Scratchy, static-y noise from fingers brushing against pick guard

S

SweetDan

New member
I've got an "interesting"problem and wonder if anyone has suggestions on the source. When I play this particular guitar (tele clone) with a pick and let my RH pinky brush against the pick guard, I get a scratchy noise that sounds like static electricity. The most perplexing thing about this is that it only happens with when the neck pickup is engaged, either neck-only or neck/bridge settings; it doesn't happen when the pickup selector is set to bridge only.

Any ideas?
 
I had the same kind of issue with a Gibson Firebird. Initially in my case I think it came about through very low humidity as the guitar had been stored for a while in an environment which was rather dry. However I decided it was bugging the hell out of me so I removed the covers and pick guard, applied foil to the underside of the guard and ran another few wires to reinforce the grounding, one of which routed so I could ground the foil on the pick guard. My guitar has a nitro finish which made it a little more prone to the issue. The trouble is with static is not only does it make unpleasant noises through the amp it seems to bite big chunks from the guitar's output when it occurs which thinking about it logically, the fact that it was jumping all over a signal that's basically flip flopping and getting flatted out during the static discharge makes sense. Not had it happen since I did the work on it.
 
Whenever you get odd noises from any piece of electrical gear, AI, kbd, guitar always check that you have a solid, low resistance earth on the mains powered equipment. Still, in this case since only one guitar is affected and only one pickup at that, earth problems would not seem the issue (though I would meter that PUP's ground return!) .

You can buy an anti-static cleaning foam. Goes by the name of "Ambersil" over here. Don't go mad with it, just spray a bit on a cloth and wipe the pickguard.

Works on shoes too if you have a sparky carpet! The Safety Supply Company PPE Specialists

Dave.
 
I have some anti-static sprays for the floor and basic surfaces made by Tech Spray, and then there is an Endust product for electronic surface cleaning and anti-static (blue can). That's what I've found here in the US that works good.

In the winter time I'll use them occasionally when it gets too dry in the studio. Spraying the wooden floor at my mix position does a good job and keeps it static free for good amount of time...and just getting some on the soles of my flops helps too.
The Endust I'll use to wipe down my screens and the metal surfaces that I touch a lot. I'm sure it would work good on the pickguards too...and clean them up at the same time. :)

For me...the guitars are not that much of an issue, though I honestly don't touch the pickguards all that much when I play. What I hate is when I touch the console surface or my monitor big knob volume control...I'll get a nasty pop in the speakers.
 
Surprised a wooden floor generates static, is it sealed with a plastic of some kind? I remember you could get a floor polish that was both anti-static and ant-skid and yet gave a nice shine.

Dave.
 
He doesn't mean static like the sparks you get when you touch a doorknob! It's "static" like we used to see on the analog tv. Static as in noise.

My first guess is a microphonic neck pickup. If you talk close to the pickguard, can you hear it from the amp? If you mute all the strings and put it near the amp does it squeal?
 
I'll look for the Endust in the blue can. The idea of grounding the pick guard is interesting. (Pickups have a "ground" in addition to the positive/negative terminals? Or do you just mean the neg.?) And finally, no, there are no sparks - it's all just audio crackling. And it's not a "microphonic" neck pickup...just a standard tele-style neck p/u.
 
You can buy self adhesive copper foil and attach it the underside of the pickguard, then run a wire to the ground of the jack (the sleeve of the TS plug).

https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Foil-...=1475122052&sr=8-10&keywords=copper+foil+tape

Or you can do what I did and glue a wood veneer to the pickguard. No static.

This one was a test, you can see the original screw holes. I had a small piece of scrap veneer left over and trimmed the pickguard down to fit it. But I'm going to buy a new pickguard and veneer it.

IMG_3566web.jpg
 
Some pickups have a seperate shield wire around the other two and/or attached to the metal cover. I'd almost be surprised if yours has more than two wires, but you won't know for sure til you open it up.

There are plenty of otherwise normal tele neck pickups that are microphonic. If the coil wires aren't stuck down well enough, they vibrate, and it acts just like a microphone.

You don't actually have to spring for the copper. The aluminum foil in your kitchen does the same thing. I prefer the heavy duty type because it's easier to work with.
 
SweetDan said:
And finally, no, there are no sparks - it's all just audio crackling.
Click to expand...

It's all the same thing...static electricity...you only see sparks when it's a large discharge, but when you brush the pick-guard, it's just happening at a smaller amount, so of course, no sparks.

Grounding may help dissipate that...but the spray works for preventing the buildup in the first place.

Granted if a pickup goes microphonic, it will amplify all those small static discharge noises even worse than one that is not.
 
Just take an anti-static dryer sheet and wipe your pick guard with it. I live in a desert and my room is carpeted, and this treatment is effective for 2 or 3 weeks before I need to re-apply. Plus my guitar and room smell like fresh laundry.

TIP: Wash your hands before you handle the pick, in case you have a habit like I do of putting the pick in your mouth...
 
Chili said:
You can buy self adhesive copper foil and attach it the underside of the pickguard, then run a wire to the ground of the jack (the sleeve of the TS plug).
Click to expand...

Following up with this. My new chinese strat had the same static problem. Last night I put the self-adhesive copper foil on the bottom of the pickguard and it worked perfectly. I didn't need to attach a ground wire either because there was already shielding around the selector switch and pots. I just had to ensure the copper foil was touching the shielding. No more zappies.

Should have taken some pics, but it was late last night.
 
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Honestly this is not something I've ever heard of. I guess it's possible, but seems strange to me. When I was talking microphonic I meant that a you might just be hearing the sound of your hand brushing the pickguard, which could easily sound scratchy and staticky. Whatever works though, I guess. Shielding is always a good idea anyway.
 
ashcat_lt said:
Honestly this is not something I've ever heard of. I guess it's possible, but seems strange to me. When I was talking microphonic I meant that a you might just be hearing the sound of your hand brushing the pickguard, which could easily sound scratchy and staticky. Whatever works though, I guess. Shielding is always a good idea anyway.
Click to expand...

Well, it is possible, it works. :) I don't think the microphonic effect is the case, at least not for me. I was doing the dryer sheet trick and it would work for a day or so. If the static noise was due to the pickup acoustically picking up my hand brushing the pickguard, it would continue to do so regardless of the dryer sheet.

From the OP's description, I'm pretty sure he was experiencing static build up on the pickguard as well. It would be nice to see if he got it worked out or not.
 
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