New Wiring = Ground Hum

The only thing I see that you need to do is run an earth from the top of the volume pot to the tone pot.

 

Hey Jared,

I don't have my schematics in front of me but I usually run the main cap from the grounded volume lug to the middle tone lug. Give it a try.

Barncaster

 

1. Double (triple) check your wires at the output jack - make sure they are not reversed.

2. Check the bridge grounding wire (use a multimeter to test for continuity between the plate and ground.)

 

I had a look at the main diagrams I use at work and found it to differs from yours. Below is a sample of what I would have used.

 

If you're using a metal control plate, all grounds should go to the volume pot. Grounding the tone pot, whether from the vol pot or with a separate wire, will cause a ground loop. It's already grounded by being attached to the plate.

So, in you're current diagram, try removing the ground wire from the tone pot.

If you're not using a metal plate, then all components need a single path to ground like in your original drawing.

 

Here's an off-the-wall idea that happened to me. I bought a new Hakko soldering station not long ago. After completing my first wiring job using the new station, I plugged in the guitar to check it out and was shocked to hear a hum...a loud hum. I double checked the wiring and ground connections. Hum still there. I checked and re-checked. I even did some re-wiring. Finally I gave up, set the guitar on the bench to attack the next day, and turned off the soldering station. As many of you probably have guessed, when the soldering station was turned off, the hum went away. Lesson learned.

This probably won't answer your problem, but my experience might be useful to someone.

 

Jared, We had a guitar a few weeks ago that had the same issue that you are having.

What we found out was the Tone pot was actually faulty and causing the hum.
Try plugging you guitar to your amp with the Volume of both the guitar and amp on halve, then try adjusting your Tone on the guitar from the lowest to highest points. If the hum doesn't dull out when the Tone pot is turned down or worse when turned up would suggest the Tone pot is faulty and needs to be replaced.

Hope this helps.

 

Sorry things are still troublesome.

Time for troubleshooting 101. Listen to the hum level in all 3 switch positions...does it get quieter in the middle vs the neck or bridge? Lift the wire feeding the tone and see if there is a change. Lift each PU from the circuit. Any change? Wire each PU directly to output and see if the hum persists or goes away.

Any chance you can record what you're hearing? It might help us narrow it down. Clear pics of the wiring would be helpful too.

I know this can be frustrating but by the time you figure it out, you will have learned a few things. Hang in there and save your dough...

Mark

 

Normally the metal cover on the neck pickup is connected to the negative = ground.

How is the bridge plate grounded? With a loose wire pressed between the bridge plate and the body? (That connection can turn bad, leading to hum.) Or is it soldered?

Have you done any shielding of the guitar?

If you move to another room, does the noise change?

 

The cover on a Tele neck PU is grounded by the tabs that fold over the plate or by a ground jumper. There's no need for a separate ground wire. That would only be needed if you were isolating the ground for phase reverse or some other custom wiring.

Also, since touching the bridge or strings quiets the guitar, your bridge ground is fine. If it weren't making contact, the hum would stay the same.

I listened to the clip you posted and I didn't hear anything unusual. Some hum is normal until the player is grounded thru the strings. If it's so quiet that you can't record and listen to it without cranking up the volume like I did to hear it, it may be just the normal hum associated with single coils or some level of gain in the amp.

I also reread your OP. You said you replaced a PU. If this new PU is higher output, you might have a higher level of hum that's different enough from the other that is leading you to think something is wrong. Maybe that new PU is faulty or wired backwards. I say this because the hum gets worse in the middle switch position...it should get quieter.

 

One last thought--do you have a buddy or somewhere else you can plug your guitar into a different amp to see if that makes a difference? Teles are known for some noise, (as are all single coils, for the most part), so it's part of the "experience".

EDIT: No, this will be the last thought. Tele bridge pickups normally make ample contact through the mounting screws/springs etc. The separate ground wire should be redundant. That's two grounds, and a possible ground loop path. Especially since your body drains off the hum when you touch the metal of the guitar, if you're not burned out on trying, try disconnecting the ground wire under the bridge and see if that makes any difference.