Labi...> Sure. First is the problem of soldering to aluminum foil as others have allready noted. 2nd, installation for copper tape is simple, its got sticky back so you can make it all nice and neat and attached to the control cavity walls. Its also sturdier, regular thin aluminum foil tears easy in comparrison. One of the first things I do when inspecting a used guitar or bass. After checking neck, fretwork, and checking for any issuers with build. Is remove the control cavity cover. If I see its got grocery store aluminum foil stuffed or otherwise in there for sheilding, I not only giving it back but gonna ask why the peep thought it had any value at all. If Im gonna build a bass or guitar from a kit, or redo the electronics, I'm gonna use at least nice budget import grade bass or guitar stuff in it. I;m not gonna be so cheap as to use aluminum foil. I want to have a qaulity end product that someone might be willing to at least pay a price comprable to used budget gear from ESP Ltd, Ibanez, Peavey. If I'm gonna be so cheap as to use aluminum foil, I might as well also be in the market for the worst cheapest poorest qaulity pickups I can find for a few cents to imo. One doesnt have to use audiophile grade wires and boutique pups and pots and caps. But one should at least be willing to use radio shack grade stuff imo. Maybe I have too high a regard for guitars and basses, But I want any I have to be at least nice budget grade qaulity thruout. I think the instrument itself deserves no less. If I cant afford regular shielding material, Id leave it unsheilded untill I could.
The shielding paints are also good easy to apply choice as well.
Can aluminum act as a emi/rfi shield material? Yes. Invalid Link Removed But here its done as a tape. Not loose foil. O you could glue it I suppose. But still.
Bottom line, grocery store aluminum foil is gonna be like useing the absolute cheapest, tastes bad, generic green beans, you can find to serve at an important dinner. Its gonna be the poorest grade aluminum available. And thus not nearly as good for the wanted purpose as aluminum tape sold for the specified purpose of shielding. So you use serated washer and screw on your grocery store aluminum foild to make the contact with wire since wont solder to it. Ooops, serated washer etc just tore up your carefully installed aluminum foil and gotta redo it.
Yikes people. International bass and guitar help forums etc should be about helping folks get the best qaulity and best for them available within their budget. Someone finding they could do a cheap temp shielding fix of hum problem with aluminum foil is one thing. But useing it as permanent solution seems like promoting useing interior wall house paint and paint brush to get a qaulity coloring of the instrument. Fine if your gonna for textured wall and ceiling paint look for the instrument. But lousy as a "use interior latex and paint brush to refinish your bass" as a legitimate suggestion for peeps looking for good inexpensive way to refinish their bass.
