Mexican Strat Buzzes Between Pickups...

[Robertt8]

Hey people!

As mentioned in the header, I've got a Mexican Fender Strat (that I've had for a few years) that I've noticed when I switch the pickups with the lever (whatever the hell that's called), the only settings that don't buzz ferociously are the "in between" pickup settings that blend the two pickups together (at least that's what I thought it did...the 2 and 4 setting out of the 1-5 choices). Does that make sense?

What the hell is going on here? Is there a quick fix to this? I mean, can I just take off the back and tighten a couple screws?

 

[Dakota]

Hmmmmm. Might be a grounding problem. Does your amp still have the third plug? If it does, you still could have a ground problem at your house or wherever you plug your guitar in. hmmm. Try plugging your guitar and amp in at a friends house, and with his amp. Try his guitar with your amp. Use different cables.. Hmmmmmm.Try to narrow down exactly where the buzz is coming from. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Robertt8]

yeah, thanks for responding!

Okay, I'm actually plugging straight into my 8 track recorder with the same cables as used on other stuff without the buzzing. I'm not even using and amp.

I'm 99% sure it's an internal problem with the guitar, because there is no buzzing what so ever (as mentioned earlier) when I switch the pickup switch to the 2 and 4 position. It buzzes like a motha' F-er on the 1, 3, and 5 spots.

Any ideas?

 

[Dakota]

Well, the 1,3, and 5 spots are for the single pickups. In the 2 spot, it selects the 1 and 3 pickups together in a humbucking pattern- I think the 2 pickups are just put out of phase so any hum cancels out. In the 4 spot, you're selecting 3 and 5.

As for a solution, the only times I've had hum is when I had a broken ground. Once was from a bad cable, and the other time was from using a wall outlet that didn't have the ground connected inside.

 

[matty_boy]

This guy ^^^ is right. Middle pickup is reverse wound.

 

[Robertt8]

um...okay, so how do I fix this?

thanks...

 

[David Lo Pan]

This should fix it for you:

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.html

Need to do that myself, just other expenses keep popping up.

 

[MannaZen]

My 50s reissue did the same thing. I took it to a local guy here and he fixed it up. Also put a woodblock under the bridge. Thing sounds better then ever.