The blemish came this way from the factory and does not effect any playing. Any color of stranded small gauge wire will do. Neon lights? Single coils are usually more articulate though so it’s pretty much whatever floats your boat. rev 2020.12.2.38097, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. If not, try a different amp, then guitar cable, then guitar. Features You will need a piece of wire, an alligator clip and some basic… Tons of Color Options. Definitely sounds like it could be a short. Podcast 291: Why developers are demanding more ethics in tech, “Question closed” notifications experiment results and graduation, MAINTENANCE WARNING: Possible downtime early morning Dec 2, 4, and 9 UTC…, When should an audio pre-amp use a differential input, Why do I need to “ground” my guitar pickup to the guitar bridge, Tube Guitar amp Input Transformer Removal, What is simpliest possible guitar active preamp design, Static noise when electric guitar plugged into amp. I know what the telecaster hum is supposed to sound like and this seems different, I tried playing my guitar into my macbook pro without it being plugged in and it made no difference to the sound. Computer monitor? Changes when I move I haven't played it in a while, or in the particular house i'm in for that matter but my telecaster is humming to a point where I can't record anything because the hum is so prominent... on a clean channel. Not every Telecaster seems to have this connection. Then I replace the Amp's power plug. Positioning them certain ways would cut the noise down significantly. So it's some issue that is at least partially environmental (having to do with either the amplifier or the place) but only affects this guitar, or at least affects it more than it does other single-coil guitars like the Strat. This guitar does not sound like a 62-64 Telecaster. As long as you remember this is a premium version … There is a small blemish on one fret that I tried my best to picture. CFLs? You should check for proper ground polarity at the amplifier. It's not supposed to make a difference, but gosh dang it, sometimes it does. CFLs? @WillisBlackburn Think about it. I checked ground continuity in the new location, and it was fine. Nothing helps. If the strings are properly grounded there should be no hum whether the strings are touched or not. That's the extreme alternative…sort of like throwing the baby out with the … Or should I try playing somewhere else? There are two possible circuits used in the Telecaster see these articles for good descriptions: Note that there is usually a ground wire that connects the body of the tone and volume pots. and couldn't we just do whatever touching the strings does, electrically, and thereby stop the humming? Guitar placement dependent hum is picked by the pickup coils from surrounding magnetic fields - mains transformers in the equipment spread it. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Schematic here: Try using a short insulated (so that your body doesn't affect it) wire connected to the jack sleeve and probe around the guitar to see if additional grounding helps. It has been specifically made for a Telecaster. I wouldn't be suprised if the 3 prong outlets weren't actually connected to a gound. I know it's "mains current" or something like that. If this creates a lot of noise and hum consider new cables, but check and/or fix the guitar ground first. Hey there! Why is a third body needed in the recombination of two hydrogen atoms? Perhaps at the end of the day, the Tele's strength is its unassuming simplicity, its place as the protean ground zero for all other solidbody electric guitars. i think it was all wrong. edit: Dude--your clip sounds like a ground problem. That sound can never be replicated. What is the application of `rev` in real life? Also make sure your guitar cable is quality - if it hasn't been mentioned already, you may want to try a TRS cable instead of the standard TS. Humming disappear when I touch the strings. On reading your question, the replies and comments I do not see where you have definitively identified the source of the hum you are hearing. Also, I get less um from my tele if I'm not near my 'puter and screen. After you're done doing all of that shield it. I assume this is the electro magnetic interference from the powerlines outside affecting my pickups, Is there a way I can remedy this issue? Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. High impedance signal lines catch capacitively the electric field of the surrounding mains cables and lights. If you find this sound irritating, as many do, you might consider a guitar with humbucking pickups. "Everyone knows Telecasters hum, just get used to it." Produces no unwanted noise or hum that typical single-coiled pickups have; Produces the classic Telecaster sound; 2x Alnico magnets for superior response; Comes with a 1-year warranty How can I discuss with my manager that I want to explore a 50/50 arrangement? it happens always, but I only really care when i'm recording. Also, If i turn the tone knob all the way down the hum goes away, but my guitar sounds like crap. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. Also, Alnico 2 magnets for a warmer attack and a less aggressive midrange. Ok, where's the loop? Mute your LCD TV and listen closely. The noise is catched by not so heavily shielded circuits. I have been given a fantastic present - an American Deluxe Fender Telecaster along with a Line 6 Spider III 30W amp. Someone brings up the "your body is an antenna" explanation in the comments. The pickup is a bar magnet wrapped with thousands of turns of wire, forming a coil. Suggest you replace it with a better model if a service tech cannot find an obvious problem. this thought allows me to accept (a certain ammount of) noise and hiss as part of the performance, and maybe even an enhancement. I use $#@$ George L. "no solder" pedalboard cables, and lose ground connections are a constant gremlin with those things, so the sound is familiar to me. Now I understand telecaster= single coil= hum... not like this though. They are internally connected to the