Pickguard shield advice required
Hi,
When using an aluminium pickguard shield, do I not need to solder a ground wire to each of the pots? What are the other components that still need grounding
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Calla...2.aspx#reviews
Re: Pickguard shield advice required
The case of the pot should come into contact with the shield, which should ground the shield. Otherwise if the guitars cavity is shielded and grounded, the shielding in the cavity could complete the circuit.
Re: Pickguard shield advice required
OK, So what if there are washers and nuts between the top of the pot and the shield?
Re: Pickguard shield advice required
They're metal, so their conductive.Originally Posted by genethomas
Re: Pickguard shield advice required
If they're conductive you should be fine.
Re: Pickguard shield advice required
In addition, even though you wouldn't have to run ground wires to connect the pots and switch, you still need to make sure that shield connects to ground when screwed down to the body or the whole point is moot.
When using such a shield, I don't solder anything to the back of any of the pots, but to the tab on the volume pot that connects to ground (ultimately at the output jack). Then, I run copper tape (or heavy duty aluminum foil works fine) through the control cavity and connect it to ground using a ring terminal screwed in to the body and the wire connected to the ground tab on the jack. The ground wire from the bridge goes to the ground tab on the jack as well. This keeps it neat in the control cavity and less wires soldered on the pots.
Now, make sure some of the foil comes up and over the top of the body a little bit, ideally where there is a screw hole. When the pickguard is screwed down, it is connected to the cavity shield which is connected to ground and there you have it.
I've done this on a few Strats before with great results.
Sure, the quick way is to bend the 3rd tab on the volume pot to the casing, solder it there and then solder all the ground wires to the back of the pot, but that can get sloppy and increase the risk of burning out the pot.
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