Ground Screw (And nothing attached)

The ground lug is screwed into the shielding paint (at least that’s what that black paint in the control cavity should be) which is conductive. As long as some of it comes over the edge and touches the control plate it’s all grounded. You could use a meter and double check. The paint could be applied a bit more thoroughly and/or neatly but I’m sure it’s a price point thing. Same with any polishing compound or other residue.

 

Yep. The black paint is carbon metallic paint which is conductive. Normal. A lot of Fender models have ZERO shielding from the factory so be glad it’s there.

The body on a ‘tang is quite thin compared to a J or P, so the pup routes can’t be as deep.

 

That shielding is useless. The back of the pickguard isn't shielded, and there isn't any shielding paint where the switch goes. I fully copper shielded my PJ Mustang:



The screw should have a few black wires running to it, as it serves as a sort of star ground.

 

Nothing appears to be connected to the “ground” screw. There may be some common ground elsewhere, but if so it’s not visible. OTOH, the screw appears to have a “coating” of some sort, corrosion perhaps?
Maybe it was painted over with conductive paint? I wouldn’t expect that to happen at the factory though.
It implies that the screw was attached to bare wood before the paint, which means if it did have wires connected they wouldn’t be very well grounded.

Was this bass new or used when you got it?
Seems as if someone may have been in there ahead of you?
Conductive coating aside, it certainly doesn’t look to me like what I’d expect from a factory job, even a cheap one.
I purchased a used Squier bass that had a lot better looking innards than this.

 

There should be a black wire running to the eyelet that the screw is holding down.

 

I think I see a black wire going to the underside of the lug. It probably comes from the back of one of the control pots. Looks OK to me.

 

Yes. That is what the solder lug under the screw is supposed to be for.
But if proper grounding was achieved in another matter, wiring to the lug is not needed.
I wonder if the bridge is grounded? If not this should be a convenient place to attach a ground wire.

 

I couldn’t see the black wire. But if it is I tend to agree.
It does look like the solder is different on the solder lug in the two closeup pics.
As if something was done between taking the two pics.
Might just be the angle or lighting differences though.

 

Shielding paint is not useless. It works fine and is used in military equipment. The bad rap it gets is based on zero empirical evidence. If it is applied with good coverage, it’s actually great stuff. Furthermore, the steel control plate is the shield for the pots, grounded by the pot bodies. Having the plastic pickguard shielded does almost nothing since the pickup pokes above it anyway.

 

Shielding paint is great if applied right. As you say, if it didn't work then it would never be deployed anywhere. There would be no market for it.

Fender don't apply it right. They spatter up the cavities on their instruments with it, but it isn't a continuous coverage by any means. I'm tempted to experiment with shielding paint in a lucite bass I should be acquiring soon, simply to get a better visual appearance from the outside of the bass.

These Mustang basses might as well not be shielded. I noticed a difference only once I used copper foil throughout the two I own/owned. Beyond that, the role of shielding is often confused anyway. Shielding will never remove the electromagnetic interference a pickup will pick up, but it can help minimise the risk electrostatic interference.

 

I wholeheartedly agree with 96tbird with respect to shielding paint. I used to be a devotee of copper foil, but after doing a number of experiments with foil and paint I am now convinced that a good application of shielding paint is every bit as good as copper foil, and in some ways better. It is also easier to achieve high-quality results with the paint and takes less effort. I must give a nod to Roger Sadowsky - it's because of the shielding paint in my NYC Jazz that caused me to investigate its use.

 

No copper in the jazz pickup rout? How about the wiring channel between the bridge pickup and control cavity?

 

Not when the photo was taken.

I also soldered some of the key joins between the tape to ensure continuity. Luckily the copper tape I buy (marketed as 'slug tape' for gardeners) has conductive glue. I still solder stuff if I don't get a nice strong 'bleep' from my meter when I test across to points.

 

Good idea to not rely on the conductive glue. I found that it loses its conductivity over time.

 

There clearly is solder on the lug. Pretty sure i see a wire back there too

 

There clearly IS solder on there. And what is this wire (in red)?

 

Hah beat you Richard. Lol nice red line though. I see the wire there too.

 

I mentioned it in post #6. Red lines are not really something I specialize in though.