Any reason? Buzz Content (Wiring)

Knox in Box

Knox in Box

Rustbelt refugee.
So, my Höfner project was a limited success in that yes, it's working, yes it plays well, but it developed a buzz that I can't shake. One pickup at a time is bad, both pickups together even worse. Touching the bridge, strings, switch, pup covers makes most go away, but even playing clean has a bad buzz.

I took the neck pickup out today in order to check some soldering joints I made going to the switch. When I did, and plugged it in, the buzz was gone. Shook the wires around and checked the connections to see if I can make the buzz come back. Nothing. Picked up the pickup (sitting on it's face) to put it back in place. As soon as I flipped it over, the buzzing started again. I'm using a Blackstar Fly, so it's not a house wiring thing because it's a battery amp. All lights are off because it's daytime, so not a florescent light thing. I'm at a loss as to why it would be noisy when facing outward, but well tempered while flipped onto it's face. Even flipping it while being careful not to move the wire has the same result, so it's not damaged at the back of the pup.

I tried flipping it clockwise thinking maybe it was a magnetic problem with the bridge pup, but it's the same thing.

Anyone ever had this?
 
"Touching the bridge, strings, switch, pup covers makes most go away," Makes me think ground problem. Wiggling the wires not making a difference but, turning the pickup upside down fixes it, makes me think the bad connection is inside the pickup.
 
I'm going to completely rewire it with a new switch. There are some really honky things going on while testing. Now it works buzzing without the ground attached, but if I connect the ground it cancels everything out.

Back to square one.
 
Knox in Box said:
I'm going to completely rewire it with a new switch. There are some really honky things going on while testing. Now it works buzzing without the ground attached, but if I connect the ground it cancels everything out.

Back to square one.
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Before you put it back together, I would connect the neck pickup directly to the output jack and try it.
 
Bob411 said:
Before you put it back together, I would connect the neck pickup directly to the output jack and try it.
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Probably worth doing that with the bridge pickup as well while the strings are off. That buzzed as well according to the OP. I agree with @Bob411 that I think there's an issue inside the pickup based on the way it happens when you flip it in the video. Some contact is being made or broken when it it shouldn't when you do that.
 
Bob411 said:
Before you put it back together, I would connect the neck pickup directly to the output jack and try it.
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Went straight to the volume control and everything is nice. Think I'll take the opportunity to upgrade the neck pickup to a Filtertron type I have from Roswell. I really like their A5 Filtertron Pup. Actually better than the actual Gretsch Filtertron I had.

Maybe go neck only for a while. IDK
 
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I'll probably add the bridge FTron sometime with a switch, but this forces me to play jazzy on this guitar, which is sorta the idea.
 
Bob411 said:
"Touching the bridge, strings, switch, pup covers makes most go away," Makes me think ground problem. Wiggling the wires not making a difference but, turning the pickup upside down fixes it, makes me think the bad connection is inside the pickup.
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I don't think so. The hum clearly builds in volume as the pickup is turned. If it were a bad connection it would go from zero to 100% instantly.

That is truly odd.
 
I’ve never experienced this happening. I’d be tempted to temporarily wire a different pickup in there to see what happens. Or, maybe, reverse the wires on that pickup to see what happens.

I had an odd situation happen with a guitar that came stock with neck P90 and a bridge humbucker. I swapped the humbucker for something different and it was out of phase with the P90, so I reversed the wires and it was in phase. However, each time I touched the humbucker it buzzed slightly. I assumed it must be a grounding issue. Yet, it was fine if I touched the bridge where it was grounded. It only buzzed when I touched the metal pickup cover which is supposedly common thing, yet I had never experienced it on other guitars.

I suspect the fix might have been to reverse the humbucker back to the way I wired it at the start, and then reverse the P90. However, it would have been a bit of a hassle based on other wiring I had done. It only became a problem because I tend to anchor with my pinky when I play lead lines. My hand would touch the metal cover, and it would buzz. So, I added a clear piece of rubber to that side of the humbucker and it’s now fine. I anchor on the rubber.
 
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Betcha that cover plate isn't grounded.


I had a guitar that was buzzing and howling like a mother fucker... until I realized it was the metal pickup rings. I thought the screw and spring would be enough... but once I took a bare wire, made a loop so the corner screw could hold it in place... surprise surprise... the buzz from my rectangular radio antennas went away. :helper:
 
jrockbridge said:
I’ve never experienced this happening. I’d be tempted to temporarily wire a different pickup in there to see what happens. Or, maybe, reverse the wires on that pickup to see what happens.

I had an odd situation happen with a guitar that came stock with neck P90 and a bridge humbucker. I swapped the humbucker for something different and it was out of phase with the P90, so I reversed the wires and it was in phase. However, each time I touched the humbucker it buzzed horribly. I assumed it must be a grounding issue. Yet, it was fine if I touched the bridge where it was grounded. It only buzzed when I touched the metal pickup cover which is supposedly common thing, yet I had never experienced it on other guitars.

I suspect the fix might have been to reverse the humbucker back to the way I wired it at the start, and then reverse the P90. However, it would have been a bit of a hassle based on other wiring I had done. It only became a problem because I tend to anchor with my pinky when I play lead lines. My hand would touch the metal cover, and it would buzz. So, I added a clear piece of rubber to that side of the humbucker and it’s now fine. I anchor on the rubber.
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When you simply switch the leads on a humbucker, especially a covered one, your grounded cover or baseplate is now part of your positive cycle and no longer grounded if you will. Unless it's 4 leads and a shield.
 
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