Not sure how to explain my problem but...

[BigDave78]

I have a 2012 gibson les paul traditional and i was playing yesturday when i noticed a weird feedback kind of sound when i touched the top of the guitar above the three way switch along the binding. it was like a static sound, but i cant see any crack or anything that would explain this. can anyone help me?

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[capmaster]

It should not occur during touching strings or tailpiece, or when playing via transmitter.

[Bender 4 Life]

I have a 2012 gibson les paul traditional and i was playing yesturday when i noticed a weird feedback kind of sound when i touched the top of the guitar above the three way switch along the binding. it was like a static sound, but i cant see any crack or anything that would explain this. can anyone help me?

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

check the switch cavity for a wire touching the body.....and for proper shielding.

i've had a few guitars do this in various spots on the body (but usually on the pickguard)

it's something w/the switch grounding most likely.

[jmjohnson]

Could be when you put your hand near the 3-way, you are adding EMI/RFI noise your body has collected into the electronics of the guitar.

 

Your body makes a great antenna - unless YOU are grounded, in which case you make a great shield. Once you're grounded, all the RF noise your body collects goes to ground...this is why most passive guitars get quieter when you touch the strings/bridge; they are designed that way using bridge ground wires so you shield the guitar from the noisy atmosphere. {You could also ground yourself just as effectively by touching grounded metal at the amp, a ground lug, etc.}. When you are not grounded, that noise can instead eminate into the electronics - the PUPs, the internal cables, the pots, switches etc.

 

Typical Les Pauls aren't shielded as it were, i.e there isn't shielding in the body cavities of the guitar to collect the noise. The various cabling though is shielded, usually via a braided metal outside jacket that is connected to ground somewhere along the way (usually at the pots). You can check the 3-way switch cavity and the tone/volume cavity for proper grounding of any shields that may be present. Cable shielding is usually landed on one end only, to avoid ground loops, but seems often the shield itself is used as the 2nd ground conductor and so landed on both ends.

[BigDave78]

thank you for your responses.Ill have my tech take a look at it.