Grounding w/ trem system

[Philosoful]

Can someone explain grounding to me? Ever since taking the spring off it's started buzzing. Guess the answer is put the thing back on! But also - when I had the spring back on, position 2 and 4 on my 5 way switch = buzzy noise identical to current noise occuring. That's a bit of copper wire coming from the electronics to the metal thing by the way.

What's the best way of fixing all this? Cheers!

[Philly Q]

The wire connected to the spring claw grounds the bridge (and strings), but only when the metal springs are there to connect the bridge to the claw.  Under normal cirumstances, you'd hear a very slight buzz which goes away when you touch the strings or bridge.

Have you converted it to a hardtail?  You might be able to take that wire from the spring claw and trap it between the bridge and the body to make the ground connection.

I don't know why you're getting the buzzing in positions 2 and 4.... 

Is the other end of that copper wire still connected to the back of a pot, by the way?

[Philosoful]

Is the other end of that copper wire still connected to the back of a pot, by the way?

Yeeeeah.

Indeed, wooden block = no more trem. You're suggestion sounds good, need soldering iron... hmmmmm. Is it important to 'trap' it between the bridge and body? Or does it just need to touch the bridge?

Thanks for being so helpful :)

[Philly Q]

Is it important to 'trap' it between the bridge and body? Or does it just need to touch the bridge?

It only really needs to touch, but it also needs to stay put.  For example if it's so loose that you can break the connection by shaking the guitar around, you'll get an intermittent crackling sound.

On most guitars the ground wire is held really solidly.  With tune-o-matics the wire normally goes from the control cavity to one of the holes the mounting stud bushing is pressed into, so it touches the bushing, which touches the stud, whch touches the tailpiece, which touches the strings... you get the picture.  :) 

On Teles and hardtail Strats, where the bridge is screwed flat on the body, there's normally a hole drilled from the area under the bridge to the control cavity.  Then the bare end of the wire is trapped between the metal bridge and the body.

[Philosoful]

Well it's already touching the body really so I guess I'll have to resolder it to the bridge. Cheers dudes!