Massivee noise from the Z

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

The '78 that I restored in my avatar... well this is the guitar I'd like to be my go to for my new band. Well turns out I've never played it over high volume before and it makes some ridiculous noises under high gain. I installed all electronics and wired everything on this.. so I know I screwed something up. I didn't shield any cavities or anything.. I'm hoping maybe that's the issue? How would I go about that?

And it makes very odd noises if that helps. Not feedback. More like crazy warbling and robot noises. I haven't been able to understand its language yet.

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6624 Location: Minnesota

it sounds haunted.

Send it over to me right away so I can send it back to hell.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:27 pm

Pickups too close to the strings?

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:58 pm

Graunke wrote:

it sounds haunted.

Send it over to me right away so I can send it back to hell.

It sounds like a shielding problemo to me, bro.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:59 pm

you have a photo of where all the leads are soldered?
Maybe it's just too much guitar for you and you should send it to me so I can teach it a lesson. Laughing

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

I should record some clips of it before fixing it... it indeed sounds haunted.

and no, I wouldn't dare send it to any of you. I couldn't put you guys at the risk of being haunted. I care too much.

how would I shield it? i'll get some pics of the cavities.

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 11:34 pm

These dudes are going to hook you up. Some very cool methods of shielding and making sure everything is grounded and soldered correctly

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8254 Location: Ontario, Canada

As long as you use shielded wire you don't need cavity paint or sheilding tape. I use the vintage braided wire to wire the pots, switches and output jack. In addition to grounding the bridge and each pot to each other. I had to rewire my TCML and now it's Ninja quiet.

Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 436

When this happens, its the ground to the bridge 95% of the time from my personal experience. Or you didn't use shielded wire. Thats the best 2 guesses I have to get you started.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

koury73 wrote:

When this happens, its the ground to the bridge 95% of the time from my personal experience. Or you didn't use shielded wire. Thats the best 2 guesses I have to get you started.

I think I was just a retard when I did this... pics uploading.

Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 13220 Location: MA

Maybe it's picking up some cell phone interference or something?

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

Ok so I see some bad things immediately. I made sure not to touch a thing so you guys can point everything out. First off.. it appears I used some type of old speaker wire or something to run to the toggle. I don't know how big of an issue that might be causing. I really can't re-do that. I had to drill holes through the body to basically re-route it to allow me to run wires through.. and its very tight and very difficult. I hope I can avoid re-doing that. Also the coil split wires the tape came off/exposed, that could be an issue.

Please point out anything you can. Like I said.. its actually dead quite at regular volumes. I never knew there was an issue til I cranked it to band level. And its not a feedback, it's crazy robot noises

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8254 Location: Ontario, Canada

It's the grey unsheilded speaker wire. It's acting like an antanna. Get the vintage wire I mentioned. It's small enough that you won't need to redrill. Pm your email address and I'll send before and after pics of my TCMl for reference.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

'87 sherwood wrote:

It's the grey unsheilded speaker wire. It's acting like an antanna. Get the vintage wire I mentioned. It's small enough that you won't need to redrill. Pm your email address and I'll send before and after pics of my TCMl for reference.

Is it interfering with itself or only outside noise? I would really prefer to find another way to go rather than re-wire. I've got enough to worry about getting ready for this show. Can I just shield the cavities?

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8254 Location: Ontario, Canada

Shielding the cavities might decrease it but it's not the best way. You'll still pick up radio interference along every one of those wires outside the cavities. For example, the long run to the selector switch. You'd be hard pressed to shield inside those drilled holes and runs.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

'87 sherwood wrote:

Shielding the cavities might decrease it but it's not the best way. You'll still pick up radio interference along every one of those wires outside the cavities. For example, the long run to the selector switch. You'd be hard pressed to shield inside those drilled holes and runs.

what would I shield with? I've never done this before. I figure if it's easy to do I could at least try it quick. I've got a noise gate as well.

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8254 Location: Ontario, Canada

To be honest I could rewire that whole guitar with the braided wire a lot faster than I could shield paint it or copper tape it. I don't recommend sheilding the cavity.

Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 3235 Location: Wisconsin!

Let me get this straight. Dude's telling you what is wrong and it's the easier fix, but you don't want to fix it the way he is telling you? What do you want him to do, come and fix it for you?
I love that old geet. It won't be fixed until you redo the wiring. I think you would be waisting your time if you did shielding everywhere. Good luck.

Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 13220 Location: MA

Halfaed wrote:

Let me get this straight. Dude's telling you what is wrong and it's the easier fix, but you don't want to fix it the way he is telling you? What do you want him to do, come and fix it for you?
I love that old geet. It won't be fixed until you redo the wiring. I think you would be waisting your time if you did shielding everywhere. Good luck.

srsly

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

I'm just honestly not sure if I can fit braided wire through there. Its hard to see but the wires are actually snug through the hole into the control cavity. I'll have to take a look to see what I can work with.

I didn't ask him to do it for me, lol. I asked if it would be worth trying to shield the cavities. I have never done it before and was unaware if it was a project or literally just putting something in the cavity.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

I'm also still concerned that the wire used isn't the only issue. Most guitars don't have shielded wiring (other than the pickups), but do not get this noise that I'm picking up. I'm wondering if it could be something with the way I wired the kill switch, or possibly ground loop or other issue.

Anyone noticed anything in addition to the wire used?