HELP!! Carackling Noise!!

[chaunceytoben]

For some background info, im playing a squire jazz, through an Ashdown Blueline 180 combo, finger style. Also, sorry if this is the wrong forum, i dont really know what the problem is, so i wasnt sure where to put this thread.

Anyways, A few months ago, I realized that when ever i played the E string, a strange crackling noise would sound. After a short investigation, I realized that it was from my fingers hitting against the pickguard on the backstroke. After a little more investigation, i found out that the noise would occur when ever i slide my finger on the pickguard, around the neck p/u.

This isnt even sliding, it just barely touching the pickguard, and this noise occurs.

So, a few things ran through my mind... Frist, it thought it was a problem with cable. I switched in a brand new cable, same problem. Then i thought it might be the amp (at that time i was playing through a 15w guitar amp.) Now, i recently bought my ashdown, same problem. So know, i guess im pretty sure its related to the pickup. Since i have no idea what im doing, im wondering if any of you have had this problem, or have heard of something like it.

Its really not that big of a deal, only when i play the E string, and it comes and goes frequently. Thanks.

 

[idoru]

Sounds like static build-up - simple fix, take off the pg and put copper or aluminium foil on the back. I do this as part of a full shielding job, but I think you can get away with just running a tab of the foil under the control plate so the pg will be grounded.

 

[chaunceytoben]

Sounds like static build-up - simple fix, take off the pg and put copper or aluminium foil on the back. I do this as part of a full shielding job, but I think you can get away with just running a tab of the foil under the control plate so the pg will be grounded.

sorry, i dont quite understand. Wouldnt it be easier to put foil on the pickguard, rather than take the control plate off? Also, would you use just glue (Elmers?) to attach the foil

 

[TeleTubby]

For the short term, try wiping the pickguard with one of those anti-static dryer sheets. I've even cut one to fit under my pickguard and it cured the problem for the 3 years I owned that guitar. Even made my stinky playing smell better, and more fresh, too.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

sorry, i dont quite understand. Wouldnt it be easier to put foil on the pickguard, rather than take the control plate off? Also, would you use just glue (Elmers?) to attach the foil

You can get some adhesive copper foil on stewmac.com (electronics tab). The sheilding has to be somehow connected to the grounded electrical parts of the bass to discharge the static. To do that, you need to run a piece of conductive material from the pickguard shielding to the control plate or some other grounded material. Not sure if that is your problem, but if it is this is the way to fix it.

 

[chaunceytoben]

For the short term, try wiping the pickguard with one of those anti-static dryer sheets. I've even cut one to fit under my pickguard and it cured the problem for the 3 years I owned that guitar. Even made my stinky playing smell better, and more fresh, too.

Hah, i know what u mean. I tried it, now my bass smells like "Morning Burst" (for me at least, its a good thing.) It works great! I wasnt sure whether u meant to put it right on top, or on the underside but I just rubbed on top. My pickguards a bit sticky, but no more crackling whatsoever. And i thought id have to buy some new electronics

 

[idoru]

I use regular aluminium foil, stolen from the kitchen, to back my pickguards. Tear off a big enough piece, lay it flat and spray on some contact adhesive. Once it's tacky to touch, I pop the pickguard on it, give it a rough trim around the edges (to stop the sticky side folding over onto the top) & flip it over to smooth out any air bubbles. Stick a heavy book on it & let it dry. Once it's dry, I get a scribe set to a few mm and trace around the outside edge - this lets me cut off the very outer part of the foil so there's no nasty silver bits hanging out when the pg is reinstalled.

I place a small strip of copper foil where the pickguard meets the control plate, so that both will be in electrical contact with each other. This is what will let your static build-up discharge to ground (and helps a full shielding job be more effective).

There's a huge and immensely informative Jazz Shielding Pictorial thread sticked at the top of this very forum, well worth a read. Even if you never do the job, you'll get some valuable insight into how these 4-string things actually work

-c

 

[chaunceytoben]

thanks for the all the help guys. Ill def. check out that tutorial.