NOISE problem

[ecktronic]

My guitar has started making a horible squealing noise when i stomp on my distortion. It is like the loudest most horible feedback i have heard. I have systematically checked that it can only be coming from my guitar and i have a small suspision it is to do with grounding maybe.
I opened it up to look at the wiring and all seems ok to my non existent knowledge of this, but on the pickup selector part there is a bit that doesnt have a wire connected to it. And on the jack in there are two wires connected but three connections.

Please if anyone can help me understand what is wrong it would be great.

 

[Farview]

Tap on your pickup when it is feeding back, if tapping on it affects the 'ring', you have a microphonic pickup. you will need to get it potted (dipped in wax)
what kind of pickups do you have? what kind of guitar?

 

[jfrog]

according to those who listen to me play, all undesirable noises start when I turn my amp on and stop when I turn it off!

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

 

[Imaduck]

Yeah, give a few more details about the guitar, and include pics if you can.

Normally, however, you'll have a few spots on the pickup selector that are not used.

 

[boingoman]

I agree with Farview, also try standing a bit further away. If you stand too close to an amp that's turned up pretty good and hit the distortion, if the fuzz is all the way up it's gonna feed back. Play with your gains a bit, and try a longer cable.

 

[systmovadown]

"try a longer cable"

just BUY a new and better one
MONSTER CABLES>...their not that expensive...and their good

 

[Elusion]

Yeah we definitely need to know what kind of a guitar it is. i had a Parker Fly that started feeding back as soon as i turned on my amp and i found out that it was because the battery for the piezo pickup was dead (that was the day that i realized sometimes it is good to read the instruction manuals). Other than that...turn away from the amp, stand further away, turn the damn thing down, uhh.... Oh yeah and is the feedback present only when your are not playing, or does it cover up the sound of the guitar as well? Cuz if it is not there with the distortion off, then it is most likely dealing with the pedal not the axe. How does it sound when you are playing clean?? Just a few things for you to contemplate.

Paul

 

[systmovadown]

are u sure its not the way u plugged ur cables in the pedal?
maybe u did them backwards....

 

[ecktronic]

Right, i have a planet wave cable which is great and still in mint condition after a year and a half! so it aint the cable.
My guitar is an Ibanez S series and the pickups are humbucker / single coil / humbucker with a five position pickup selector , one tone knob and one volume knob.
My dad had a look at it yesterday and found a wire (chewed up) that went to the bit next to the springs of the floyd rose. So it was a ground wire. He soldered it together and it seemed to help. Now when i play it it is fine but there is interferance when i take my hands off anything metal. eg. screws, floyd rose, strings.
It could be a dodgy pickup i suppose. I dont know much about guitars and electrical stuff though.

 

[Dopps]

If it sound's fine when you're not on distortion then it's gonna be something to do with feedback. Longer cable or turn down your amp.

 

[Imaduck]

Well, most all guitars are going to have noise when you aren't touching something that is grounded. If the noise becomes unbearable however, it may be your pickups or electronics, though I would try moving your amp to a different outlet or a different room altogether first. Faulty wiring in your house may cause interference, along with appliances/TV's, etc. You may also want to try a power conditioner.

 

[ecktronic]

The noise isnt that bad now, but it would be good to have a noiseless guitar, as my mates is noisless, its a japanese fender jaguar.
Turning down isnt an option!! as i have a marshall dsl50 tube amp and 4x12 1960.

 

[lbanks]

Here's some helpful info
http://www.guitar-forum.net/bass/The_Beast_has_been_quieted_294991.html