the dreaded strat hum

bob_suruncle · December 21st, 2007, 01:24 PM

I grew up a metal head and believed that no guitar was a real guitar unless it had at least one humbucker.... I used to hate the blues too :o

Now I am all growed up and I realize that life experience allows you to appreciate the blues and single coil pups in a strat! :D

I have handled various strats over the years but I just bought this one as my very own.... here is the problem: As you can see it has the gold lace pups which I had hoped would alleviate the strat hum I became so familiar with from my band mates back in the day.... but not so. It definitely hums. Tried plugging into a solid state amp instead of my tubed traynor custom valve 20wr and get the hum... plugged into my sons solid state and get the hum... unless of course I touch the strings or bridge then the hum disappears.

Shielding issue? wiring? I paid up for this bad boy and I love the tone.. and the looks but the hums gotta go!

Image attached is from Folkway music in Guelph where I bought her... great shop especially for vintage stuff!

bobthecanadian · December 25th, 2007, 10:54 PM

Definitely check out guitarnuts.com and check out the shielding and grounding options found there. It has really helped me and numerous others as well.

Peace,

Bob

nvosmeier · December 26th, 2007, 10:22 PM

+1 on sheilding. This will make a difference and cut down the hum. I have been using a copper based paint that works really well and is easy to apply.

tazzboy · December 26th, 2007, 11:47 PM

When you touch the strings the hum goes away. I don't think Copper shielding is require cause Lace are pretty good at being quiet type pickups. I have you check the ground wiring on the bridge and tension springs area to see if there ground is got good solder on it?

tazzboy · December 26th, 2007, 11:54 PM

Here is where diagram from lace
http://www.agi-lace.com/wiring/pdf/1.pdf

mustang_steve · December 27th, 2007, 11:50 AM

This picture shows one example of a good solder joint, and two bad ones...use this as your guide for looking at the trem claw. you want the solder to flow, not bead up.

http://www.leadsdirect.co.uk/images/...les%20Plus.jpg

mr_hankey · January 23rd, 2008, 02:50 PM

Is ground wire to the trem claw well connected at both ends? A little bit of extra shielding wouldn't hurt either.

ECistheBest · January 24th, 2008, 03:34 AM

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php

yea. try shielding, and eliminating ground loops in the wiring inside. it's pretty easy if you get good materials. and its not hard just using aluminum foil either. haha.

i used copper tape on mine.

skinnytom · February 20th, 2008, 10:56 AM

If all else fails, make sure it's not your house wiring-I had the exact same problem, but it went away when playing somewhere with real grounded power. Needless to say, I fixed the prob. without opening the guitar. cheers

bobthecanadian · February 20th, 2008, 07:20 PM

making sure that your house/practice area is grounded is always a good idea as well. but, doing both will keep you in good shape. whether you play at home or play out, then your guitar will be quiet.

so, how's it going?

nvosmeier · February 20th, 2008, 08:19 PM

I use copper shielding paint. It really makes a big difference. A small can was about $30.00, but I have done at least 10 guitars and still have some left. Well worth the time and trouble.

Strat-Talk · February 21st, 2008, 09:33 AM

Another thing that leads to the hum is computer networks, WiFi and especially CRT Computer Monitors.

Some are worse offenders than others. And I always suggest turning that stuff off one at a time to see which item is creating the hum.

Dion · February 21st, 2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strat-Talk

Some are worse offenders than others. And I always suggest turning that stuff off one at a time to see which item is creating the hum.

+1 on that, I find my house is much quieter during the day when all the lights and network is off