Thinline with a shocking surprise

chaddukes · February 28th, 2008, 07:49 PM

I've been eyeing up a 69RI for a while now. But being a parent of two little ones I usually find a better use for my $600. Recently, my doctor told me to lose weight. Thinking that I might need a bit of motivation to lose the neccesary 40 lbs. I decided that I would set the money aside and buy the guitar once I hit my goal weight.

Well, I'm half way there and I've been eyeing up a 69RI in my local guitar shop. I like the guy who owns the shop and I'd like to buy the guitar from him. So, today I stopped by the store to try the guitar out.

Then it hit me....and by that I mean it shocked me....literally. As I was playing a few times I noticed that I got a few minor electrical shocks from the strings. Now, I want this guitar, but I'm thinking that something isn't right with the guitar. Is this a sign that it isn't properly grounded? And should I be woried about that? $600 isn't a huge amount of money for a guitar, but still I like the idea of a new guitar not needing any work or having major issues right out of the box.

What do you guys think?

Brent Hutto · February 28th, 2008, 07:55 PM

The guitar isn't generating electricity. Hard to see how anything about it might cause you to get shocked. Most likely the guitar is grounded correctly but the "ground" connection at the amp has a little juice on it that's giving you a little nip.

davis502 · February 28th, 2008, 08:35 PM

It's the amp not the guitar.

telechaser · February 28th, 2008, 08:37 PM

You might want to try the guitar on another amp. Also check the clothes/shoes combination you're wearing. Sometimes when I wear a combination shirt with nylon material and one of my shoes it gives me a static shock whenever I touch metal.

Southern ILL · February 28th, 2008, 08:49 PM

Its speakin' to ya,Chad..You better at least put a small deposit on it!!Don't let it get away.Plus-if you want to sell it..you can talk up the "Mojo" that it has.....Because no-one is selling guitars with "mojo"anymore.

jazztele · February 28th, 2008, 11:41 PM

i just wanted to comment that i think setting your personal goal and keeping the thinline as a "prize" upon completion is a great idea. best of luck to you, and i hope to be reading your "new tele" post soon...

oh yeah, and a little motivation

BroadMaster · February 28th, 2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southern ILL

Its speakin' to ya,Chad..You better at least put a small deposit on it!!Don't let it get away.Plus-if you want to sell it..you can talk up the "Mojo" that it has.....Because no-one is selling guitars with "mojo"anymore.

tdowns · February 28th, 2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telechaser

You might want to try the guitar on another amp. Also check the clothes/shoes combination you're wearing. Sometimes when I wear a combination shirt with nylon material and one of my shoes it gives me a static shock whenever I touch metal.

That's what I would guess, which means your guitar IS grounded properly. Did you move around with your hand off the strings, then touch the strings or guitar metal parts and get a shock? If so, it is likely Electro-Static Discharge (ESD).

If you touch the guitar metal parts and the shock ocurrs after you have been touching it, it is likely something else.

You probably had worst case ESD conditions. I see you are from MD, so it is cold, which usually means it is low humidity. This allows ESD to happen more easily. You may have been sitting in a chair with synthentic material, whereas your jeans were sliding across it.

chaddukes · February 29th, 2008, 05:06 PM

You're definetly right about the Static in the area being high. But I had my hands on the strings as the salesperson plugged the guitar in and that is when I first noticed the shock. So, I'm going to assume that the amp was the culprit. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement!

charlie cash · February 29th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Chaddukes,
$600 is a good price for the guitar, if it is new and a reasonable price if it is used. Give the shop a deposit to hold it so that you are sure to receive your "prize" when you reach your goal.

McFly · February 29th, 2008, 05:31 PM

I used to own a 2005 MIM and LOVED the neck on it. It looked just like JazzTele's. (JazzTele, the clips I've heard you make with this guitar are great!)I made the mistake of selling it last fall because I was underwhelmed with the overal sound of it.

After trying with no success to find a guitar with a neck I liked as much, I bought another one a few days. For 375 used, I got a another very clean 'natural mahogany' version. Can't wait for it to get here!

TheDev01dOne · February 29th, 2008, 06:46 PM

This reminds me of the part in the David Gilmour DVD where they're about to play venice and he's talking about how they used to have to tap their guitars on the mic stands to test if they were live or not and Roger blew his bass' strings off with the electric shock! The 60's sound like such a fun time!

But yeah it won't be the guitar, it'll be the amp or just the shop's wiring doing that I should think.

tdowns · March 1st, 2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaddukes

You're definetly right about the Static in the area being high. But I had my hands on the strings as the salesperson plugged the guitar in and that is when I first noticed the shock. So, I'm going to assume that the amp was the culprit. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement!

If the grounded end of the cable he plugged into the amp was insulated (like with heatshrink), then the act of him plugging it into the amp discharged your charged body to ground through the amp ground. So it could still be ESD as opposed to a amp problem.

I don't think it really matters either way. That guitar is likely NOT a problem.

BillyG · March 1st, 2008, 01:01 AM

Having worked in a music store, this used to happen from time to time. I think it had something to do with sitting on a 2nd amp that was turned on. It could be that one of the amps wasn't grounded properly and it felt similar to microphone lip shock.

chaddukes · March 1st, 2008, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdowns

I don't think it really matters either way. That guitar is likely NOT a problem.

