Scratchy pick guard

[dude]

I searched here but found nothing on scratchy pick guard. I know it's a grounding issue but was wondering if one specific cause has been found to be the culprit. The guitar is a 69 thinline tele I made, vintage Seymour Duncan broadcaster p/u set, not hot.

No problem moving around and getting close to the amp, no squeal, no feed back but a scratchy noise from my strumming hand on the pick guard when I touch it, only. Maybe ground myself   The back of the pick guard has a small band of foil behind the controls, the input is a shield type barrel input with shielded wire to vol. pot.

It's a chore to take this guitar down so I'd want to get it right the first time.

Thanks, as always, al

[G._Hoffman]

The ONLY way I have ever been able to consistently stop that one from happening is to replace the pickguard.  The best thing to use is something conductive, such as aluminum, but I've had good luck with bakelite too.  (On the other hand, I've also had problems with bakelite.) 

What seems to happen is that the surfaces of the pickguard develop a charge, and it is really hard to get it to go away.  Sometimes you can get rid of it by wiping the surfaces with a fabric softener, but that is inconsistent at best, and doesn't usually last.  We've had just a few customers who had this problem over the years - it's quite rare - but none of the solutions we've tried has really worked other than replacing the pickguard. 


Gabriel

[dude]

Thanks Gabriel even though I didn't want to hear that. The pick guard is a cheap plastic fake pearloid. I was thinking if I covered all of the underside of the pick guard with foil or copper tape, it might help but are saying don't waste your time, get another pick guards?

I've seen other musician's guitars with a bad case of "scratchy pick guard syndrome" mine isn't too bad and I haven't noticed the noise being amplified at lease yet, I haven't listen well...?

I'll try the fabric softener, maybe spray it with lacquer but that will probably peel in time.

al

[G._Hoffman]

Thanks Gabriel even though I didn't want to hear that. The pick guard is a cheap plastic fake pearloid. I was thinking if I covered all of the underside of the pick guard with foil or copper tape, it might help but are saying don't waste your time, get another pick guards?

I've seen other musician's guitars with a bad case of "scratchy pick guard syndrome" mine isn't too bad and I haven't noticed the noise being amplified at lease yet, I haven't listen well...?

I'll try the fabric softener, maybe spray it with lacquer but that will probably peel in time.

al

It might help, but it also might not last.  It's not real predictable, which is one of the things that makes it so annoying. 


Gabriel