***The Official Guitar Thread***

NickK said:
@Mickcas @kinger8938 once you're happy memorising songs, I can really recommend adding some music theory. The GCSE music and BBC GCSE theory are good introductions. The theory will explain a lot of the why certain notes fit together etc. You'll also see how a Barred chord looks on staves and what the interval between the notes looks like and why (what all this dim and sus business is about).
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Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely take a look as I get further along
 
Hi all got a random issue I would like your advice on. A few months ago I bought a Telecaster and a Blackstar ID amp. Honestly, it's been the best thing I've spent my money on in years; I have fell in love with playing the guitar again and can happily spend hours just learning things and jamming away. So first of all, a massive thanks to the advice from this form

Today I upgraded the amp to the ID Core X - I want something with more cutomizeable effects and and fx send/return for a loop pedal.

I get it home and it sounds great. But later in the day i notcie some clicking/static type noise coming from the amp when I strum the strings. I assume the amp is faulty, so I spend the next hour trying to confirm its deffo the amp before intedning to take it back tomorrow for a new one. I try different cables, plugging it into different power outlets, taking off my jumper, even different picks but to no avail - the clicking/static sound is still there.

I never got this problem with my previous amp so at this point i'm convinced its just bad luck and a faulty amp - no problem they'll sort it tomorrow.

Then i realise the noise isnt coming from when I pluck the strings but when i touch the pick gaurd with my finger. I run my finger acoss the pick guard wihout plucking the strings and recreate it. I pluck the strings without touching the pick gaurd and the noise dissapears.

So... not the amp! A little reasearch tells me pick gaurd stauc is a thing!

Is this something anyone else has had before? is there an easy way to get rid of it?

Again - any help or advice is hugely appreciated!
 
It is a thing for sure. Firstly I'd check the guitar was properly grounded. Basically if it hums when you're not touching anything metallic, and that gets quieter when you touch the strings or bridge - grounded properly.

Then I'd suggest copper foil tape on the pickguard but... what if that makes it a capacitor?!
 
It could still be the amp - grounding badly, however can also be any pedals or guitar.

Removing the earth the the wall isn’t a good idea unless the device is designed for it.
 
Bought a CS 336 at the start of August that the previous owners had cut the bottom E and A slots in the nut to something stupid, it was unplayable and both strings were sat on the frets when open. No idea why someone would do that tbh but hey ho.

Anyway Tangerine burst, been looking for one for a long time.

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NickK said:
It could still be the amp - grounding badly, however can also be any pedals or guitar.

Removing the earth the the wall isn’t a good idea unless the device is designed for it.
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Thanks all. I deffo think it's the shielding, or lack of, in the guitar itself. A YouTube video suggested tumble dryer sheets are a quick fix to reduce the static. Sure enough rubbing one of the sheets on the pick guard got rid of it instantly.

Obviously not a long term fix. I'm guessing I'd need someone to remove the pick guard and but some sort of shielding behind it? Easy job?
 
SAM81 said:
Thanks all. I deffo think it's the shielding, or lack of, in the guitar itself. A YouTube video suggested tumble dryer sheets are a quick fix to reduce the static. Sure enough rubbing one of the sheets on the pick guard got rid of it instantly.

Obviously not a long term fix. I'm guessing I'd need someone to remove the pick guard and but some sort of shielding behind it? Easy job?
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You can get self adhesive metal tape - aluminim (like heat tape from DIY) or copper tape (guitar supply shops) then simply lay a wire from the grounds and then compress down (idea being the wire doesn’t life the pick guard or deform it but does make a shield).
Best if you unscrew the components from the guard, then clean, apply shielding tape, make holes in the tape for the holes and refit the competents. No need usually to unsolder things.
 
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So now things have settled down, and unfortunately I didn't win anything in the competition (I think they didn't want the shipping fees), so I'll crack on with the AC128,Si multi-fuzz. I have some plans but it will end up being quite complex with quite a bit of adjustment options. Three switch enclosure I think!

I'm tempted to create a tube compressor PCB etc, but it's a lot of work and expense. The fuzz first I think.
 
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I reckon after 55 years of gigging I now have my ultimate setup for stage.

Roland VR09b
IK ToneX Guitar Pedal,
Behringer X32 Compact
James Tyler JTV58 Variax (I have two).
Laney AH150 multi purpose combo.
Yesterday my bassist decided to forego his Trace Elliot or Ashdown rig and opted to try my Laney AH300, he's buying it :)

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