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My first build
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=33259		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  mdubs712 [ Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:14 pm ]
Post subject:  My first build
I still get some hum when I'm not touching the strings or another conductive object that is wired like the pot, knobs, or the height screws on the pickups... I'm guessing I have some bad ground solder joints I'm having some problems getting a Good joint when trying to ground the strings + both pickups + the 3 way switch all on the same spot on the pot. Also the hum will go away with the tone at 0 so I'm not sure. I wonder if I could just make different joints for each wire rather than bulking them I don't see any problems with that idea. well here it is.

I used an old neck, some old humbuckers, Wired with a 500k volume and a 250k tone I forget the value on the cap right now, a 3 way switch, and a one piece pine body from scratch. The jack plate, pick up rings, and control plate are all maple. I used a walnut stain on the body and oak stain on the maple, all finished with a minwax paste. I wanted to see what I was capable of before cutting my hardwoods. I learned a lot from this short build and really enjoyed it, I also got some time in with my tools. Thanks for looking

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Author:  cphanna [ Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Mike, This is pure conjecture on my part, but if your hum goes away when you touch the strings, then I think your hunch about a grounding problem is correct. I am quite certain that some experienced solid body builders will chime in very quickly and help you diagnose your specific problem.
Author:  mdubs712 [ Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
cphanna wrote:
Mike, This is pure conjecture on my part, but if your hum goes away when you touch the strings, then I think your hunch about a grounding problem is correct. I am quite certain that some experienced solid body builders will chime in very quickly and help you diagnose your specific problem.


Thanks. Other than the hum it plays very well, the intonation was fast and easy, it's just the hum. The joint where these four grounds meet doesn't shine so I'm going to assume it's the problem and fix it. If it still hums after I get a good solid connection with shinny solder then I'm lost and really need help.
Author:  alan stassforth [ Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Very cool!
[clap] [clap] [clap]
I like different.
Did you ground your bridge?
Author:  Ian Cunningham [ Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Has a definite rustic "home made" look to it. Real quaint and homey. I'd scrape the Squier junk off the headstock though ;)
Author:  mdubs712 [ Sat Aug 20, 2011 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Yes I grounded the bridge through the door hing that I turned into a string plate so I could do the string through using the bridge off the squier trem. I didn't spend any money on this one and that was my plan.

It does look home made not sure if that's a good or bad thing haha, I hope my next build will look cleaner I'll build everything for the next this one was just a test really. A lot of flaws in my building techniques that I need to clean up and try again.
Author:  Mike Baker [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 7:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
I think it looks great for a first! You did good! [clap] [clap] [clap]
As far as it looking homemade goes, it'll be a long time before I can look at my builds, especially when it comes to finish, and think of them as looking professional. But every one I build is better than the last one.
Building instruments is a journey. With each step the goal is to get better. As long as you do that, you're doing o.k. Enjoy the trip!
Again, good job!
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
If the hum goes away when you touch the strings or a metal part, then the ground connection is there, since that is what the ground does, it uses you as a shield for RF interference (you are the ground in that sense). If you're concerned about the way the joint looks, you need a good soldering iron with a wide flat chisel tip that heats up to 650 degrees F, that will allow you to quickly heat the solder and component while not overheating them. Then you can ground all the wires to one point no problem.
It sounds to me like a lack of shielding. You need a full cavity copper shield or something, that is grounded to the back of one of the pots. Also, if you use a shielded wire from the volume pot (or whatever the the final output stage is) to the jack, that should help.
Author:  Mike Baker [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
I would bet money that the hum problem is that you have the wires reversed at the jack. Switch the wires around at the jack and see if that fixes the problem.
Author:  WindyCityBluesBox [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
I agree with Mike. I actually had this same problem and after looking at my wiring, I realized that I had placed the wires on the opposite leads of the jack. I just u-soldered them and reversed them. All was fine and dandy after that [:Y:]
Author:  mdubs712 [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
My control cavity is shielded pretty well. I am running out of ideas on this one. Mike I'm going to try switching my leads on the jack and I really hope I messed up and the hum goes away. If I can get the hum to go away I will make this guitar my player until I build the next! I love the sound and I love the 250k pot for tone with the humbuckers vs the 500ks on my epi LP.

thanks for the help guys I'm going to try what ever else I can think of and I will let you know if it goes well.
Author:  Chameleon [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Just some constructive criticism but the 3-way switch looks a bit close for comfort, do you have any problems with accidentally switching it?

I've been wanting to play with pine. I've heard of a lot of people having good results. Kinda looks like an aged piece of furniture with the walnut finish. Looks nice.
Author:  mdubs712 [ Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Chameleon wrote:
Just some constructive criticism but the 3-way switch looks a bit close for comfort, do you have any problems with accidentally switching it?

I've been wanting to play with pine. I've heard of a lot of people having good results. Kinda looks like an aged piece of furniture with the walnut finish. Looks nice.


thanks, I play over the neck pickup and ever over the fingerboard so I don't have issues with that. I have more problems with the 3 way switch on my LP haha.

switching the leads on the jack didn't work it made the string cause buzz when touching them. The kinda buzz you get when touching the hot output on your cable, so that tells me I had the wires set up right the first way. I guess the next step is to take everything out clean everything up and rewire it, including the pickups themselves this way I can take out the coil tap wires while I'm in there and clean up the solder joints in the pickups. At least it will be good soldering practice.
Author:  Danny R. Little [ Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My first build
Make sure the hot wire going to your jack is shielded. I use a coax wire for this and unwrap enough sheild to solder to the grnd lug of the jack in addition to the grnd wire coming from the pot. I also solder the pots together with a heavier guage wire to improve the ground. I use a heavier guage wire to the bridge as well. By heavier I mean 18 vs 20 or smaller used by pup manufacturers.

Hope this helps some.

Danny R. Little
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