Buzzing sound over amp from Tele

[jd1655]

I've got a MIJ Tele from the 80s with original p'ups. I'm thinking these are the source of a pretty major buzzing sound over my solid state amp. Another Les Paul played through this amp does not get the buzz, so it is not likely the amp.

I'm thinking the problem is rooted in the pickups. Is there anythings that can be done to fix this? I could change these for new ones, but I'm wondering if there are less drastic measures. Someone suggested I dip them in wax (apparently Brian May does this) but this seems beyond me at this point.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks!

jd

[superhand]

Humbuckers are quieter than single coils. I'm guessing that what you are describing is the "hum" that humbuckers "buck."

[jd1655]

Thanks for the response.

Interesting point. However, i am quite sure this is a extraordinary amount off 'buzz'. I'm familiar with the normal hum of an electric guitar, but this is very loud. Other single coild have been played through the amp without the same noisy result this guitar seems to project

[bradpdx]

Single coils of all stripes pick up hum and buzz; if the amount is really extraordinary, then there may be an additional problem on this guitar such as a bad or lifted ground connection.

Pickup buzz comes from outside the guitar, and so this problem may easily be related to your location - your house may have bad wiring, or appliances that generate unusual amounts of electrical noise.

Potting the pickups (aka wax dip) has nothing to do with this at all. Likewise, the fact that the amp is solid state is irrelevant.

You need to troubleshoot your problem. The easiest way may be to borrow another single-coil guitar (like a Tele or Strat) and try it out in the same environment as the noisy Tele, side-by-side. If the noise is approximately the same level, then you are just in an electrically noisy place. If the noise is much lower, then check the wiring on the MIJ Tele.

Don't forget that all gain increasing devices (distortion pedals, compressors) also increase the levels of noise you will hear. Turn them off for a fair test.

[patrickhowell]

What other electronic devices are in the room?

Cell phone? Fluorescent lights? Computer router?

[superhand]

Fluorescent lights, TVs and CRT computer monitors can cause a lot of noise too.

[superhand]

What about shielding? Is there any shielding in the control cavity or under the pickguard?

That could help, you can buy copper foil for pretty cheap.

I would also check if everything is grounded properly. If you have a multimeter, you should get continuity from the outer rim of the jack to the bridge, the back of the pots etc.

Question: Does the buzz stop when you put the pickup selector in the middle position?

[ES347]

A couple people have mentioned flourescents...I had a similar situation the other day with a strat that never sounded particularly noisy to me. After ripping it apart to see if my ground came unsoldered or something I looked up and realized I'd just replaced my lightbulb with one of those eco-friendly ones. Yep, it's a flourescent. Worth a shot to look at.

[TeleGS]

Originally Posted by superhand

What about shielding? Is there any shielding in the control cavity or under the pickguard?

That could help, you can buy copper foil for pretty cheap.

I would also check if everything is grounded properly. If you have a multimeter, you should get continuity from the outer rim of the jack to the bridge, the back of the pots etc.

Question: Does the buzz stop when you put the pickup selector in the middle position?

Shielding made the biggest difference for me. Copper-ing up all the cavities and making sure I have a stem to stern ground, including the pickguard made a big diffference even with cheap mexi-pickups. One boo-boo was copper-ing the reed switch cavity on a Tele-Custom and the reed switch contacts were touching the side. I put electrical tape over the copper in that spot to keep it from shorting out, now it's working great.
GS

[fiestabender]

so how do you copper the cavity? also my guitar is a nocaster therefore it has no ground. i am getting the worst noise making a cs guitar unusable in this rehearsal studio. what can i do.

[telejonez]

I have a Hot Rod '52 re-issue. I plugged it in the other day and the buzz knocked me over! It wasn't always that loud. I plugged in my strat which is shielded with paint underneath the pickguard and in the cavity and it was very quiet.
When I have my hand on the teles' bridge the buzz is quite loud. But if I touch the control plate assembly with my other hand, it quiets right down.
I pulled the whole thing apart, all connections are solid. Should I go for shielding foil, or shielding paint. Do I shield the bottom of the control plate? The bottom of the bridge? I have Erlewine's book, but he doesn't mention that detail. Where can I get the stuff? I now live in the middle of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

[Wally]

Telejonez, check continuity of the ground to the bridge to the controls.

fiestabender, the CS nocaster is grounded....or should be.
I agree that shielding will quieten a guitar substantially. I use shielding paint.
Dan Erlewine surely pointed you toward Stew-Mac, right?

ES-347, thanks for the tip on the new flourescents.

Brad gives the OP good advice on diagnosing. Some pickups are just noisy....noisier than others of the same type. Potting...waxing....doesn't cure the type of buzzing noise the OP is experiencing. Potting helps to control microphonics by solidifying the windings....preventing the windings form vibrating and inducting microphonic noise.
Even if the OP finds an external reason for the noise, shielding will help rid the guitar of as much noise as possible.