Stay Grounded - Minimizing Hum and Buzz on a CBG Build

 

I just read a story online from a CBG builder experiencing oddball hum, buzz and other noises coming from an otherwise-completed build and causing much frustration.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!

I've lost count of how many times I've gotten to those last steps, ready to button-up the box and be done with a build, only to find some weird buzzing or a circuit that seems intermittent and glitchy. Always double-check those connections, and make sure things are solid AND in the right place. There are a couple of experimental builds I've finished that acted funny upon completion, and I'd go back in to find that for whatever reason (probably got a work call or was otherwise distracted) I'd used contemporary wiring when I meant to do "50's wiring", or a ground came loose, and at least a couple times having wired the hot and ground backwards on the output jack when I haven't been paying attention.

One thing I've gotten into the habit of doing with all my single-coil builds especially is adding shielding to them. I use that aluminum HVAC tape, usually the 3" wide stuff at least, making sure the pickups and controls are surrounded both underneath and on the inside of the lid, with all tape surfaces touching once the box is sealed shut. If you mount the tape under the pots, the shielding is grounded instantly to them. The result? I've given customers Strat/Tele-style setups in CBGs that are quieter and more gig-friendly than their off-the-shelf guitars.

My personal hack that other builders may find convenient is my "wireless ground" method. There have been many instances where I've been able to run the tape through a hole under a bridge or tailpiece in lieu of a grounding wire and ground the bridge/strings in seamlessly with the rest of the shielding. You have to be very careful not to tear the tape (weakest point is where it goes through the bridge-ground hole), but if you leave yourself a little room for error, as well as enough tape to fold back onto itself which takes the place of the usual ground wire, it makes for a flawless ground that also will fit into any box, no matter how cramped or thin.

(Notice the tape touches the entire wiring harness at the base of the pots, creating an uninterrupted ground connection. Also take note where the tape is fed through the hole under the bridge to make contact with the underside of the bridge, properly grounding the strings.)

(On top of the lid, notice the little tab of tape that comes through the aforementioned hole and will contact the bridge for string grounding.)

One thing I can say about this hobby/therapy/side-hustle of building CBGs is that it definitely encourages one to--if you'll pardon the pun--think OUTSIDE the "box" and come up with some innovative solutions.