Ground problem? Or just normal?

[jamesharrismusic]

On my Les Paul standard (as well as other guitars such as Epiphone SG, Fender Strat) I get a slight popping sound whenever I touch any of the metal parts (strings, bridge etc). I have read many forums that say this is a ground problem, others which say it can be static electricity build up in the players hands and others which say something about discharging capacitors. To try and assist anyone who has any idea I will list as much information below.

 

- It happens to several guitars.

- Makes no different plugging them into different leads or amps.

- There is no hum before, or after touching or holding the metal parts (just a kind of 'pop' when I touch them).

- I generally play on carpet (seems to be relevant to static etc).

- I have checked all the wiring, even with a multimeter and everything appears to be grounded correctly.

- If I hold one metal part and touch another it does not make the 'pop' sound.

 

 

The sound is not very loud and does not bother me too much, I just don't want to get electrocuted! Any suggestions are more than welcome.

 

jamesharrismusic

[BigKahune]

Kind of strange if everything is grounded correctly.

 

carpet: avoid static build up - are you playing in socks or rubber soled shoes? are you wearing wool or synthetic clothing?

[The Mick]

Are you using a Monster Cable by chance ?

[dmeds]

One thing about static is that once you discharge there is no longer potential stored in your body. In other words once you discharge and hear a pop you'd have to build up a charge again; dragging your feet across the carpet, brushing you hair, etc. So, if you get a pop every time you touch the metal parts in succession then I doubt it would be static build-up. If that is the case and you say that you've tried different amps and cables then it likely points to ground issues. I'd be leary to blame the guitar since you have that isssue with several of them. The odds of all of those having grounding issues is quite high. So, have you tried plugging the amp into a different power outlet? Are you using a good quality power strip with isolation and surge protection. That may be an area to investigate. Some good quality power strips will even indicate if the outlet is in/out of phase or have faulty ground. Just some thoughts.

[The Mick]

essential equipment

 

[jamesharrismusic]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. I usually play in socks. No I don't have a monster cable. It does seem to happen in succession. I have posted on other forums as well and I seem to be getting mixed responses. This may sound stupid but would anyone mind just trying to see if they can get this as well. Just plug your guitar straight into the amp, turn the volume up high and very gently tap the bridge, I can seem to make it louder by licking my finger and then doing it (but make sure you are not touching any of the other metal parts at the same time) thanks.

[Eracer_Team]

Get an atomizer spray bottle from the dollar store then go to the grocery store and buy some liquid Downy..

Pour the Downy in the spray bottle up about a ¼ bottle; then fill up with tap water.

Lightly mist the carpet floor and any chairs you sit on, this will kill any static in the fabric.

 

Too much spray and you’ll just make everything wet.

[Toner]

Sounds like static buildup. You can use a humidifier to get rid of it.

[Foxboron]

i get it to, but my VOX can remove those sounds so i cant hear them ^^,

and i play on a carpet to (my whoel floors is a carpet actually..)

[dmeds]

Since you've mentioned that you can do this in succession, I'm inclined to believe that it may indeed be capacitors discharging provided that those "caps" are tied to ground. A simple check would be to take a peek under the control covers and see if the ones that pop have this setup.

 

Some configurations do not have the caps tied to ground, rather the caps are placed between the lugs of the volume and tone pots. In that case there would not be a path for the caps to discharge. When the caps are tied to ground you become a path for the charge in the caps to follow, hence the pop or rapid discharge. Quite different from a static build-up.

 

A possible test to prove the theory would be to take a 1 meg ohm resistor between your fingers on one end and touch the gound or metal on your guitar(s) with the other end of the resistor. You've still created a path for discharge although the resistor dissipates that charge at a much slower rate thus preventing the pop.

[BlackHawk233]

I had this problem, and someone a while ago mentioned "power cords", that was the problem, No more pops unless I HAVE to plug in after my Half stack has powered up. as Foxboron said, My VOX is actually silent, no plug in pops or anything. Not sure if its just because its a 15 watt combo, but Its silent.

[VBB]

I had this exact same problem. I changed guitar cords, guitars, amps and even went through the electronics on my LP looking for a cold solder joint.

 

It will make me look stupid, but this is what my problem was. My amps were plugged into a power strip or surge protector strip and the strip was plugged into a cheater plug without a ground so it could be plugged into an old outlet that was just the two prongs. Everything but the end of the strip was in a closet, so I didn't know what was on the other end. I plugged into an outlet I knew was grounded and that did it!

[ics1974]

My SG did it like crazy during the winter because it is so dry. It hardly ever happen now that it's spring.

[dmeds]

If you consider most of the comments of those chiming in that has had the same or similar problem it points to what I've been suspecting from the get go. Sounds as though you're experiencing a ground issue or lack of. Even the theory of it being a cap discharge supports this. The point being, if there were a clear path for ground, then there would be no hum, noise or pop. Think about it, if you lack good ground anywhere in the loop including the most critical, your power source, then you become that link the minute you touch the ground loop on the guitar. I don't mean to sound smug, it's just my line of work and O.C.D.