Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 09:04:51 PM

Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 09:04:51 PM: ok so ive been using my new bkp-92 through my lc30 and theres been some annoying, rather loud background hum and when i turn the master volume past about 3 it squeals uncontrollably like a banshee! the lc30 itself had a little bit of background hum that the past owner told me about but it definately wasnt that- thats more of a windy sound which you can hardly notice.... but this noise definately wasnt there with the stock pup installed.... ive heard people talking about grounding/earthing problems?!- i have no idea of the technicalities behind pickups so dont have a clue about this- perhaps could be the way my mate wired it??? also theres a small gap in the pickup case which is about big enough for the tip of a pencil to fit in lol- its either side of the case on the sides.... dunno if im just being an idiot now but i dunno.... any help appreciated
Title: background hum?!
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on February 03, 2006, 09:16:47 PM: thats just the gap between the cover and the pickup bobbin. The pickup is double wax potted so it sant be microphony. P90's being single coils will hum, but it shouldn't be too bad.
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 09:20:19 PM: ah right ok didnt think the gap would mean anything lol...

but the hum is definately waaay louder than before i installed the BKP...

it might just be the fact that im in a small room and its just getting a lot of feedback but im just not sure about how my mate wired it up... he taped the green wire up...then i have no idea what he did with the rest because he doesnt know what "hot" means.... and neither do i lol.... we understood what ground was so pretty sure the black wire is right but other than that im just not certain....
Title: background hum?!
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on February 03, 2006, 09:23:05 PM: did you solder the silver wire to ground too? the red should go to the hot tag of the volume pot and the green to the tap.
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 09:26:15 PM: red? well the hot one on mine was apparently white according to the notes that came with it... firstly we taped up the green and silver screen wire and just soldered the white and black ones... then we found out that the silver screen wire had to be grounded as well so we untaped that and soldered it....

i might post some photos to see if all the wires are in the right place...
Title: background hum?!
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on February 03, 2006, 09:28:02 PM: Ok, I wasn't shure how Tim done it. The white needs to go to the hot tag, black and silver to ground and the green to the tap... where are you tapping it to?
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 09:29:18 PM: well havent done the green wire yet as ive got no push/pull pot to solder it to...

where exactly should it go to?
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 10:10:05 PM: ok i may have found the source of the problem.... the black and silver wires are soldered to the back of the volume pot and they come together at one point-- basically they're soldered with the same ball of solder so they are directly connected to each other....

im not sure if this has any effect what so ever it just seems a little odd....
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 03, 2006, 10:10:27 PM: ok i may have found the source of the problem.... the black and silver wires are soldered to the back of the volume pot and they come together at one point-- basically they're soldered with the same ball of solder so they are directly connected to each other....

im not sure if this has any effect what so ever it just seems a little odd....do they need to be soldered to separate points?
Title: background hum?!
Post by: PhilKing on February 04, 2006, 12:58:29 PM: The black and silver are both grounds and it doesn't matter if they are slodered to one point or 2 as they are connected through the pot anyway. P-90's hum and if you have more output from the BK it will hum more.

You could check to make sure that the guitar ground wire is still connected to the volume pot too.
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 04, 2006, 01:02:42 PM: ok that sounds interesting- that last sentance- "You could check to make sure that the guitar ground wire is still connected to the volume pot too."

could you explain that please phil... lol sorry for the stupidity....
Title: background hum?!
Post by: booboo_bass on February 04, 2006, 05:53:15 PM: haha sam...i was thinking...maybe i screwed it in backwards

Does this have an effect on pickups (like instead of low E its picking up high E instead and going wierd?)

Maybe its not grounded (eg wire has come off due to poor soldering..erm hehe)
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 04, 2006, 06:10:59 PM: lol.... if thats the case.... :shock: ..... actually i had no idea any way so i cant blame you lol
Title: background hum?!
Post by: Tim on February 04, 2006, 06:42:03 PM: Your guitar should have a ground wire running from under the bridge to the rear of one of the pots, this grounds you, the player via the guitar and amp.
Title: background hum?!
Post by: sambo on February 04, 2006, 06:45:31 PM: and if that isnt connected...? ..........................you get loads of hum?