signal ground. DeepMind just announced a breakthrough in protein folding, what are the consequences? Some amps do have a ground polarity switch or ground phase control. i don`t enjoy the tone of humbuckers or active pick … Television? Changes when I move, Already have an account? Telecaster making unbearable Humming noise. Let's say you're right and there is no wire connecting the strings (really the bridge) to ground. The short answer is that touching the strings changes the impedance of the circuit that the amplifier sees and that new circuit attenuates the hum frequency more. In the same thread, people have pointed to the fact that touching the strings eliminates the hum as both evidence of there being a wire loose ("your body completes the circuit!") tried several cables, and no difference. I've had to position guitarists when in the control room because the pickups were catching its own signal through the monitors. How can the pickup coil not be grounded? Next is failed capacitors in the pickup circuit. The human body has enough mass to act as a ground when touching ungrounded strings. Step 1. The humming noise sounds like 120Hz hum (see update below). Also take the guitar to your local tech and see if the single coils are properly shielded and that your internal wire harnass on the guitar is not shorted out or been molested in some way. Comment on your update: I don't know if the stings are connected to the signal ground or not. Test it. i too play a tele and am constantly fighting noise while trying to record on my daw. Fender Vintage Noiseless Tele pickups produce the brilliant single-coil clarity, definition, and twang of a vintage 1960s Tele without the hum. Two quick questions. The Fender Telecaster is a legendary instrument, but it can become frustratingly noisy at times, leaving you frantically searching for a way to quiet it down. Add this wire and the hum should go away. The humming noise stops when the player touches the strings or other metal parts of the guitar. I'm having trouble accepting that Fender would continue to produce a guitar that hums like mad when they obviously have the technology to mitigate the problem, as evidenced by the behavior of the Stratocaster in the exact same situation, in the same place, plugged into the same amp. @Sparky256 I understood you to be saying that the strings and pickup coil. The problem is the humming. also, check for simple things - turn off cellphones, tv's, anything electrical that doesn't need to be on. If it comes loose the guitar will have no signal ground! What is causing the hum? Stuffed into the paint. The amp input doesn't load it to its knees, because normally amp inputs are Hi Z to keep out the treble loss due the inductance of the mics. Even microwave ovens can screw with "the hummm". i find it helpful to remember that i am trying to use pre-wwII technology to interface with advanced digital-age technology. If yes, then any difference? Never gigged our this guitar is clean! My solution was to design a hum cancelling circuit and mount a dummy coil inside the Telecaster. The hum is worse with the bridge pickup, which is interesting, because of course that's the pickup that was shielded by the bridge cover that Fender originally fitted to the guitar but that everyone took off and used as an ashtray. Adding a smart switch to a box originally containing two single-pole switches, How to move a servo quickly and without delay function. This thing really sounds great. QUESTION. I have seen and fixed this problem enough to say it is common with certain types of guitars and old hand-me-down guitars. Check your wiring. It is furnished with flush-mount pole pieces for an even string response. So I just bought my second electric guitar which is a Fender MIM telecaster. Just a friendly reminder that political discussion, (including "offhand" and 'sideways' commenting) is. also, check the "dumb guy" stuff - make sure you don't have anything metallic in your pockets, don't play near any kind of rf, radio or tv receptors. It's shown also in available articles of Telecaster wiring. On a guitar with low action, tiny changes in your guitar's body can bring a fret in contact with an open string, creating a buzzing sound. I have a Fender Telecaster that hums loudly--much more so than other similar guitars. I had an old bass guitar with similar problems but never really got to the bottom of it. If you’re looking for a pickup set that fits into a tight budget, the … This hum is usually caused by a poorly grounded guitar. I don't know what the hum is like on that, but I feel like it wasn't as bad or else I would have started looking into it earlier. Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Telecaster Pickups. This "explanation" is usually followed by advice to "break the loop," try removing/re-installing wires, use a ground-lifting cable or device, or something like that. Get out the soldering iron. That tunes out the hum fields via a trimpot and gives my Tele's an 80 db signal to noise ratio, a very good spec. Why does touching the strings cause the humming to stop? How does a guitar normally behave when strings are touched? The only thing i think might be causing it is something in my room. some houses has badly grounded or, get this, UNgrounded ground wires in their supposed 3 wire grounded outlets. It’s pure classic Tele bridge territory, but calmer on the high-end and no hum, no buzz, no b.s. Noise gates can help keep the noise under control when you are not playing, but when you hit a note, and the gate opens, the noise … New Telecasters no longer come with the bridge cover. If you were to wire your house with the techniques employed for all these years you would have burnt it to the ground by now. yes alot of work has been done to the guitar, and the guy who painted my guitar decided to rewire the pickups as well. Ensure that the cables are securely plugged in to their respective inputs. I don't want to retype the whole saga here, but check my experience in this thread: Is this while recording? What else is on in your room? While the pickups sound great, beginners should be warned that single coil