I think you're right. And that was the whole reason for the question. I'm glad to get confirmation that it isn't an issue with the guitar but rather ESD or poor grounding of the amp. This way I can buy with confidence. Thanks for your help guys.

telechaser · March 1st, 2008, 02:28 AM

I needed to lose around 10kg (25 pounds) last year and maintained it to date. I didn't reward myself for that.

Well, it's a good excuse for this 69ish parts Tele I'm putting together.

I only have the body, pickguard, and tuners ATM. Let's say that this is a reward for getting down to my ideal wieght.

February 28th, 2008, 07:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
chaddukes Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 135	Thinline with a shocking surprise I've been eyeing up a 69RI for a while now. But being a parent of two little ones I usually find a better use for my $600. Recently, my doctor told me to lose weight. Thinking that I might need a bit of motivation to lose the neccesary 40 lbs. I decided that I would set the money aside and buy the guitar once I hit my goal weight. Well, I'm half way there and I've been eyeing up a 69RI in my local guitar shop. I like the guy who owns the shop and I'd like to buy the guitar from him. So, today I stopped by the store to try the guitar out. Then it hit me....and by that I mean it shocked me....literally. As I was playing a few times I noticed that I got a few minor electrical shocks from the strings. Now, I want this guitar, but I'm thinking that something isn't right with the guitar. Is this a sign that it isn't properly grounded? And should I be woried about that? $600 isn't a huge amount of money for a guitar, but still I like the idea of a new guitar not needing any work or having major issues right out of the box. What do you guys think?

February 28th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brent Hutto Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 657 6 Photos	The guitar isn't generating electricity. Hard to see how anything about it might cause you to get shocked. Most likely the guitar is grounded correctly but the "ground" connection at the amp has a little juice on it that's giving you a little nip. __________________ ON HIATUS

February 28th, 2008, 08:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
telechaser Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 669 10 Photos	You might want to try the guitar on another amp. Also check the clothes/shoes combination you're wearing. Sometimes when I wear a combination shirt with nylon material and one of my shoes it gives me a static shock whenever I touch metal. __________________ Slowing down . . . to get faster

February 28th, 2008, 11:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
jazztele Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chicago Age: 29 Posts: 2,202	i just wanted to comment that i think setting your personal goal and keeping the thinline as a "prize" upon completion is a great idea. best of luck to you, and i hope to be reading your "new tele" post soon... oh yeah, and a little motivation __________________ “For the guitar is the most unpredictable and least reliable musical instrument in existence...and also the sweetest, the warmest, the most delicate, whose melancholic voice awakes in our soul exquisite reveries.” Andres Segovia

February 29th, 2008, 05:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
McFly Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Age: 33 Posts: 166	nice I used to own a 2005 MIM and LOVED the neck on it. It looked just like JazzTele's. (JazzTele, the clips I've heard you make with this guitar are great!)I made the mistake of selling it last fall because I was underwhelmed with the overal sound of it. After trying with no success to find a guitar with a neck I liked as much, I bought another one a few days. For 375 used, I got a another very clean 'natural mahogany' version. Can't wait for it to get here!

February 28th, 2008, 08:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
davis502 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 180	It's the amp not the guitar.

February 28th, 2008, 08:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Southern ILL Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Illinois Age: 38 Posts: 982	Its speakin' to ya,Chad..You better at least put a small deposit on it!!Don't let it get away.Plus-if you want to sell it..you can talk up the "Mojo" that it has.....Because no-one is selling guitars with "mojo"anymore.

February 29th, 2008, 05:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
chaddukes Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 135	You're definetly right about the Static in the area being high. But I had my hands on the strings as the salesperson plugged the guitar in and that is when I first noticed the shock. So, I'm going to assume that the amp was the culprit. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement!

February 29th, 2008, 05:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
charlie cash Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 340	Chaddukes, $600 is a good price for the guitar, if it is new and a reasonable price if it is used. Give the shop a deposit to hold it so that you are sure to receive your "prize" when you reach your goal.

February 29th, 2008, 06:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
TheDev01dOne Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Staffordshire, England. Age: 20 Posts: 568	This reminds me of the part in the David Gilmour DVD where they're about to play venice and he's talking about how they used to have to tap their guitars on the mic stands to test if they were live or not and Roger blew his bass' strings off with the electric shock! The 60's sound like such a fun time! But yeah it won't be the guitar, it'll be the amp or just the shop's wiring doing that I should think. __________________ '86 MIJ '54 R.I. Esquire '85 MIJ '62 R.I. Esquire Squier Standard - Heavily Modded Bastardised '80(?)s Vester Esquire

March 1st, 2008, 01:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
BillyG Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Summerville, SC Age: 41 Posts: 431	Having worked in a music store, this used to happen from time to time. I think it had something to do with sitting on a 2nd amp that was turned on. It could be that one of the amps wasn't grounded properly and it felt similar to microphone lip shock.

March 1st, 2008, 02:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
telechaser Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 669 10 Photos	Good luck on reaching your goal weight! I needed to lose around 10kg (25 pounds) last year and maintained it to date. I didn't reward myself for that. Well, it's a good excuse for this 69ish parts Tele I'm putting together. I only have the body, pickguard, and tuners ATM. Let's say that this is a reward for getting down to my ideal wieght. __________________ Slowing down . . . to get faster