Hokey Smokes! A Microphonic Electronics Cover!!

[stetto]

How in the hell does this happen? I've got an elect. guitar that a friend built for me, passive electronics, Bill Lawrence L-500, volume and coil split only...The cavity is copper taped, but the cover (cut from a Telecaster pickguard) hasn't been shielded...

...The cover on the back of the guitar has become microphonic...Touch or brush across any part of it and it's like doing the same to a SM58...

I swear I'm pixie-lated...I upgrade to a DAW and suddenly all my instruments get noisy...

Any input will be appreciated...And scrutinized....And edited for content...And formatted to fit your screen...Thanks

Eric

 

[ggunn]

How in the hell does this happen? I've got an elect. guitar that a friend built for me, passive electronics, Bill Lawrence L-500, volume and coil split only...The cavity is copper taped, but the cover (cut from a Telecaster pickguard) hasn't been shielded...

...The cover on the back of the guitar has become microphonic...Touch or brush across any part of it and it's like doing the same to a SM58...

I swear I'm pixie-lated...I upgrade to a DAW and suddenly all my instruments get noisy...

Any input will be appreciated...And scrutinized....And edited for content...And formatted to fit your screen...Thanks

Eric

It's got to be something simple, like a wire touching the plate that's also touching the pickup. Open the plate with the amp on and the volume up, and poke the innards a bit with a pencil. Chances are you'll just have to bend a wire a bit to break up the shock conduction. Worst case, you could glue a little foam to the inside of the plate.

 

[crazydoc]

Take advantage of it - now you have a percussion instrument and a guitar all in one - play them together.

 

[mrface2112]

Take advantage of it - now you have a percussion instrument and a guitar all in one - play them together.

just don't use a drumstick to do it......that kills pickups. been there, done that.


cheers,
wade

 

[stetto]

OK, well, on a point system for pertinence (say 1-10), Gordon gets a 9 (I had to take one away for making me feel like I skipped an obvious step... ), but on the impertinence scale I gotta split the points between doc and wade...

Thanks guys

Eric

 

[60's guy]

The cavity is copper taped, but the cover (cut from a Telecaster pickguard) hasn't been shielded...

...The cover on the back of the guitar has become microphonic...Touch or brush across any part of it and it's like doing the same to a SM58...

I had the same problem once and I discovered that you gotta shield that pickguard too. You might want to shield that back cover too.

SHIELDING THAT TELE

 

[stetto]

OK, now it's got me by the curlies...

...I took the back cover ALL THE WAY OFF...Found a very microphonic wire--The hot to the output jack....Soldered to the CENTER pole on the volume pot, BTW...But that's not the stirring-my-brain part...I have the cover in my hand, a couple feet away from the guitar, and I can hear my fingers tapping on the removed cover THROUGH THE MONITORS...The closer the cover is to the electronics, the louder it gets...Has the cover got a static charge that relates through the guitar?

...I think something's just plane wired wrong, but I can't figure it out...I wired it myself (I know, I know...) exactly as diagramed on one of those "guitar wiring diagrams" websites...Simple split coil setup...

Where's my flippin' Micronta....?

Eric

 

[ggunn]

OK, now it's got me by the curlies...

...I took the back cover ALL THE WAY OFF...Found a very microphonic wire--The hot to the output jack....Soldered to the CENTER pole on the volume pot, BTW...But that's not the stirring-my-brain part...I have the cover in my hand, a couple feet away from the guitar, and I can hear my fingers tapping on the removed cover THROUGH THE MONITORS...The closer the cover is to the electronics, the louder it gets...Has the cover got a static charge that relates through the guitar?

...I think something's just plane wired wrong, but I can't figure it out...I wired it myself (I know, I know...) exactly as diagramed on one of those "guitar wiring diagrams" websites...Simple split coil setup...

Where's my flippin' Micronta....?

Eric

For God's sake, put the guitar down and LEAVE THE HOUSE NOW! It may already be too late!!! You're going to need a priest who is experienced in excorcisms, about a gallon and a half of Holy Water, some chicken bones, and a dead cat....

...so much for my "pertinence", eh? ;^)

 

[stetto]

OK, got the cat anyway...

Funny thing is, the guitar still sounds great...buzzes when threatened with flourescent lighting and everything...No buzzing when I touch the knob or strings or bridge, or even when I let go of same...Just down there where my nurtz rub as I play... ...And my wife tells me there's absolutely NO charge coming out of them...

...Oops, too much information...

Eric

 

[schulteboy]

it's like doing the same to a SM58...

Eric

Have you tried using it for recording vocals or drums?

You should probably post a wiring diagram for members who are looking for a cheap vocal mic.

 

[Cave Dweller]

have you tried replacing the microphonic wire?