pickups are susceptible to electrical interference. Why do Arabic names still have their meanings? I'm skeptical that it's a wiring issue with my guitar since touching different parts doesn't affect it, the only way I can seem to change it is by pointing the pickups at different things, which leads me to believe my house is getting some crazy electro magnetic interference. The hum is making a similar sound to that of a guitar cable that is not plugged in, the weird thing is when my cable is unplugged, and I move it around the room, point it at different areas, the hum changes. The Tele is correctly grounded. "Your body is an antenna/capacitor plate." At this point is easier to just replace the pickups but then this is also a tricky process. I put a skillet in front and in back of my pickups and the hum almost disappeared. The source of radiated hum in electric guitars is something in environment is generating a fairly powerful magnetic field. It would also be prudent to check this white wire from the Jack to make sure it has solid connections at both ends. I checked the grounding and confirmed that there is continuity all the way from the strings to the cable sleeve to the amp chassis and to the ground in the wall power socket. Please help. EDIT: Based on the diagram you provided the white wire from the Jack is signal ground, but the bridge plate part#21 should be connected to this white wire to ground the strings. MathJax reference. One time I had a fender american telecaster with a wire mashed under the whole bridge piece thing. You have yet to add enough detailed observations to even begin to guess at the hum source. The STL-1 vintage pickup has the most iconic sound on a Telecaster. but the new switch fixed all that. Your always best being plugged into an outlet that doesn't have things like microwaves, bathroom fans, flourescent lights etc on the same circuit. All of these will cause hum, even LCD monitors and televisions, and in these cases, can cause hum in single coil pickups even when they're off-- you'll have to cut power to 'em. The pickup only has two wires. and of there definitely not being a wire loose ("your body is being grounded through the guitar"). Please watch: "Vintage Fender Jazz Bass From Japan" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYpJyJIzDrU --~-- Telecaster Makes Strange Noise Click here to login, The ability to reply to and create new discussions, Access to members-only giveaways & competitions, Interact with VIP industry experts in our guest Q&As, Access to members-only sub forum discussions, Get INSTANT ACCESS to the world's best private pro audio, Promote your eBay auctions and Reverb.com listings for free. Point of order: I didn't say it would hurt the tone, only that it was largely unnecessary. Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts. Then try a different power cord to the amp (if you can disconnect this).. you may have a bad ground there. If I play with it in a band practice with a lot of gain (i know it's not the "best" idea playing with tele) it hums quite a lot. Not even Fender themselves have been able to do that, but it is a decent sound that has all the attributes you would expect. What's "hum"? The guitar is a Fender Telecaster so it's really basic. I'll check with a multimeter and see what's connected to what. here is a recording I just took, this is straight into my mac using an mbox 2 no plugins and the laptop was running on battery power. Admittedly these controls are on expensive Peavy and other amps. If you still hear hum go somewhere well away from any power lines. The guitar is plugged into a simple solid-state guitar amplifier. I move the guitar around and thats when you hear different level of noise, I can't have my cleans sounding this way. These are all but impossible to repair but if you have disassembled your guitar this far you should check the solder connections of the hook up wire to the magnet wire on the pickups. I have a Les Paul that sat in the case for several years that hummed and howled like a banshee when I plugged it in after a long hiatus. Also try other amplifier cables and wiggle the 1/4" plugs at the amp and guitar. Connecting the coils correctly does NOT ground the strings. Just the usual 3-way pickup selector, volume, and tone. I also have a telecaster deluxe, although it's getting fixed right now at a friends house because it constantly slips tuning. By the way I was referring to the metal body of the pickup coil, not the signal wires. Still, I disagree with the poster I quoted only in that the shielding ain't going to hurt the tone. [QUESTION] Telecaster humming. (1) is the hum same for all 3 switch positions? Basement etc? But why does touching the strings cause the humming to stop (after all the electronics are still unshielded right?) Create a username and password below and an account will be created and your post entered. i bought a bridge for my tele and the tone is just sublime, its on par with the other boutique broadcaster pickup in term of tone. We should point out that the American Performer Telecaster is also available in a traditional, two single coil layout at the same price. And let's not forget players like Joe Strummer and Prince, very different guitarists, both drawn to the virtues of the Tele. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Well, this guitar features a humbucker in the neck position, just the way Keith Richards likes it. frustratingly, it honestly sounds like you have a grounding issue in your room. Building algebraic geometry without prime ideals. Why does this guitar hum much louder than a Fender Stratocaster, which also has single-coil pickups? Here's the kicker whenever I move around, point the guitar up down rotate, the hum changes significantly, If i play with the guitar pointed to the ceiling I barely get a hum. The American Performer Telecaster Hum also features Greasebucket(TM) tone circuitry to shape the highs without adding bass, preserving your sound. However, when I turn the tone knob up on the guitar, I hear a horrible dirty thin buzzing sound from the amp - a little like an electrical 'mosquito' whine.