Control cavity shielding

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

I've always heard the virtues of doing it, but never did until last night. The strat with the bronze pickguard has Fender Standard Strat electronics, pups, and vintage trem and had the dreaded 60 cycle hum, as well as a buzzy 5 way switch on 3 of the settings, so I decided to give the shielding a try. It took me over an hour to do it (and was a total pain), but it has been the single best hour of work I've EVER done an any guitar. I can now stand directly in front of my amp with everything cranked up and.......not a buzz or pop or anything! Makes my guitar sound even better, and it sounded pretty good to begin with. I did the green one this morning and it's getting Fender Custom Shop 54s as soon as Mr. Postman brings them to me. Can't wait! The guitars are actually identical but the flash makes them look a little different color.

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:08 pm

I'm thinking my Arpeggio V could use that as it buzzes like no tomorrow but if I turn a certain way to the amp, no buzz. Where did you find the shielding material and what is it called exactly. Is it copper foil? Is there webpage info available on it?

BTW, cool Straters

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

Stew Mac sells shielding paint that is supposed to work as well and is a much quicker and easier application:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Supplies:_Shielding/Conductive_Shielding_Paint.html

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

I got it at guitarpartsresource.com http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/electrical.htm I've heard about the paint as well. but it's nearly $27 a half pint! The stuff I used is under $8 a sq foot, which does 1 1/2 guitar. I also used to pick up a German radio station really clearly through my amp......not anymore. Cool

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 1088 Location: Espoo, Finland

Hmm, I think I will order some! Thanks for the head's up Lon.

Mikko

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 108 Location: Michigan City, IN

Would that also help to stop a feedback problem? I get it really bad somtimes. I should check it out anyways though.

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:53 pm

Cool strats lon...whatever happened to the dean strat???

Rich

Guest

allthedamagedone wrote:

Would that also help to stop a feedback problem? I get it really bad somtimes. I should check it out anyways though.

Nope Willy, won't stop feedback(why stop feedback, anyway? Itworked for Jimi, right?) Just stops the buzzy noises due to 60Hz cycle single coil pickups design. Or, you could get a Hush to plug into. Lon, did you see the copper plates that go under the pickguard? I wanna try one. They show up on ebay for a $9.99 starting bid, hmmmmm... oh yeah, I forgot, my reason to post this was to tell you that I use a sheilding paint that I get from Sherman Williams that is much less expensive. By the half gallon, lasts for ever. I do the underside of the pickguard as well as the body cavity. I've put together almost ten guitars and I'm still on the first one. I can't remember the name. I'll check it out tommorrow. It's at the shop by the paint booth, where I spray the bodies. After painting and buffing they get this stuff. By the way, I'm selling custom built Strat style guitars in the $700 range that destroy Usa Fenders, if anyone is interested. Sperzels, Wilkys, LSR's, Kinnmans, Van Zandts, tell me what ya want! I gotta start selling them. My wife iz getting pissed off at me cuz I wanna keep em all, hehe. I've come up with a unique way to wire them so that they look vintage, but can get a Les Paul/buckered tone as well. My lips are sealed... This is the big one, I may be retired by this one! Cool

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2131

Check out the cavity shielding this guy does on his guitars...for his custom guitars he MAKES his own outta carbom fiber!

http://www.driskillguitars.com/carbon%20fiber.htm

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 5799

The Dean strat is still hanging on my bedroom wall. I did find a bullet truss rod nut for so that's good. Not sure if I'm ever going to get around to finishing it though. I did some reading at reranch.com regarding finishes but who knows?

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 2:16 pm

Lon if ya wanna unload it cheap LMK

Rich

Guest

60srocker wrote:

How about a picture of one?

Coming right up! I sold one last week, but I've got nine right here. Hey Nathan, where's yer digi camera!

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 4406 Location: Hostile Territory

I shield all my build & I find the paint is not as good as metalic shielding. I ran out of copper so I used some aluminum tape from the hardware store. You have to use a needle to poke holes in the overlaps to make continuity. (old burgler alarm foil trick) The paint works OK with humbuckers since they are hum canceling till you tap them. Nice looking Strats Lon - I finished my new one and will post some pics this week. Cool