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Strat buzz.


brandonheisemac.com

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Can anyone tell me how to stop my strat from buzzing when I use a single pickup? First off, I'll tell you that the amp is not properly grounded but I think there must be a workaround for this. The buzzing stops when I touch the strings and when I touch any one of four screws on top of my Peavy Bandit.

 

Thanks in advance.

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Turn the amp off....seriously though, that is the nature of the beast, a single coil has no radio frequency interference(RFI) rejection. There are a couple of thing you can do to REDUCE the problem.

 

Make sure the amp is properly grounded through the wall outlet.

 

Cheap lighting dimmers make guitars buzz like crazy. Some flourescent lamps can, as do electric motors. Make sure your amp isn't on the same circuit with ANY kind of variable control machanism, such as a fan speed controller, lighting dimmer, etc.

 

You can completely shield the guitar using braided wrap for the pickup and output leads, and lining the control cavity with GROUNDED shield. "Shielding" paint is very popular, and easy to apply, as is adhesive backed copper foil. When I shield a guitar, though, I use 0.005" brass, cut and soldered into shape in the control cavity. While these measures won't completely control the buzz, you will reduce the problem significantly.

 

Dave

 

www.electrocoustic.com

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  • 1 month later...

Dave is right on the mark. If you use alot of distortion you may want to consider putting a humbucker in the bridge position. I'm a big fan of Duncan pickups. They make several single coils size humbuckers that need no modifications to the axe. Fender Lace Sensors are also a viable option for a "classic" Fender tone in a single coil, low noise pickup. Good Luck.

 

This message has been edited by KHAN on 04-03-2001 at 11:03 PM

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There are some replacement pickups you can get.

 

Fender-Lace Sensors are pretty good at retaining the single coil sound without the buzz.

 

I have heard that the Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups are supposed to be excellent.

 

Also the stacked humbuckers may work - they won't buzz but they won't sound like single coil pickups either.

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Hi,

 

Difficult question! It depends on what you want, but I personally like a real dynamic Strat. My Fender Voodoo strat has the tone. It's dynamic like hell and playing the neck pickup with a bit overdrive hitting the g-string in the 12th position is totally Hendix, Stevie Ray, Michael Landau for me. All pick replacement sound like a compromise to me.

 

Guitar playing is all all about noise. Your amp will be noisy and your guitar will as well. The only advice I can give is use only one ground loop on your system: the amp, not the pedals or the rack. Try to put the ground of all these device in one loop, but don't start introducing new ones http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif And stay away from monitors too, switch them off if you can!

 

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I have to second the post about Fender Lace Sensor pickups. I have two Strat Plus models (now discontinued unfortunately). Without a doubt the least hum I've ever had while retaining a great Strat sound.

 

For what it's worth, I prefer the gold lace sensors...which are actually the least powerful...over the hotter models.

 

Tom

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
Dimarzio virtual vintage stacked coil pickups are a great way to reduce hum. When you combine that with some foil shielding in your body cavity and on your pickguard, you've got one silent guitar.
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The DiMArzio HS-3 stacked humbuckers sound just like some of the 'hotter' Fender Strat pickups. My Strat sounds exactly like a Strat should - minus the hum.

 

Originally posted by chedrob@hotmail.com:

Also the stacked humbuckers may work - they won't buzz but they won't sound like single coil pickups either.

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

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