WHAT!?

[Nelson Guitars]

Let's cut Beta-male some slack. MUN did explain it, but in very technical terms.

It is not necessary to ground the bridge to make the system work. However, there are radio and electro magnetic signals all around us. Neon and florescent lights are prime culprits for inducing buzzes and hums into your system. Other peoples amps and even your own can do the same. The strings act like big antennas and draw the signals in and the pickups in turn amplify the signal. If you ground the bridge you ground the strings and draw off the signal before the pickups are affected.

Not completely accurate, but gives the layperson an understanding of why this is done.

Greg N

 

[AlphaMale]

Ah I kind of Get it now. Thanks Nelson.

Look up grounding, or earthing if are part of the UK islands.

Looks like they cut it going in at an angle on mine, not straight down. Looks like a worm hole.

Yeah thats what they did on mine.

 

[lhoward]

Let's cut Beta-male some slack. MUN did explain it, but in very technical terms.

It is not necessary to ground the bridge to make the system work. However, there are radio and electro magnetic signals all around us. Neon and florescent lights are prime culprits for inducing buzzes and hums into your system. Other peoples amps and even your own can do the same. The strings act like big antennas and draw the signals in and the pickups in turn amplify the signal. If you ground the bridge you ground the strings and draw off the signal before the pickups are affected.

Not completely accurate, but gives the layperson an understanding of why this is done.

Greg N

+1

Its not always necessary to ground the bridge/string system. Follow the pickup manufacturers recommendations. I installed EMG's (not the passive HZ or Select models, but the older, active pickups) on a fretless and the instructions recommended no grounding wire. I've used those EMG's on that bass for 7 or 8 years and never had any problem with hum.

From the installation instructions (Note the remark about shock hazard):
"When installing EMG Pickups, DO NOT reconnect the bridge ground wire. This wire is usually soldered to a volume or tone control casing and goes to the bridge. This wire grounds the strings and uses them and your body as a shield against hum and buzz. It also creates a shock hazard. EMG Pickups are shielded internally and DO NOT require string grounding. This greatly reduces the possibility of reverse polarity shock from microphones and other equipment."

Lloyd Howard

 

[MyUsernameHere]

Let's cut Beta-male some slack. MUN did explain it, but in very technical terms.

It is not necessary to ground the bridge to make the system work. However, there are radio and electro magnetic signals all around us. Neon and florescent lights are prime culprits for inducing buzzes and hums into your system. Other peoples amps and even your own can do the same. The strings act like big antennas and draw the signals in and the pickups in turn amplify the signal. If you ground the bridge you ground the strings and draw off the signal before the pickups are affected.

Not completely accurate, but gives the layperson an understanding of why this is done.

Greg N

-1

Calling me MUN sounds like the name of some street kid living in the sewers with down syndrome.

 

[AlphaMale]

Wow, for being an AlphaMale, you sure are representing some Omega lack of knowledge. Especially in reading all posts completely.

MyUsernameHere explained it already for you.

I happen to believe to happen I have acquired a lot of knowledge over my fews years living. If I knew everything, I wouldn't be asking questions on a forum, I'd think you'd figure that out on your own. But I'm not educated on electrical engineering, and I don't claim to be. The same way you demonstrated you're not educated on manners.

 

[Rodent]

-1

Calling me MUN sounds like the name of some street kid living in the sewers with down syndrome.

MUH -



if you were to check the posts here in the Luthier's Forum you'll see that most people here with long user names get replied to with a couple capital letter abbreviation. it is never meant as an insult, but instead allows the person posting to get to the meat of the topic at hand instead of endlessly typing out a long user name.


you could always change to a shorter name ya know

all the best,

R

 

[MyUsernameHere]

MUH -



if you were to check the posts here in the Luthier's Forum you'll see that most people here with long user names get replied to with a couple capital letter abbreviation. it is never meant as an insult, but instead allows the person posting to get to the meat of the topic at hand instead of endlessly typing out a long user name.


you could always change to a shorter name ya know

all the best,

R

I was just kidding, but thanks.

 

[Jonsbasses]

In what instances is grounding not necessary?

 

[ninefingerbass]

what the hell is goin on in this thread?!? grounding isnt always necessary. It could actually be dangerous if done wrong. Electrical loops can be fatal. I dont know too much on the subject either... but search and read and understand. This has been covered many many times on this forum.

Are you dumb?! Sorry to be so harsh but circuits require ground and if it cannot be done than you need to have a common ground. i.e. I am installing two pickups but have no access to the bridge since the builder forgot to think about ground. In order to have a signal complete you need to have ground, therefore I looped all the pots to themselves. Although it may not be the best ground is is a common ground.

But when you don't know something please don't reply with such a negative attitude. Also, in order for a circuit to be complete there needs to be a loop.


Back to Alphamale, like I said before a circuit needs ground. Having the bare wire even touching the bridge will be good enough to complete the circuit. It's there for protection and not to sound redundant, but to complete the circuit.


P.S. I am an electronics technician in the United States Navy in case anyone questions my knowledge/sources.

 

[Nelson Guitars]

Well, I was going to be mock offended at my offending MUN (or MUH if I had typed it right) but I won't fan what ever flame started here. Quite frankly I thought I was on thin ice calling Alpha Male, Beta Male but he took it in stride as the rest of us should.

