Why arent guitars bridges grounded like on bass?

darkstorm · #1 03-15-2011, 02:58 PM

Of course grounding bridge on bass helps eliminate any hum or bg noise. But guitars for most part dont have grounded bridges. When I installed a preamp in my guitar, if I cranked the bass control thered be some hum with high gain distortion when not playing. Stop bar tailpeice bridges for guitar dont get the benefit of grounding bridge it seems. Dunno how one would ground the guitar bridge either cept maybe run wire to bottom of tune-o-matic bridge and solder it to that.

Guitarists typically use lotsa overdrive or distortion. Which of course makes any hum more noticeable. Humfree pups and shirlded control cavity of course help. So guitarists use noise gates.

How come mfg who make both basses and guitars dont ground the bridges on their guitars? Ty

**line6man** · #2 03-15-2011, 03:01 PM

Um, guitar bridges ARE grounded.

Haven't you ever popped the trem cover off the back of a Strat and seen the ground wire on the claw?

i_got_a_mohawk · #3 03-15-2011, 03:03 PM

^

+1

Rebop · #4 03-15-2011, 03:04 PM

Thread over.

Sharko · #5 03-15-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Um, guitar bridges ARE grounded.

Haven't you ever popped the trem cover off the back of a Strat and seen the ground wire on the claw?

And before you say anything, yes, stop bar tailpieces are grounded too, look for the wire going through a drill hole in the cavity to the bridge or tailpiece screws.

Clark Dark · #6 03-15-2011, 03:12 PM

If you have a ground issue with a Gibson type bridge/tailpiece it will need to go to a pro to get fixed. The ground wire on those snake through the body and is soldered to one of the threaded height adjusters.

darkstorm · #7 03-15-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharko

And before you say anything, yes, stop bar tailpieces are grounded too, look for the wire going through a drill hole in the cavity to the bridge or tailpiece screws.

Ahhh, ok, Id seen ground wire on tremelo bridges but not on tune-o-matic stop type. Thanks, my bad

GlennW · #8 03-15-2011, 04:23 PM

And on most hollow body stuff the ground wire is tucked under the tailpiece hear the strap button.

walterw · #9 03-15-2011, 08:25 PM

...and on teles the ground wire is tucked under the plate just like on a bass.

SurferJoe46 · #10 03-17-2011, 12:07 AM

I have a Gibson with their crummy de-tuning whammy, and the ground is on the retract springs adjustable tension hook plate.

All I can say is that it works.