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backplate static

DaveParker39

DaveParker39

World Heavyweight Champion
Supporting Member
Feb 28, 2022
3,031
6,085
#1
I'm having a moderately annoying issue.

I am getting some static/scratching when my bass (Spector Euro) contacts my body where the backplate is. The sound is audible through the amplifier.

When this happened before on my P-Bass front pickguard, I simply shielded the pickguard.

But the Spector backplate is already shielded. it has a lining of shielding on the bottom of the plate and the cavity is shielded.

Would it be prudent to... add more to the plate? More copper tape? Is it something else?
 
#4
Turnaround said:
Does the back plate have the protective plastic film on it? If so, remove it - it is a common cause of static.
Click to expand...
No film.

RSBBass said:
Is the shielding on the back plate grounded properly?
Click to expand...
it appears to be. It is new and they ship shielded.

Oddly since I made this thread the problem can’t be replicated. Perhaps it was my pants.
 
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#5
Okay, so the problem is back.
I have photographed the shielding inside of the backplate and the cavity. It appears as though the screw holes could be grounded, but I’m not exactly sure how to tell if there is a defect in the grounding.
The problem comes and goes, only when my leg is touching the plate.
8BEB1AD0-BD0D-4A47-BF3B-8E468F8781D1.jpeg
 
#9
96tbird said:
The screws are not grounded. The black paint is the shield. Put a strip of foil tape down over the black and up over to a screw hole. Apply foil tape to the back of the cover. Then when you screw it down the back plate will be grounded.
Click to expand...

So, I checked with a multimeter

overload (infinite) resistance between string and screw holes

(1.0mish) resistance between screws and strings when backplate is ON and screwed in

(1.0mish) resistance the shielded paint and the strings when the back plate is removed

I can add some tape, I ordered some from WD
 
Last edited:
#10
Several modern liquid guitar polishes are anti-static so I would try that first as it's low cost and can be reapplied as often as needed (the Music Nomad stuff smells nice; there's an industrial plastic polish called Plexus that lasts a lot longer but costs more and should be applied with the cover off the bass).
 

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