Group hug.

Greg N

 

[ninefingerbass]

I have studied in electronics and still continue to (2 years of training and still pending). You need a common reference point when working with DC in order to measure a signal, lets face it. We are not working with AC and since, as I stated above about noise will be present without ground since hum is output from pretty much anything that has current running through it, I think ground is necessary. It won't be the best ground but it'll be a ground.

Actually if that is an attack on me than go ahead but in this situation you need a ground because, "there are some situations where not grounding the bridge will get you lots of noise and very angry sound guys/gals". this is from the site you posted.

"There is a low possibility of being electrocuted via a grounded bridge on an electric guitar/bass" And I'd rather not change the sentence but you cannot ground a bridge, you ground the circuit but that's besides the point.

To sum it all up, I think that having a floating ground, a circuit not actually connected to earth, is ideal in some cases but not always the best way to go. Current needs to go somewhere, it needs to be connected to earth/ground. I work on an aircraft carrier with electronics everyday. It is necessary to be ground when working with digital circuits because ESD can damage those cards and cost more of you tax dollars. I am taught and trained for 2 years to deal with situations like these in order to have things up and running so that we can bring the fight and be ready for anything and everything. So if you decide to attack an electronics technician 3rd class petty officer of the united states navy and his credibility than I best you write your congressman and tell him that the government is not training there people right.

BTW where's your knowledge. I think if anyone needs to study in electronics it's you. Personally I think you should do your research first. 1, I'm not 16, and 2, you cannot base your information on what he said she said bull---.

 

[Son of Magni]

...This wire grounds the strings and uses them and your body as a shield against hum and buzz....

This is the only accurate statement in this thread regarding the purpose of that wire...

 

[meev992]

This is the only accurate statement in this thread regarding the purpose of that wire...

i leave the ground wire out on my basses

not only do i have black bridges (which prevent ground anyways), but I only use tapes. So when I swap pups and re-wire, I just omit the ground wire for bridge.

 

[T2W]

and well actually mr.ninefingerbass, if you dont mind, if you studied in electronics and you are god in the navy, why dont you spend a few minutes of your life explaining why some people do not ground if it is absolutely necessary. and why IS IT absolutely necessary? sorry im a bit pissed at some you guys' attitudes right now.

 

[Son of Magni]

...But when you don't know something please don't reply with such a negative attitude. Also, in order for a circuit to be complete there needs to be a loop...

You might consider taking your own advise It's not competing a circuit, it's a stub.

and well actually mr.ninefingerbass, if you dont mind, if you studied in electronics and you are god in the navy, why dont you spend a few minutes of your life explaining why some people do not ground if it is absolutely necessary. and why IS IT absolutely necessary? sorry im a bit pissed at some you guys' attitudes right now.

Right, I don't ground my strings/bridges either. It's a safety concern plus with proper shielding it's just not necessary.

 

[T2W]

I aint american so I wont write to your congressman, I just dont care about all that stuff. It aint my tax dollar anyways, its your debt. besides, good luck with that one. Its your problem. and I dont see the relationship between an aircraft carrier and a Bass. So please, mister officer, explain why a marine tech would know better how a circuit works than a pickup manufacturer such as EMG, who tell their clients not to ground the bridge. please? I dont need to study in electronics cuz im a woodworker, and frankly I dont care much about electronics. Part of the reason why Im starting acoustic instruments . I just thought Id share my opinion so that the OP could consider another option, such as reading up on the past threads and deciding for himself if he needs to ground his bridge or not.

Son of Magni: Thanks, I felt kind of alone against the US army.

Tabarnak de coliss. les nerfs ostie de malade

 

[ninefingerbass]

The wire is used as a ground going to the bridge, yes that is a true statement, but for I think it's ideal to use it always so when you ask why I should explain some other's thoughts on why they don't use it, I can't tell you that. Though circuits will work without grounds it's mainly a safety issue and noise issue as well but as some explained good sheilding can help too. Why not use both to provide max shielding?

Stubs are for UHF and microwave circuits. I use them on antennas all the time to match the load of a real one in order to troubleshoot problems. We call them dummy loads. If you don't mind explaing to me why it's called that than it would be very helpful.


T2W: Sorry you are pissed off but I cannot explain why they don't ground to there bridges, beats me. But I never said I was a god in the Navy as well. I cannot help it that I enjoy serving and proud. The whole point of this thread was to explain why there was a hole behind the bridge and it's purpose. I was trying to understand why you believe that it can be dangerous. If you think about it we are always in danger with electronics as bassist since we deal with large amounts of watts. But enough.

 

[T2W]

But enough...

PLEASE

 

[meev992]

Right, I don't ground my strings/bridges either. It's a safety concern plus with proper shielding it's just not necessary.

Ever watch that episode of the twilight zone? The haunted stratocaster shocks the heck out of the guitar player.

indeed, my basses are shielded from top to bottom, and my bass is pretty quiet, considering the lousy power and noisy environment i practice in.

 

[Nelson Guitars]

So, what set of circumstances will cause enough juice to flow through the strings to harm or kill the player? Does it require standing bare foot on a grounded metal stage with the polarity reversed on a stadium sized sound system, or could it happen with a little beginner Crate amp?

Greg N