High Flying Bird Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 I installed the Phat Cats in the 137 tonight. Later I noticed that there was noise unless I touched the bridge or tail piece. I don't know if this noise was there before or not because the guitar is so new to me. Is there a grounding issue with the bridge? Heeeeelp!!!
H Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Hi HFB, on my Heritage guitars there's an earth that runs from the pickup selector switch to the studs for the bridge. Is it possible you've disturbed that? We were in parallel across the Atlantic yesterday - I was working on my H-535 with Phat Cats, putting a .047 cap on the bridge and an .033 on the neck
SouthpawGuy Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Aren't Phat Cats single coils ? They should be hum cancelling when both pickups are selected. Are you playing in a room with fluorescent lights and / or dimmer switches ? If so that would exaggerate any noise problems.
H Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Aren't Phat Cats single coils ? They should be hum cancelling when both pickups are selected. Are you playing in a room with fluorescent lights and / or dimmer switches ? If so that would exaggerate any noise problems. True, SPG. If they've been bought as a pair one should be RWRP to cancel some of the hum.
GuitArtMan Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Not so sound like a jerk but am I the only person who has noticed this with every electric guitar I've owned? Les Pauls, Melody Makers, 535s, Strats, Teles, Tom Andersons, Don Groshs, Michael Tuttles, PRSs, ets., etc., etc. There is a grounding wire on all of these guitars running from the ground of one of the pots to the bridge. When you touch the bridge, strings, control plate, etc. you are ground. It's been that way forever. Very, very, few guitars don't have this and I've never owned one.
Kuz Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Sounds like the guitars is working fine. If you touch the strings or tail piece and the hum goes away, then the guitar is grounded correctly. I am almost certain that Phat Cats are single coils and you are just hearing the single coil "hum". And as others have stated above, "dirty" electricity, lights, ect., can attenuate the "hum". AND yes GuitArtMan, if the guitar is grounded correctly then every guitar should act this way. I once forgot to ground the tailpiece and the guitar would hum MORE when I touched the strings/tail piece!!!!
Hfan Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Sounds like the guitars is working fine. I once forgot to ground the tailpiece and the guitar would hum MORE when I touched the strings/tail piece!!!! It will also do that if you reverse the input jack leads. Bird, did you check your grounds with a meter?
High Flying Bird Posted October 9, 2011 Author Posted October 9, 2011 I haven't hit it with a meter yet. I will do that tonight.
DetroitBlues Posted October 10, 2011 Posted October 10, 2011 Just sounds like a ground hum. Phat Cats are P-90's in a humbucker shell. Check the grounding and check and see if it goes away when both pup's are selected. (Assuming that one has a reverse wound polarity.)
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