Shielding a strat, does it affect tone?

  • Thread starter Thread starter blackba
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blackba

blackba

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I just recently shielded all 3 of my strats, a MIM and 2 MIA. Only one did I do the start grounding technique (plan to do the others on a string change).

For those that have shielded their strats, did you find it negatively affected the tone? There is a thread on TGP, but you know how they can be over there (guitar strap affecting tone thread). I think I might hear a little difference, but it could be in my head and I did just change pickups on 2 of the guitars....

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
 
Interesting Dave, I wonder why the shielding nuters the guitar. When I shielded them, I really didn't expect any tone change. Maybe I will just rip it out. I read on the Rickenbacker forums that with shielding you can do more bad than good, but the owner really didn't go into why.
 
I have a metal fender pick guard I put on a long time back and put it on even with hot rails which are humbucking, and the damn thing went buzzing off like a satellite receiver... and that should actually be quieter than plastic right? Or maybe it created a ground loop? I'm not sure... shielding like that with the copper inside can change the resonance of the guitar. Think of it this way, if your guitar is vibrating and your putting insulation against it it's dampening the way it vibrates and probably creating some weird sound pockets inside the routing. I wonder if that shielding paint is as bad? I was thinking of putting it in my strat but the poly coat is so thick already inside i don't know that it will work.
 
i've shielded both my strats. they're quiet now. they used to buzz like an electric razor.. especially when i played in clubs that had any kind of neon lighting. as far as affecting tone? i suppose you could experience some signal loss as it gets tapped to ground.. but i also changed the tone caps while i was at it. i wanted a warmer.. fuller sounding single coil sound. before the cap change it reminded me more of tex mex pup. (can't stand them.. but that's a personal preference thing)
 
Dallas Marlow":p3c22d6u said:
I have a metal fender pick guard I put on a long time back and put it on even with hot rails which are humbucking, and the damn thing went buzzing off like a satellite receiver... and that should actually be quieter than plastic right? Or maybe it created a ground loop? I'm not sure... shielding like that with the copper inside can change the resonance of the guitar. Think of it this way, if your guitar is vibrating and your putting insulation against it it's dampening the way it vibrates and probably creating some weird sound pockets inside the routing. I wonder if that shielding paint is as bad? I was thinking of putting it in my strat but the poly coat is so thick already inside i don't know that it will work.
Click to expand...

Dampening the wood vibrations from the copper foil tape, that makes alot a sense. Sounds like a good theory. I noticed a reduction in noise, but it wasn't that drastic....
 
psychodave":1sol0vcw said:
I have tried shielding everything and it turns out that I dont like it much. I do like having a little shielding on a pick guard, but that is it. I remember using copper tape and shielding a pickup cavity, soldering all of the copper tape joints, having overlap onto the top of the body so that the pickguard would make contact. I think I even soldered a wire from the cavity tape to the pickguard tape. :doh: I remember getting a bunch of original gibson pot covers as well. I think I even have jack covers as well. I am searching the web for some pictures...

To me, it gets rid of a lot of noise, but the guitar seems to get sterile sounding.

Here is a huge pic of a pot cover...

http://www.chicagofretworks.com/wp-cont ... tr-008.jpg

Smaller pics

http://www.chicagofretworks.com/2009/01 ... ng-repair/
Click to expand...


Dave thats funny you say this, I had gone nuts with a couple of guitars years back shielding everything in sight, and figured the difference was simply the 'real tone' of the guitar coming thru and the subtraction of the 'extra noise' was really a good thing from a 'pure tone' standpoint... less noise, crank the gain!! :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:
I'm actually surprised few guys like the difference.. I figured it would be the other way around.. :confused:

H
 
thanks jerryp. i may give that a try at some point in the future. most clubs around here have neon signs in the windows and a few don't want them unplugged even after you explain what it does to your gear. "how are they going to know i'm open if they can't see the sign from the road?"
one more item on the "to do" list for my homebrew "little shop of horrors."
 
I use copper tape, never gave me a problem. it's the best, I use it when ever needed, don't be afraid to use it, you won't regret :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
update: Just got done removing the shielding from 2 of my strats, plan to do the other soon. I think my problem was the tape, it seems to kill the vibrations in the wood. I think I want to kill noise, the suhr back plate system for my SSS strat may be the ticket. I learned with shielding tape anyway, is that I should have just left well enough alone....
 
Haha well enough alone is all to often the case :) I've really been forcing my self to just be happy and use what I've got. I've got 6 guitars to choose from, a Diezel Einstein, a Hertiage Colonial and 2 4x12 cabs... if I can't sound good the only thing wrong with the picture is me.
 
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