Alex Lifeson Gibson Les Paul Axcess Problem!

[kmac.the.knife]

I bought a modded Alex Lifeson Gibson Les Paul Axcess about two months ago and have had it completely rewired to fit my specifications back to factory specs. The luthier responsible for the rewire installed brand new components and followed a Gibson diagram of exactly how it comes from the factory. The problem we are facing is that in certain parts of the town I am in, most importantly my own apartment unit, it makes a sound out of my amplifiers as if it is picking up a radio signal. A beeping, crunchy, distorted sound that does not stop, even when all pots are turned down and the piezo pickups are off. The cavities and pickups have all been shielded and it continues to make this sound. Why is this happening? Where is the wiring wrong? PLEASE HELP!

[Twang Gang]

I don't know anything about LP Axcess wiring, but I have had this same experience in a club one time.  The grounding of the building was not proper, and we were getting a two way radio signal from a trucking company nearby coming through the PA with lots of static and noise.  Our equipment worked fine at other venues, it was just the electrical environment in that building.  So it may not be your guitar at all.  Take your guitar 20 miles away and plug it in and see if it works properly, then you will know it is not the guitar.

[Sgt. Pepper]

On 5/19/2023 at 8:42 PM, kmac.the.knife said:

I bought a modded Alex Lifeson Gibson Les Paul Axcess about two months ago and have had it completely rewired to fit my specifications back to factory specs. The luthier responsible for the rewire installed brand new components and followed a Gibson diagram of exactly how it comes from the factory. The problem we are facing is that in certain parts of the town I am in, most importantly my own apartment unit, it makes a sound out of my amplifiers as if it is picking up a radio signal. A beeping, crunchy, distorted sound that does not stop, even when all pots are turned down and the piezo pickups are off. The cavities and pickups have all been shielded and it continues to make this sound. Why is this happening? Where is the wiring wrong? PLEASE HELP!

Are you sure the guy who did the work removed the antenna that Lifeson really liked in all his guitars? That happened to me once when I lived in a town house. The amp picked up a radio station at certain times. It was only my Mashall Valve State 65 that did it.

What does the A L guitar do that is different from any standard 2 pup, 4 knob , 1 switch guitar do that it needed modding, and then you wanting it stock again? I thought the access part was the way the neck joined the body, where it was easier to get access to the higher frets?

Edited May 21, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[kmac.the.knife]

6 hours ago, Twang Gang said:

I don't know anything about LP Axcess wiring, but I have had this same experience in a club one time.  The grounding of the building was not proper, and we were getting a two way radio signal from a trucking company nearby coming through the PA with lots of static and noise.  Our equipment worked fine at other venues, it was just the electrical environment in that building.  So it may not be your guitar at all.  Take your guitar 20 miles away and plug it in and see if it works properly, then you will know it is not the guitar.

Thank you for your response! There are certain parts of town where there is no static or noise, but other parts where there is. I have played it out at shows and it's fine, but in my apartment it is very noisy and sounds like a Morse-code beeping. There is a distribution center nearby that we believe is causing the interference, but I am concerned that when I need it for a show it will be noisy and unplayable.

[kmac.the.knife]

6 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

Are you sure the guy who did the work removed the antenna that Lifeson really liked in all his guitars? That happened to me once when I lived in a town house. The amp picked up a radio station at certain times. It was only my Mashall Valve State 65 that did it.

What does the A L guitar do that is different from any standard 2 pup, 4 knob , 1 switch guitar do that it needed modding, and then you wanting it stock again? I thought the access part was the way the neck joined the body, where it was easier to get access to the higher frets?

No I am not aware of any antenna. It makes the same noise in any amp I plug into.

It has active Piezo pickups in each saddle of the Floyd Rose and requires a 9V battery to function.

[sparquelito]

[Sgt. Pepper]

13 hours ago, kmac.the.knife said:

No I am not aware of any antenna. It makes the same noise in any amp I plug into.

It has active Piezo pickups in each saddle of the Floyd Rose and requires a 9V battery to function.

The antenna was a joke. How is the grounding at your place?  One other thing that messes with guitars and amps is fluorescent lighting.  My friends amp started buzzing, and we stated turning everything off in the house. When we got to the lighting in the upstairs loft it went away. When I played electrics every time the AC came on in the house the amp (tube) got a bit noisier.

Edited May 22, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Eracer_Team]

If the Lifeson didn’t do it before your mod’s 

I would start with going over everything the tech did with it 

[merciful-evans]

This happened with the first electric guitar was unveiled in the 30s. Electro / Rickenbacker planned to demonstrate the new guitar to musicians, music merchants, press etc. 

When they plugged in and switched on, a radio broadcast cut in immediately. The outraged Venue Hosts, thinking it was a publicity scam. shut off the power and threw them out.

There's progress for you.