html#


I've used this stuff on about 10 or 12 different guitars now. One of those necessities that you don't think about too much, but is very necessary. Don't waste your time with the copper tape in the cavities.

http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1lg/0029/Conductive_Shielding_Paint_sm.jpg

I've been using conductive paint for a while and it works very well. I use multiple ground points to ensure better shielding.

I'm curious, is there something wrong with copper tape?

I'm curious, is there something wrong with copper tape?

I'm guessing it's harder to work with than simply painting a cavity and attaching a ground.

I've used them both, and while it is a bit simpler to use the paint, there is nothing like taking the pick-guard off a Tele or Strat and seeing that copper glow - it certainly is more work than just painting, but the end result (in my opinion) is certainly worth the effort.

My 2 cents

I'm curious, is there something wrong with copper tape?

I've seen conjecture (on the internet, of course) that overlapping layers of tape (with adhesive in between) creates a capacitor and will, therefore, ruin your life.

On the other and, I have seen warnings - again, on the internet - that the conductive paint is a health hazard and requires extra care in its use.

Personally, I have only used tape or foil but would love to try some affordable paint.

Greg

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Shielding/Conductive_Shielding_Paint.html#
I've used that stuff and found it very messy. Shelf life is short too as the solids settle and congeal at the bottom of the tin.

Maybe 'better' because it might be easier that tape, but not more effective. I've used copper tape for shielding at 1GHz, and the adhesive on the tape and any capacitance you think might be there is negligable.
The paint will screen the highest frequencies (Dell used to use it to paint the inside covers of their PC's - they don't any more...) but the common mode crap you really want to shield is noise radiated from power lines, and devices operating on a lot of current. In that case it's the thickness of the shielding material that makes it effective. Paint doesn't cut it.
The real deal for me is that we have two huge antennas (pickups) hanging right out the front of our guitars, and we expect that shielding a cavity behind it is going to make a difference. That difference may be real to some, but in the context of a band situation I can't see where it matters. Best case for noise cancellation is to use humbuckers so that common mode noise is electrically cancelled.

I've been using conductive paint for a while and it works very well. I use multiple ground points to ensure better shielding.

A single ground and 2-4 coats of paint should be more effective.

I don't shield my guitars at all. Never had a problem with noise either. I tell a lie- I once copper taped a strat that was'n't particularly noisy in the first place, I just thought it should be done because of the whole single coil thing blah blah blah. Anyway it did'n't make any difference in the slightest. So now I don't bother.:grin:

Also, by and large, copper tape is removable, which might make a difference with vintage instruments.

I like the paint, though. I've never used the copper tape. But if I had a '62 Jazzmaster or something I'd never be slapping paint inside of it.

there is nothing like taking the pick-guard off a Tele or Strat and seeing that copper glow

Agreed. It's also great for visibility when you want to inspect or change the wiring. I've shielded almost all my guitars this way.

Not to disagree, I'm sure the tape is nicer to look at regardless. But I wanted to point out that if you put on enough layers of the paint, it can be sanded and buffed to a fairly nice lustre.

What about applying copper tape over shielding paint? It might seem like overkill and I have no idea what will or will not adhere to shielding paint, but a guitar can never be too immune to AC noise.

I've used electrodag on a few guitars (it's what PRS lines their guitars with for shielding, fyi) and it works great.

I have done the paint and it is okay. Once my current can runs out, I will likely switch to tape, though, just to try it out, etc.

What about applying copper tape over shielding paint? It might seem like overkill and I have no idea what will or will not adhere to shielding paint, but a guitar can never be too immune to AC noise.

When I shielded my first guitar, I had no idea that blackish paint was actually shielding paint. The tape stuck fine, and the result was great (probably partially because of rewiring and changing a potmeter and the pickup selector switch, but anyway).

The latest guitar that I put tape in, had a thick, black and probably good shielding paint in it. I didn't let that stop me. ;) I haven't put it back together again yet, and there are some more things that I have to do with it, so the results are not in yet, and will be ambigious when they are. But at least now I can see what I'm doing in there, because the tape reflects light instead of absorbing it all like the paint does.

I don't shield my guitars at all. Never had a problem with noise either. I tell a lie- I once copper taped a strat that was'n't particularly noisy in the first place, I just thought it should be done because of the whole single coil thing blah blah blah. Anyway it did'n't make any difference in the slightest. So now I don't bother.:grin:

Me neither,but I think the hum problems seem to be mainly with the US voltage system which is different from ours.

I'd be interested to know about that. I know that we use a sixty cycle electrical system compared to the European fifty. But I would have thought that would have about the same amount of noise possibilities.

IIRC the copper tape adhesive (Stew-Mac, at least) is conductive so capacitance should be a non issue. Personally I think if you have to shield an area that has a complex shape I would go with paint, if it's fairly wide open, go tape. Poh-tay-toe, Poh-tah-toe....

I've always used tape, and it probably isn't crucial. Leo never used shielding in cavities, just the baseplate on the tele pup, and the metal under pickguards on strats. I'm sure someone swears the "magic" tone of the vintage guitars is due to a lack of shielding.

Jazzmasters have copper tubs that go in the cavities, well, they are supposed to.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1959-Fender-Jazzmaster-Control-Cavity-Shielding-1960-1961-1962-1963-64-/320932812730?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ab91617ba#ht_5848wt_1392

How do you shield the pickups?

Jazzmasters have copper tubs that go in the cavities, well, they are supposed to.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1959-Fender-Jazzmaster-Control-Cavity-Shielding-1960-1961-1962-1963-64-/320932812730?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ab91617ba#ht_5848wt_1392

Cool, I didn't know that. I had a 76 les paul deluxe, and it had a big ashtray in the control cavity, one would think it'd be useless.

How do you shield the pickups?

That's always the thing that's stopped me from worrying about shielding. Besides, I think us 50 Hz folk might just be a bit luckier on the noise front by the sound of things.

I've never bothered to do the copper tape lining job on any builds...

I don't get any hum through my gear at home here.. lucky I guess.. 50Hz maybe?..

. I've got flouros/fridges,computer, a tv going all around my valve amp...
on a quiet night with no TV... my computer tower has more ambient noise than my 210 with Tele plugged in, sitting volume full open on the stand.... the faintest hiss if any...

I'm not sure if it's the same for others down this way in 240V land...

I'd be interested to know about that. I know that we use a sixty cycle electrical system compared to the European fifty. But I would have thought that would have about the same amount of noise possibilities.

The only time I get some single coil noise is when I'm using a lot of gain and it's only apparent when the song stops. Any other time with a bassman 4x10 wound well up all my teles are quiet as a mouse. Occasionally I may catch a buzz from lights,but it's very rare and certainly not enough to make me want to get busy with the shielding.

I don't know for sure if it's a UK/USA difference,you'd need to canvas wider opinion on that one.

Not to mention the difference in cost.

How do you shield the pickups?

You shield the neck pickup with a chrome pickup cover, and the bridge pickup by partially lowering it into an unusually large bridge plate. Oh, your question was rethorical? :wink:

A single ground and 2-4 coats of paint should be more effective.

I always apply at least 2 coats and 1 ground point in the control cavity and another in the pickup cavities.

I don't know for sure if it's a UK/USA difference,you'd need to canvas wider opinion on that one.
My unshielded guitar (with P90s) wasn't any noisier when I took it to the US with me.

Once I found the difference twisted pair wiring makes I'm firmly of the opinion that additional shielding is totally superfluous.