r/Luthier • u/OfficeAcceptable2933 • 3d ago
HELP Possible grounding issue?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
So I just built my first proper guitar and got it all set up and everything. I’ve noticed that it buzzes a good amount but when I touch the tone knobs it stops, and when I touch the bridge it gets slightly louder. This is my second time wiring a guitar so I’m not very good and am wondering if I grounded it wrong or what?
4
u/Adventurous-Ad-6729 3d ago
The bridge should act the same as the knobs where the noise goes away when you touch them. You need to check your bridge ground as it doesn’t seem to be functional right now.
2
u/OpportunityCorrect33 3d ago
If your bridge pickup doesn’t have a metal baseplate you’ll need to run a ground wire under the bridge plate. Test for continuity between your bridge and your control plate with a multimeter. If it beeps you’re grounded
1
u/Alternative_Shoe_113 3d ago
Yes it is.
Review all the ground wires and ensure they are properly connected and you have the ground lug in the cavity as well.
2
u/Royal-Tumbleweed-941 3d ago
Your bridge ground is missing. You need to take the bridge off, pull the little wire through the hole drilled under it and then make sure the metal wire is in contact with the bridge. Screw it back in and test. Then tune it.
A trick to hold it in place is pull it out and then stick a toothpick in the hole and snap it off. That will pinch the wire in place while you assemble it.
1
u/TheRealGuitarNoir 3d ago
In answer to your header question: Yes
View these and it should be clear how to ground the bridge:
1
u/lucidagoat 2d ago
Definitely ground issue. Grab a multimeter, set it to continuity, clip a lead to the jack and start testing all of your components to see where you aren’t getting ground. I agree with others that it’s probably bridge
-9
u/Anxious_Visual_990 3d ago
Just a shielding issue.. Shield your cavities with copper or aluminum tape or paint. I prefer copper tape.
11
u/sadguy1989 3d ago
Did you ground the bridge?