STRAT PROBLEM! Can anyone diagnose this!?

[Messiah]

Can anyone tell what it is that's wrong with one of my Strat's by listening to the mp3's?

It is the exact same setup repeated twice, once on an OK Strat and once on the problematic one.


I'm hoping someone will recognise the problem by hearing it and point me in the right direction rather than me opening it up and going in blind (not to mention stupid...).

Any help is mucho appreciated!

[jondoe1972]

I assume you're using one of the 3 main pickup positions not the inbetween ones that cancel some of the noise?

With single coil pickups sometimes you have to "find Mecca." Basically you have to turn yourself and guitar to find a position that has the least amount of buzzing. It can be difficult to completely remove it, but you can make it acceptable for recording.

BTW, your problematic Strat sounds like my current Strat. Its very old and the pickups are very, very dirty. Opening it up and getting rid of the dust may help. Replacing the pickups because they've gone microphonic might be the other option.

Sorry if this is off base!

[Messiah]

Originally Posted by jondoe1972

I assume you're using one of the 3 main pickup positions not the inbetween ones that cancel some of the noise?

With single coil pickups sometimes you have to "find Mecca." Basically you have to turn yourself and guitar to find a position that has the least amount of buzzing. It can be difficult to completely remove it, but you can make it acceptable for recording.

BTW, your problematic Strat sounds like my current Strat. Its very old and the pickups are very, very dirty. Opening it up and getting rid of the dust may help. Replacing the pickups because they've gone microphonic might be the other option.

Sorry if this is off base!

Both guitars are played using the middle pickup, but the noise on the latter one is consistent in every position.

If you listen to the clips you'll realise that it isn't to do with age or dirt, it's most definitely (me=80-90% sure) a wiring issue.

I'm hoping someone familiar with guitars will hear the problem straight off...

[Yutaka]

I think it's the ground wire attatched to tremolo unit having lost the contact (if the amount of noise doesn't change with your hands on/off the strings)? If the connection in the spring cavity is okay, you'd need to take off the pickguard and check the connection there.

[allencollins]

It is no doubt a grounding problem. But it could be in your recording chain
or it could be your ground wire like the last post said.

When I have my tv on and My computer monitor on when I play single coil I get that sound. I have to plug all my shit on same pwr strip so it sucks. When I record I have to shut my tv and monitor off. The 60hz hum then disappears

[not_so_new]

Read here thank me later......

I will assume the check is in the mail?

Jokes.... but realiy you should take a minute or 20 and read the link above.

He says at one point "Good practices and principles improve the noise resistance of any circuitry. These practices are almost universally applied by all electronics manufacturers except those making electric guitars! Manufacturers routinely sell expensive guitars containing wiring that a manufacturer of $25 cassette players would never tolerate."

He is exactly right. It is worth the read.

[GPl]

Yes, do yourself a favour and follow that link Michael provided. It made an amazing diff. on several of my single coil guitars....

This qoute got me too: "Fender dealer had gone so far as to claim that his rather expensive signature Strat was supposed to hum, that it was "built in, part of the Fender sound."

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by GPl

Yes, do yourself a favour and follow that link Michael provided. It made an amazing diff. on several of my single coil guitars....

This qoute got me too: "Fender dealer had gone so far as to claim that his rather expensive signature Strat was supposed to hum, that it was "built in, part of the Fender sound."

Yeah what is that crap! This is how myths and rumors cloud the judgment of otherwise sensable people.

Really all my professional life I have read about things like star grounding / don't have multiple paths to ground, use quality hardware and wire, shield your recording gear from RF etc. All very basic electronics ABC's but when we get to guitars we lose all common sense and throw the common knowledge that applies to other electronic gear out the window.

No offense meant to Carl at all. I think we have all tossed our hands up in frustration over guitar and bass hum and buzz when the answer is simple, follow common sense basic electronic best practices and things get better.

[Messiah]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Read here thank me later......

'Read'! Can't you just tell me...

Seriously, thanks a lot. I have sorted out the Strat in question, it was indeed a ground problem.

I am going to follow the info in the link as part of the next stage (I'm about to replace the middle and neck pickups) and hopefully I'll tame the beast!

Thanks everyone!

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Messiah

'Read'! Can't you just tell me...

Seriously, thanks a lot. I have sorted out the Strat in question, it was indeed a ground problem.

I am going to follow the info in the link as part of the next stage (I'm about to replace the middle and neck pickups) and hopefully I'll tame the beast!

Thanks everyone!

Let us know how it turns out! I think you will be happy..