My LP Has Been Invaded by Those Noisy Gremlins (Solved!: Post #43)

syscokid

syscokid

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Sounds like this:

But seriously...
I made a couple posts about this at Robert's thread: 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - Wiring Repair and Pickup Swap:
But I'm looking for more action, so I'm copying and pasting a couple of my posts from that thread to this one:
"(I'm trying) to deal with a noisy issue that my LP started developing a few months ago. It is not hum that I'm hearing, but more like a grounding issue with excessive noise.

The amplified noise happens with either pickup selected or both selected. I have already cleaned up and resoldered the pickup's and selector's braided ground connections at the volume pots and their hot leads too: No difference! I redid the connections to the output jack: No difference!"

Other post:
"I'm still chasing the source of the excessive noise. I ruled out the Switchcraft output jack. It's not the pups either. It's not the caps. I closely inspected the Switchcraft 3-Way, and did not see any sign of corruption. However, I did not have an extra one to install just to be sure.

The LP is full of the stock braided cabling, from the pickups to the pots, then to the 3-Way, and from the 3-Way down to the jack. As I disconnected the braided cabling, I tried to clean up the globs of solder attached to the braids. At this point I noticed the black cloth insulation surrounding the cable's single conductor is falling apart in the vicinity of where the solder is in contact with the braiding. I think I'm going to order some new braided cabling... to be continued!"

Update: New braided cabling/wire has been ordered. A couple more days before it arrives. The plan is to replace the cabling from the output of both volume controls to the 3-Way switch, and the cabling from the 3-Way to the output jack. I'm hoping this will do the trick. If not, I might have to consider replacing the braided cabling coming from the Gibson 57 Classic pickups to the volume controls... And the thought of attempting this is making me nervous!
 
I'm zeroing in on the braided cabling because there are more than one spot where I can see that the wax covered black insulating cloth for the 22 awg single conductor is not looking very good. Plus, with some internet research, apparently moisture can be absorbed into these materials which could compromise the insulation between the single conductor and the braided sleeve which is used for grounding purposes.

I'm getting pretty good opening these Pandora Boxes lately... :rolleyes2:
 
If you rewire the pickups just be aware that the braid will be soldered to the inside edge of the base plate, so the coils will have to be removed for access. The input wire on the screw coil is soldered to the base plate, the input wire on the slug coil is soldered to the signal wire and the output wires are soldered to each other and will be in between the two coils.

I use a stainless putty knife to separate the covers. Apply heat to the solder and push the blade through once it is soft enough.
 
syscokid said:
I'm zeroing in on the braided cabling because there are more than one spot where I can see that the wax covered black insulating cloth for the 22 awg single conductor is not looking very good. Plus, with some internet research, apparently moisture can be absorbed into these materials which could compromise the insulation between the single conductor and the braided sleeve which is used for grounding purposes.

I'm getting pretty good opening these Pandora Boxes lately... :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

The amplified noise can come from the amp, or effects pedals, or the guitar cable.
If we eliminate those 3 things first, to make sure the noise is actually the guitar?

High gain amps will amplify noise from the guitar "more."
Effects pedals will amplify noise from the guitar "more."
The small noise in a guitar becomes a bigger issue.

Normal clean amp will amplify the noise "less."
There may never be a noise issue at all, even from the same guitar as above.

But one thing we must face when using high gain amps, and effects pedals:
the guitar needs to be shielded inside, and wired with shielded wire.
Otherwise tiny noises are amplified hundreds of times.

I would recommend shielding paint + copper foil. Especially for high gain amps and pedals.

 
Last edited:
Cadorman said:
Why is there braided cable to the 3 way switch and back? This should be 4 wire sheathed 28 gauge wire like used on a pickup you can split. What year is it?
Click to expand...
It's modernized old school, ha ha. '05 LP Historic R9 in a sweet Faded Tobacco Burst (Custom Shop wasn't official yet, I believe). The original owner was a Gibson employee who had installed a set of the Gibson 57 Classics with the braided pickup wire. I'm not sure if Gibson installed the pups or if the original owner did the installation.

It would be hard to imagine that Gibson's soldering would look this bad. And if the original owner was the one that installed these pups in there, I hope he ain't working in the Gibson Guitar electronics department! Here's a pic of the guitar shortly after I received it:
Rewired to 50's style.JPG
The only thing I touched at this point, was to reposition those caps from Modern wiring to Vintage wiring.

A couple weeks later, I did an upgrade kit from RS Guitarworks. And I tried to clean up the soldering as much as possible:
IMG_4485.JPG
That was about seven years ago and all was nice and quiet in there at the time.

I F'd with the pickups and controls one more time about a couple years ago when I got interested in trying the Peter Green Mod. This might have been the beginning of the end of those quiet days... :hmmm: .

Amp Mad Scientist said:
The amplified noise can come from the amp, or effects pedals, or the guitar cable.
If we eliminate those 3 things first, to make sure the noise is actually the guitar?

High gain amps will amplify noise from the guitar "more."
Effects pedals will amplify noise from the guitar "more."
The small noise in a guitar becomes a bigger issue.

Normal clean amp will amplify the noise "less."
There may never be a noise issue at all, even from the same guitar as above.

But one thing we must face when using high gain amps, and effects pedals:
the guitar needs to be shielded inside, and wired with shielded wire.
Otherwise tiny noises are amplified hundreds of times.

I would recommend shielding paint + copper foil. Especially for high gain amps and pedals.

Click to expand...
Thank you, but you have to understand that the level of noise I'm hearing now did not exist about a year ago. It's like the extra noise developed on its own without any recent prodding on my end. The absorption of moisture theory is starting to make more sense.
 
Have you checked for continuity between the shield braids and the signal wires? Might give that a shot before tearing everything out. I would also double check all of the ends to be sure the sheathing hasn't extended over time and is touching something hot.
 
Cadorman said:
Have you checked for continuity between the shield braids and the signal wires?
Click to expand...
Yes I did, and guess what? There is evidence of continuity! The meter's continuity-beep only lasted a split second, but not everytime the probes were applied. But the fact that the meter showed any continuity at all, made me order some new braided cabling. Later today I'll try to post a nice close-up of the deteriorated insulation of the hot wire lead.

The jack definitely tests good. The switch "looks" good, and gave it a good cleaning, including its contact points.
 
When I work with 2 conductor pickups, I make a hole in the braid with a Toothpick and pull the jacketed wire put through this hole. I then twist the braided section and it becomes the ground.
 
I forgot to take a pic before I cut this lead up, but this is section that connected to the output jack. Notice that the black wax-covered cotton insulation between the braided sleeve and the (single) center conductor is in rough shape. And you can also see the center conductor through the cracks of the insulation. Me thinks no bueno!

IMG_2852.JPG

New wire just came in! See what happens tomorrow... :fingersx:
 
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