software

I just refurbished my 1980's-something Charvel with a CC in the Bridge, APS Flat Single Coil RWRP in the Middle and Alnico Pro II in the neck. 5 way toggle (wired in typical 5 way strat fashion, no coil splits etc) one volume and two tones (all brand new CTS 500k's) and hoveland cap.

Problem is, there is a steady hum in all positions. When using the bridge and neck, its pretty bad, but positions 2, 3 and 4 are almost unuasble.

Aside from a bad ground or solder, could anything else cause this??

JQ

These kinds of problems can be tough to diagnose on-line, but the first thing I'd check is to make sure you haven't accidently reversed the wires on the output jack. Its easy to do. I've done it.

Check that, and we'll go from there.

Artie

Look in the FAQ. Seymour addresses the issue of making a H/S/H setup hum-free.

from : localhost//support/faqdescr.shtml#hsh

Hope that helps!


Originally Posted by sufferinrewindLook in the FAQ. Seymour addresses the issue of making a H/S/H setup hum-free.

from : localhost//support/faqdescr.shtml#hsh

Hope that helps!

I'm no expert, but I am willing to bet that this is the problem right here, the person who installed my pickups did not know this information outlined in the FAQ.

This solution outlined in the SD Faq, does it require any magnet flippping, extra switches etc?? Also - not following this solution would cause my bridge and neck pickups (full on humbuckers) to hum as well? JQ


Originally Posted by Johnny QI'm no expert, but I am willing to bet that this is the problem right here, the person who installed my pickups did not know this information outlined in the FAQ.

This solution outlined in the SD Faq, does it require any magnet flippping, extra switches etc?? Also - not following this solution would cause my bridge and neck pickups (full on humbuckers) to hum as well? JQ

Since you're using all Duncan pickups, you don't need to flip any magnets. If you were using a Duncan and a Fender or so, then you would probably have to. Fender's magnets are magnetically opposite to Seymour's, but if you're using all Duncans, you're all good as far as that goes. I'd personally take his advice and go with a Stack or Rails pickup in the middle position. That way you don't have to worry about splitting the humbuckers and making the single coil out of phase with the split humbucker coil, because the Stack and Rails pickups are both humbuckers themselves. But, if you really want to keep this setup, you don't have to worry about flipping magnets.

As for the humbuckers humming, I'm not sure. It could be, because the single coil is in phase, when it should be out of phase and the humbuckers should be split. But, I'm not an expert on this, so I'm really unsure of what the problem is. Maybe there is a problem with the wiring, like Artie said, or maybe the electronics are damaged or something. But, I know that this will help you as well, even if it's not the cause for all of the hum, it is the cause of some of it.

Maybe the ground to the bridge is disconnected? (The wire that leads into a hole in the wall of the control cavity.)


Originally Posted by Johnny QI'm no expert, but I am willing to bet that this is the problem right here, the person who installed my pickups did not know this information outlined in the FAQ.

This solution outlined in the SD Faq, does it require any magnet flippping, extra switches etc?? Also - not following this solution would cause my bridge and neck pickups (full on humbuckers) to hum as well? JQ

It's not this as you've said it's in all positions.

If it goes away when you touch the strings then your bridge earth is OK. If it gets worse then you have the signal and earth wires reversed at the socket, as Artie said. If it stays the same then the bridge earth wire may be off.

You could also check the integrity of the screen wire on the pickups. Gibson used to routinely snip this off on the four core cable from the control compartment to the switch resulting in four lengths of aerial each about a foot in length. Duh!

I faxed them about this in 1992 and they ignored me; 8 years later it dawned on them that they were doing something wrong but I still occasionally get noisy Gibsons which haven't had the fault rectified.


Originally Posted by octavedoctorIt's not this as you've said it's in all positions.

If it goes away when you touch the strings then your bridge earth is OK. If it gets worse then you have the signal and earth wires reversed at the socket, as Artie said. If it stays the same then the bridge earth wire may be off.

You could also check the integrity of the screen wire on the pickups. Gibson used to routinely snip this off on the four core cable from the control compartment to the switch resulting in four lengths of aerial each about a foot in length. Duh!

I faxed them about this in 1992 and they ignored me; 8 years later it dawned on them that they were doing something wrong but I still occasionally get noisy Gibsons which haven't had the fault rectified.

Its a steady hum that does not go away when touching the strings. Its fairly loud when using the Bridge and Neck p'ups by themselves, but gets unbearable in positions 2,3,4 on the 5-way toggle.

Thanks for all the pointers everyone - I think its time to take this axe to someone that knows more than I do!!

This problem was finally diagnosed as quot;ground loopsquot;

JQ

Did it actually take 8 months to get fixed?


Originally Posted by kjrocksDid it actually take 8 months to get fixed?


Just wondering


Originally Posted by kjrocksJust wondering

Nope - but it actually did took me 8 months to take it somewhere to be professionally diagnosed, that was earlier today actually. I tried to live with it, convince myself it really wasnt there, use my noise gate etc, and finally just before I threw it against the wall, I took to someone!

JQ

Cool, now you'll really enjoy it. I'm sure it even sounds alot better too.


Originally Posted by kjrocksCool, now you'll really enjoy it. I'm sure it even sounds alot better too.

Exactly - I can actually play the guitar through an amp now!