New Build Grounding Issue Telecaster Bridge Loud Hum

[The Angry Possum]

I just rewired the control plate twice and there is a grounding Issue. If I touch the control plate or the input jack and even the guitar jack chord it stops. The bridge pickup is a cheap Chinese Pickup. Maybe that could be the culprit. The single coil neck pickup is a lot less quieter than the Bridge pickup (which shouldn't be). Any suggestions.? I can take a photo of the control plate wiring.

 

[The Angry Possum]

I didn't ground the bridge pickup other than the normal ground to the pot. I'm thinking if i should of grounded the Bridge pickup mounting plate also.

 

[The Angry Possum]

 

[The Angry Possum]

The grounds are tight. Even though it's a sloppy job.

 

[The Angry Possum]

Thinking it's just a garbage Chinese Tele Bridge. Who knows. I may try and run a separate ground from the Tele bridge copper mounting plate. Couldn't hurt to try I suppose.

 

[Boreas]

Thinking it's just a garbage Chinese Tele Bridge. Who knows. I may try and run a separate ground from the Tele bridge copper mounting plate. Couldn't hurt to try I suppose.

Is the bridge itself grounded to a pot on the control plate? Have you checked for continuity between the bridge and the control plate? It is conceivable the plating on the bridge may be interfering with a good ground. Check continuity everywhere. That is often the best way to troubleshoot a ground problem.

 

[Boreas]

I just rewired the control plate twice and there is a grounding Issue. If I touch the control plate or the input jack and even the guitar jack chord it stops. The bridge pickup is a cheap Chinese Pickup. Maybe that could be the culprit. The single coil neck pickup is a lot less quieter than the Bridge pickup (which shouldn't be). Any suggestions.? I can take a photo of the control plate wiring.

I have also seen some pots that won't ground properly to the control plate. Make sure the pots are grounded through to the plate by checking continuity.

 

[The Angry Possum]

Is the bridge itself grounded to a pot on the control plate? Have you checked for continuity between the bridge and the control plate? It is conceivable the plating on the bridge may be interfering with a good ground. Check continuity everywhere. That is often the best way to troubleshoot a ground problem.

No only the pickup wire ground is grounded, so basically one ground only, from pickup to pot. A friend of mine said you have to ground the bridge too. I'm sure that's the problem, I'll try it tomorrow, I got a severe headache from this build.. Thanks.

 

[The Angry Possum]

Is the bridge itself grounded to a pot on the control plate? Have you checked for continuity between the bridge and the control plate? It is conceivable the plating on the bridge may be interfering with a good ground. Check continuity everywhere. That is often the best way to troubleshoot a ground problem.

I did, there is no continuity from the bridge to the control plate. So I'll do the bridge baseplate ground to pot tomorrow. I'm sure that's the problem.

 

[Boreas]

I did, there is no continuity from the bridge to the control plate. So I'll do the bridge baseplate ground to pot tomorrow. I'm sure that's the problem.

Yup - there is your problem. Remember to make the lead plenty long so's you can remove the control plate OK.

 

[The Angry Possum]

Yup - there is your problem. Remember to make the lead plenty long so's you can remove the control plate OK.

Thanks

 

[chezdeluxe]

The fact that the hum goes away when you touch the metal parts indicates that there is no problem with the grounding.

This is a shielding issue. Do some research on that.

 

[The Angry Possum]

I just viewed different wiring schematics. My input jack ground is soldered to the volume pots along with the other grounds( the switch ground, pickup grounds). In some schematics I see the input jack ground is grounded to the tone pot by itself, and not to the volume pot. Could this be the issue perhaps? I'll re-do it later anyways just to see.

On my wiring setup , I have a seperate ground going from the tone pot to the volume pot. That could be incorrect also, judging by the below schematic, there is no seperate ground going from tone to volume pot.

 

[The Angry Possum]

I'll try this wiring later , it looks correct.

 

[The Angry Possum]

The fact that the hum goes away when you touch the metal parts indicates that there is no problem with the grounding.

This is a shielding issue. Do some research on that.

Read my other two recent posts Could this be the issue? Post #13 and #14.

 

[Boreas]

I just viewed different wiring schematics. My input jack ground is soldered to the volume pots along with the other grounds( the switch ground, pickup grounds). In some schematics I see the input jack ground is grounded to the tone pot by itself, and not to the volume pot. Could this be the issue perhaps? I'll re-do it later anyways just to see.

On my wiring setup , I have a seperate ground going from the tone pot to the volume pot. That could be incorrect also, judging by the below schematic, there is no seperate ground going from tone to volume pot.

In theory ground is ground, wherever you ground the wire. Most people use the pots as ground because they are easy to solder to and also ground to the control plate. Running a ground between V and T pots is optional, because they should be grounded through the control plate. Also, you can ground the output jack to either the V or T pot - or any other good grounding point. Use your meter to check for continuity of all grounds.

You haven't replied if grounding the bridge plate had any effect. It IS necessary to ground the bridge plate, which typically grounds the bridge and strings as well. Also, I assume you are using a 3-way switch and not a 4-way?

 

[Boreas]

Guitar wiring troubleshooting needs to be done methodically. Once you have established all your grounds and solder joints are good out to the actual output jack, only then should you start looking at bad parts and shielding. If you have continuity to everything (including the cases of the pots and jack - not just the solder blobs) and still have noise, you need to determine the source. If it seems to change quality frequently, you probably need to shield the cavities and pickups from RF.

Single coil pickups will always have some hum, but it shouldn't be overwhelming. I shield almost all of my single coil rigs with copper tape, but that too requires a GOOD ground. You can shield all you want, but if it goes to a crappy ground you will get nowhere.

 

[The Angry Possum]

In theory ground is ground, wherever you ground the wire. Most people use the pots as ground because they are easy to solder to and also ground to the control plate. Running a ground between V and T pots is optional, because they should be grounded through the control plate. Also, you can ground the output jack to either the V or T pot - or any other good grounding point. Use your meter to check for continuity of all grounds.

You haven't replied if grounding the bridge plate had any effect. It IS necessary to ground the bridge plate, which typically grounds the bridge and strings as well. Also, I assume you are using a 3-way switch and not a 4-way?

Not yet , I don't want to take the strings off and bridge just yet. I will, if this doesn't fix the hum.

 

[Boreas]

Not yet , I don't want to take the strings off and bridge just yet. I will, if this doesn't fix the hum.

What I do is put a capo on the first fret, loosen the strings a bit, then unscrew the bridge with the strings still attached and set the bridge out of the way.

ACTUALLY, this ONLY works if you have a top-loader bridge. If it is through the body it will only get you a quarter inch or so. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[The Angry Possum]

What I do is put a capo on the first fret, loosen the strings a bit, then unscrew the bridge with the strings still attached and set the bridge out of the way.

ACTUALLY, this ONLY works if you have a top-loader bridge. If it is through the body it will only get you a quarter inch or so. Sorry for the confusion.

Great idea, I'll try that later today. Thanks.