** WIRING ASSISTANCE NEEDED** (Pic incl.)

[TwilightOdyssey]

Okay, here's what I did:

After disconnecting everything, I attached the humbucker directly to the output jack using aligator clips: HUM.

When I touched the SIGNAL clip, I got signal.

When I touched the GROUND clip: HUM STOPPPED.

[HJM]

Okay, here's what I did:

After disconnecting everything, I attached the humbucker directly to the output jack using aligator clips: HUM.

When I touched the SIGNAL clip, I got signal.

When I touched the GROUND clip: HUM STOPPPED.

This is wierd....it has to be a ground issue. If you touch the amp chassis does the hum stop?

[TwilightOdyssey]

This is wierd....

Ageed.

it has to be a ground issue.

Agreed.

If you touch the amp chassis does the hum stop?

Just checked that ... yes, it stops.

[HJM]

I take it that everything is fine with other guitars?

[TwilightOdyssey]

Yeah ... hehe, I knew that question would come up. My other guitars are fine.

I'm taking a break from it and then I'm going to try using 2 seperate wires from the output jack ... right now I'm using a single shielded cable: the center conductor as signal, and the shield as ground.

Some of my guitars have seperate wires, and some are using one ... so, I will try it out and report back!

[HJM]

Wow - don't know what it is......is the internal cavity shielded...although don't know if this would make any difference! :?:

[TwilightOdyssey]

Yes, the internal cavities are shielded with conductive paint.

I'm going to try the seperate wires idea, and if that doesn't work, I'll string the bad-boy up, complete the setup, and then give it another go.

[Peterku]

Did you have the cavity's shielding grounded? Don't know whether that makes a difference, though...

[HJM]

Did you have the cavity's shielding grounded? Don't know whether that makes a difference, though...

You can get more hum sometimes with shielding paint....you get lots of little earth loops due to variance in earth potential accross the shielding paint...hence the idea behind star grounding all earths to one point. I knew all those science lessons weren't a waste of time....(hmmm)

Not that I think that's the problem here.

If you touch the pickup wires to the jack plug, with no socket, what happens to the hum?

[TwilightOdyssey]

If you touch the pickup wires to the jack plug, with no socket, what happens to the hum?

I tried doing this, but it's impossible to hold the pickup wires directly to the plug without using my hands!!

[HJM]

If you touch the pickup wires to the jack plug, with no socket, what happens to the hum?

I tried doing this, but it's impossible to hold the pickup wires directly to the plug without using my hands!!

Gloves?? Or do what I do and get some insulating tape and make a spot where you can hold the braid..

[Tim]

It's definately a grounding thing, strip back the braid so you've got a nice clear section of cloth inner core.Attach the inner core to hot and the braid to cold of the jack AND then earth the jack to the guitar and the hum'll go.Connecting a pickup direct to the jack leaves it with floating ground as it's not earthed to the guitar-hum city!

[HJM]

Have you re-soldered teh trem claw connection, this must be a really good, bright solder joint, if it's dull, try agai. You'll need a meaty iron, 25w will struggle, try a 40w iron to make sure - if this is a poor joint it could be the cause of the problem. :idea:

[TwilightOdyssey]

Thanx for the tips, gents!

My iron is a 40 watter; I will be re-checking the connexions today and getting back to ya! :)

[HJM]

Thanx for the tips, gents!

My iron is a 40 watter; I will be re-checking the connexions today and getting back to ya! :)

Should be fine - get the claw nice and hot!