Raw/Exposed ground wire normal on a new preamp?

[NelsonNelson]

I just received a new preamp...and the wire is completely raw, braided like. Is this normal?? Will this not cause issues?

[NelsonNelson]

AAAAAAAAAAApparently this is the new thing Nordstrand is now doing.

[Crater]

It can potentially cause issues if the un-insulated ("raw") ground wire touches signal wires within the control cavity. Make sure it's tucked out of the way of any exposed terminals like on the tone/volume controls or output jack. The wire is probably intended to be soldered to the back of a pot or other grounding point and then trimmed off.

[NelsonNelson]

Wanted to share this...just to hear possibly people's opinions on this if it'll cause any issue?

[pacojas]

i alway thought bare braided gnd cables were to be short as possible. looks like an accident waiting!

[NelsonNelson]

I called up Nordstrand today pretty ticked about it honestly and they said it's the new way they are doing them "for flexibility". I think I'll be taking some liquid electrical tape to it tomorrow.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by pacojas

i alway thought bare braided grd cables were to be short as possible. looks like an accident waiting!

My guess is that it ships with extra wire that is intended to be cut. Better to have too much than not enough. Cut it as short as possible and you should be fine. Quite often in many systems, from small electronics to huge high voltage system the ground is an exposed wire or bus. It's not a problem if you install it correctly (meaning trim the wire) and make sure it doesn't touch anything else.

Short version: exposed, and even braided, grounds are common.

Pun intended.

[NelsonNelson]

Originally Posted by two fingers

Quite often in many systems, from small electronics to huge high voltage system the ground is an exposed wire or bus. It's not a problem if you install it correctly (meaning trim the wire) and make sure it doesn't touch anything else.

Yeah I forgot to mention they said that it's also for ease of grounding the pickups wherever you want as well. Still, worries me that it might short on me if I do something wrong.

[KramerDon]

If it bothers you wrap some electrical tape around it

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by NelsonNelson

Yeah I forgot to mention they said that it's also for ease of grounding the pickups wherever you want as well. Still, worries me that it might short on me if I do something wrong.

Where you you connecting it to?

Just cut it shorter.

[NelsonNelson]

Installed today now I have a 60 cycle hum when the treble is rolled up and I've spent a good 2 hours cross checking everything.

[SGD Lutherie]

That's not 60 cycle hum. 60 cycle hum is a low frequency. 60 Hz is between a B and B flat on your A string.

What you are hearing is electrical field interference which is a high pitched buzz, not a low hum. That's why you hear it more with the treble boosted. The preamp is making a quiet buzz louder.

Is the bass shielded? Shielding fixes that kind of noise.