Grounding problem

[Hucklebilly]

I just mounted a Kent Armstrong pickup on my dobro, but every time I touch the strings I get a loud "pop" through the amp. I wired the ground wire from the ground lug of the pickup to the ring of the input jack, and then ran a wire to the tailpiece which connects to the strings. I have continuity between the strings and the ground lug of the pickup, which is as it should be, right? Nevertheless, I'm getting a lot of buzz and the aforementioned pop. Any suggestions?

[eryque]

I had the same problem and it was because I swapped the ground and hot lead on my pickup.

[Hucklebilly]

Thanks eryque, I'll double check that.

[Wally]

Danger, danger, danger....
Reversing the lead and ground on the jack is one way to put the player in peril. I corrected some bad work that had been done in a 'shiny music store' for a young fellow. When picked the Tele up, I asked him to play it to see if things were good for him. AFter he checked it out, I explained to him that the other 'repairman' had soldered in a new jack with the lead and ground reversed and that this would/could put the player in danger of electrocution. HE said something like,,,whoa, that is why when I walked up and touched a mic the other night I got knocked on my a$$... IT is a good thing that he was wearing some shoes with some insulation, eh?
the kicker was that he had taken the guitar in for a new volume pot, which it needed. They 'ascertained' that the jack and not the pot was the problem So they left in the bad pot and mis-wired the new jack. Charged him $2.50 for putting his life in peril. Sometimes paying someone for their knowledge and good work is worth much more than the amount of the bill.

[axg20202]

Lucky man. This is why people who lift mains grounds on amps etc to cure ground loops should be given lines and told to stand in a corner until they've learned their lesson....or just plain shot...