Cavity Shielding

[Dmoney]

i think its about what you play. if im using a loud hi gain head and a 4x12  then (depending on the amp and other conditions) i might get some noise. shielding helps me by cutting down the variables that can cause that problem. id rather do that than rely on noise suppressors. i actually use a tasteful amount of gain, still enough to sound hard but i don't like sounding fizzy. enough to get some noise creeping through at times. i dont mind that at home so much, but i don't want it amplified around a venue if im playing live.

[pagan7]

Surely you don't need sheilding in the pickup cavities with humbuckers ? in fact I'd say it's a positive no no. I made the mistake of sheilding the pickup cavities with copper tape when I installed a set of Nailbombs in my mahogany bodied Ibanez RG and the results were dissapointing to say the least. I was expecting a thick, breathing organic tone and what I got was a neutered boxy tone with little dynamic response or sustain. Took out the sheilding at Tim's suggestion and what a transformation - everything I was hoping for from the Nailbombs
Sheilding in the pickup cavites is only needed for microphonic single coil pickups - or if you live above a minicab office  :lol:

[Dmoney]

sounds totally fine to me to be honest. i dont have that problem at all. i dont know why it would matter. surely the legs and base on the pickups are grounded anyway by the shielded cable, so the copper is connected to that anyway via earth. It does feel less noisey to me, but no less awesome sounding than when it had an open coil MM and no shielding.

[WezV]

shielding in pickup cavities alters the magnetic field and therefore the tone coming from the pickup,

[Dmoney]

how? copper isn't attracted pushed away by magnetism is it? or are we talking other metals in the sheeting, is most copper sheeting an alloy of copper? if it isnt affected by magnetism at all then what difference is there to wood?
if there was a big problem with signal going to ground that would run around the cavity.

i can say 100% that it sounds at least as good as it did unshielded.

[sgmypod]

Depends on wiring and how good a contact the earth has

[Dmoney]

mine sounds fine.
however, if i get that problem in future ill know exactly what it is!
so its best i know now. im surprised the possibility was mentioned when i started the thread.

cheers though! better the devil you know

[WezV]

how? copper isn't attracted pushed away by magnetism is it? or are we talking other metals in the sheeting, is most copper sheeting an alloy of copper? if it isnt affected by magnetism at all then what difference is there to wood?
if there was a big problem with signal going to ground that would run around the cavity.

i can say 100% that it sounds at least as good as it did unshielded.

ah, you are making me doubt myself now on the actual science of it!!  pickup and magnetic stuff never stays in my head for long.  

but the effect does happen, i have experienced it myself  there was a definate 'boxing in' of the sound and like pagan7 said, Tim often recommends against sheilding behind humbuckers

[Dmoney]

ah right! interesting. if i could, id try to do a comparison, but i dont REALLY want to pull out the copper i spent a while put in only a few days ago.

hmmmm.

My les paul Custom was shielded by a tech when i couldnt find the cause of some hum in it.
he solved the hum and added shielding, including the pup cavities. my les paul has rebel yells in.
maybe i could try on that.

or just leave it. now im paranoid. haha

[WezV]

if you are happy with how it sounds then leave it be

[Dmoney]

yeah i think i will.
well, ill keep me ears on it. as it where.

[Philly Q]

I'm not sure if it affects the sound or not, but on Gibson style guitars I never shield the pickup cavities, just the control cavity.  I assume the baseplate (and cover, if applicable) should be adequate shielding for the pickup.

On Strats, I shield the whole area under the scratchplate, just because it's all "one piece".

[Dmoney]

I'm not sure if it affects the sound or not, but on Gibson style guitars I never shield the pickup cavities, just the control cavity.  I assume the baseplate (and cover, if applicable) should be adequate shielding for the pickup.

On Strats, I shield the whole area under the scratchplate, just because it's all "one piece".

cover is a point!
interesting