| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
 Posted - 01/02/2009 : 23:23:06
|
| right, Im getting this buzzing on my telecaster and it stops when i put my finger on the pickup switch. I haveread this is becuase the switch needs 'shielding'. I have no idea what this means. I'm getting 500k pots fitted to my tele on Tuesday, so I'm going to ask my guitar shop if they can fix this switch problem. Can someone explain? |
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2009 : 00:23:22
|
I think i remember your guitar being a tele deluxe or a custom..? usually with fenders shielding is to do with the back of the scratchplate been covered with some metal foil tape to cut out unwanted noise..my strats had it already when i got them..metal foil tape is used in construction mostly by duct workers you would get it in any builders providers if you find your scratch plate needs it... i find i suffer more in the room i use for my gear if the computer or a tv is on in the background.... |
 |
|
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2009 : 00:56:09
|
| Yeah its the deluxe, I'll ask if my guitar worker can shield it, do you think its an expensive/hard job to do? He wants �50 to fit & buy 4 Pots, he better not ask for TOO much :P |
|
|
|
pedals 4 pv
Platinum Member
Canada
1351 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2009 : 08:37:33
|
Hi Ollie, he will likely find that problem as part of the pot change job anyway |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2009 : 10:47:57
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
Yeah its the deluxe, I'll ask if my guitar worker can shield it, do you think its an expensive/hard job to do? He wants �50 to fit & buy 4 Pots, he better not ask for TOO much :P
Good quality pot is around 3 or 4 euro each and it's a pretty simple job to do if your basically changing one over for the other....i wouldn't pay any more that the �50 to be honest but if your not confident in trying something like this yourself your probably better off getting soemone to do it.... the foil on the back of the scratchplate is easy peasy to do as the tape is sticky like sellotape..if he is a guitar repair man he wil already have it or something similar..i would of thought he would do it for free.....if it is something else like a dodgy earth wire or loose solder joint as Pedals4pv said he will probably see it when he's doing the pots.... |
|
|
|
Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2009 : 10:59:33
|
While it is always a good idea to have someone do something for you when you don't know how, I would've saved the 50 pounds and done it myself.
Better to invest that money in a good entry level soldering iron.
I can't stress this enough but, anyone playing guitar should also learn to solder, it really isn't that hard and it can come in real handy for last minute fixes at a gig.
Here's a great article on shielding, the site contains more of these goodies btw.
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2009 : 16:53:51
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
While it is always a good idea to have someone do something for you when you don't know how, I would've saved the 50 pounds and done it myself.
Better to invest that money in a good entry level soldering iron.
I can't stress this enough but, anyone playing guitar should also learn to solder, it really isn't that hard and it can come in real handy for last minute fixes at a gig.
Here's a great article on shielding, the site contains more of these goodies btw.
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
I agree....since i started 'dabbling' i have found it very rewarding erspecially getting my musicman amp back up and running..... |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 00:15:56
|
| Any news on the guitar ollie...? how did the pot changeover go...? i changed mine over the other day on my strat with the noiseless pickups,cause the 250k's were making it a bit dull sounding for a strat so i put in 500k's ....it was your original topic about the pots in your tele that got me thinking and something Dr Bob said a while back about 1 meg pots in his tele..it turned out after a bit of research on the fender forums,the noiseless pickups are actually some sort of stacked humbuckers....BIG improvement on the sound since the changeover...how did your tele get on...? ad did the hum/buzz on the switch get sorted....?...... |
|
|
|
Disco Stu
Silver Member
USA
303 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 06:12:54
|
So I'm a bit unclear on the reasons behind switching from 250K to 500K pots... wouldn't doubling the resistance cause the guitar to have less output?
Anyway, on my Tele (Mexican Standard) the pots are mounted on the little metal oval plate that comes off with a couple of screws. So if you had pots that fit you could probably switch them out in an hour or so.
Is it worthwhile to change the potentiometer values in a Mexi Tele? |
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 07:44:39
|
| Higher valued pots make the sound brighter which goes against my understanding that higher resistance filters out higher frequencies. I think that only goes for RC circuits though, as opposed to purely resistive circuits; maybe someone else can step in here. Just remember, 500k also makes the pot curve steeper, making volume adjustments a bit more difficult. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 01/07/2009 07:46:35 |
|
|
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 08:20:37
|
| They did it, and now my guitar doesnt work. It works if i put the jack lead in half way, with load of crackling, put it in completely, silence. I'm going back to the shop soon. |
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 09:37:56
|
 |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 09:57:59
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
They did it, and now my guitar doesnt work. It works if i put the jack lead in half way, with load of crackling, put it in completely, silence. I'm going back to the shop soon.
Poop! Well at least it was done by professionals who have to fix it. It's way worse when you do something like that yourself and then have to fix it yourself  |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 10:54:25
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
They did it, and now my guitar doesnt work. It works if i put the jack lead in half way, with load of crackling, put it in completely, silence. I'm going back to the shop soon.
 sounds like they didn't even bother to test it before sending it back out.... i've had a few experiences like this over the years..another reason i started doing my own repair stuff....pin them down to shield the guitar for free 'because of the inconvience...... |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 10:57:35
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
They did it, and now my guitar doesnt work. It works if i put the jack lead in half way, with load of crackling, put it in completely, silence. I'm going back to the shop soon.
sounds like they didn't even bother to test it before sending it back out,not very professional IMHO.... i've had a few experiences like this over the years, one very bad one with my vintage fender Coronado II where a guy from another shop i had brought it to for a quote,tried to nick it from another repairer i had left it in to to get the neck ajusted..another reason i started doing my own repair stuff....pin them down to shield the guitar for free 'because of the inconvience...... |
|
|
|
DarrinPA
Silver Member
USA
221 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 02:38:05
|
| Next time you go to pick up your guitar test it out before leaving. They SHOULD have an amp around to test the guitars. If they don't then maybe you need to find a different place to get your gear repaired. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Pickup Switches
