Craigs List Deal and question

[Telelicious]

Hey all, Early last week I answered an ad on CL and came home with this.
The girl was asking $275 for it and a little amp and needed money for Christmas. It was heavily corroded and rusty and when plugged in to her little Crate SS amp would only intermitantly come to life. I took it home for $150 without the amp.

Got it home, disassembled it and cleaned it up. I LOVE the neck.
Turns out its an 80's MIJ with an aftermarket US style bridge and a set of Van Zandt pickups. The body and neck have a few chips here and there. The frets are on their last dressing and the wiring was a little messy but it turns out most all good. Plays well and the neck is excellent.

Anybody have history with Van Zandt pickups? These sound good but are a little noisy. While I was in there I fully sheilded and grounded everthing as it should be but there is still a little pickup hum.

[boris bubbanov]

$ 150? The pups are worth that.

Excellent deal, you clearly outshone me and my1999 MIM '69 Thinline with a Jerry Donahue for $ 350 tax included.

I haven't owned a set of Van Zandts, but I haven't (knowingly) listened to a bad set; they're on my list of things to try in 2008.

Congrats on your salvage/larceny, well done indeed leaving her the Crate.


Bubbanov

[mojocasterman]

excellent deal. Nothing like fleecing some unsuspecting girl in need of Christmas cash

But seriously, sweet guitar. If the pickups are noisy, since you mentioned that the guitar is not in top shape, did you look at the soldering? Anything in there that needs to be cleaned up?

[Telelicious]

Well I did feel a little shameful but I wasnt sure what I was in for when I bought it. Turned out good I guess.

The wiring was a little dicey. Everything was grounded to the volume pot including the output jack.
I moved all the grounds to the tone pot : both p'ups, output plug, resistor and shield.
Shielded both cavities. The bridge contacts the cavity shielding. Soldered a wire to join the 2 cavities and then ran a lead from there to the tone pot.

I did all this grounding the 2nd time thru. I didnt mess with the electronics at first except to clean all the contacts. After I got it back together the 1st time, It was very noisy, then after doing all the grounding stuff it quieted down about 75% but it still has a humm that will almost all go away when touching the metal parts.
Its not bad when keeping your hand on the strings.
Maybe Im spoiled from my others that are perfectly quiet at all times?
Maybe its the Van Zandts?
There are ony two wire leads from the p'ups. Wax cloth wrapped.

[bobthecanadian]

Do you have a ground wire coming from the bridge plate? That would help a lot if it isn't already done. Also, double check the wiring and solders. You don't have to accept excessive buzz from a guitar. It's a nice one.

[getbent]

van zandts are good bluesy pickups... I have the same MIJ thinline... same everything except for the pickups.. mine was noisy until I put copper inthe cavities... that fixed it.. I have a good bit left over if you want some pm me with your address and I'll send enough to do yours.

Great guitar! You scored! woo hoo! I'm proud of you man!

[Telelicious]

I eliminate the wire under the bridge and use a tab from the sheilding as pictured for the bridge to set on. The pic is from a different body but I did it the same way.
I solder a wire to the shielding to join the cavities and then attach that wire to the tone pot.