Guitar Static Anomaly

[jojokeo]

Greetings all!
I was researching something on the forum and thought maybe someone or even others have experienced a crazy static occurring at my studio. It's a standard setup w/ drum riser, amps, mic's, stage monitors, PA, and even stage lighting all on and working at the time of my static troubles.

The issue was that while playing and my picking hand touching and rubbing against the pickguard created very noticeable static. It was audible to me and the guys running the mixing and recording boards. I'd stop playing and simply start rubbing the pickguard w/ my hand and it would happen without even playing. I was playing one of my hand-built amps, and a guitar I had done a bunch of work on. I'd never experienced this on any amp/guitar combo not in any setting like this before.

Here's the kicker - I switched guitars. Same thing. I then plugged into a nearby Vox AC30 and it happened again with that amp too. Then using BOTH guitars! So two guitars and two different amps!? WTF???

I haven't been able to repeat it in subsequent sessions. Really strange but we haven't had a similar group jam since including the stage lights (that I can think of?). Has anyone ever experienced something like this before? My hunch is that if the stage lights and my amp setup is on the same circuit? Maybe this could be it? But haven't been able to replicate it again yet. Has someone ever experienced anything similar before?


PS - I tried lifting both amp's ground, the guitars I've worked on and KNOW there's nothing wrong there. I am about as anal as it gets with amp circuit grounding, that is not the issue. I plugged into a different outlet circuit. I isolated the pedal board, etc. and nothing I did would get rid of it. Later, I clipped in a capacitor to ground at various points on the amp input, tube socket, etc just for shit's and giggles but that didn't do anything either. Nothing I tried worked.


Thanks for reading,
Keo

[stratomaster]

I've run into this quite a bit. The solution has always been to do a better job of shielding the guitar than the factory did.  Cover the backs of pick guards and cavity covers completely in foil tape--make sure the passes overlap and there's continuity throughout.

Either paint or apply tape to the cavities/pickup routes and ensure there are a few points for the pick guard and covers to contact the cavity shielding. 

Back in 2012-2013 there was a bad batch of nitro from the Gibson factory where just running your hand along the neck would cause static crackles through an amp.  The shielding knocked that back about 90%.

All of my Teles and Strats have been shielded as well, with complete coverage of all plastic covers.

[elams1894]

I second what Stratomaster said. Shielding the guitar electronics as best as humanly possible, as well as fully shield the pickups. To compound the issue, some people are naturally more 'magnetic' than others. My old man was a severe case. As well as being an accomplished electrical engineer, he was a potent magnetic force. He would regularly kill devices merely by touching them. Monitors, screens, sometimes even computers. Major static was a common occurrence also. He designed and built TV studios and his colleagues would order regular mandatory electric discharge before working on equipment to avoid serious altercations. You may also be a magnetic anomaly!

[shooter]

silk underwear, switch to all cotton white'y tight'ys 

[pdf64]

Perhaps the static build up was due to temporary / seasonal environmental conditions, eg low humidity?

[Willabe]

I've heard of pick guards having this problem. I can't remember if it was here?

[jojokeo]

Static issue still exists as I tested again over the weekend with yet another guitar being a single humbucker strat. Damn that's 3 different guitars... I turned the light standard off on my side, no pedal board, etc. and there it was. As I left the guitar on the stand I scratched on the pickguard in different places. Of all the places the static is worse just below the strings where our hands want to be while playing. Above the low E nothing. down towards the horn, nothing. Spreading the strings apart was very little and hard to get it to happen so very slight. Down toward the control knobs was also fairly slight. So the issue does have a sweet spot or high sensitivity spot where it's the worst - right where the picking hand wants to be.    The studio I'm using is built inside of a large warehouse owned by video camera company and has ran very large high current electrical boxes w/ very large industrial cables around from them. They've been used for recording large venue events like sporting events, golf, soccer stadiums, etc... I can't imagine this is somehow the cause? I was assured by the owner there's definitely no grounding or other issues with any of it.
Lastly, I don't want to have to take apart all of my guitars to be fanatical about the copper lining faraday cage thing. I may have to play only Les Pauls while there? This year for me has thrown several curve ball anomalies my way already! Just when we think we've seen it all... NOPE!     

[stratomaster]

You can try a humidifier in the room.

I've also heard of people rubbing anti static drier sheets on their guitars just prior to tracking or sandwiching a sheet between the pickguard and body.

And the shielding in this case isn't about making a faraday cage, but rather providing a discharge path for the static charge that isn't the signal line. You can be pretty lax with it--my view was that since I'm already in there that I might as well do it correctly.

[jojokeo]

The studio is indeed in a dry foothills location but at night things become more humid again and the static doesn’t seem to mind various weather conditions. lol


I get the idea of static having a place to discharge but again not the issue. When clippiing a cap to ground at the amp’s inputs/sockets this wouldn’t alleviated it. An idea I learned to build into my amps as a precaution per Merlin in his preamp book.


Also, as said earlier - I had the static issue happen at the same/night btwn multiple amps and guitars both. The problem isn’t with any of them by itself.


I like the drier sheet trick a LOT! Cheap and easy to try tonight as I head back tonight.


Thank you guys for your help!

[jojokeo]

Stratomaster!!! You the MFing man! Even though the drier sheets aren't like a permanent cure - THEY freaking WORKED like a charm. Even if it's only for a night or recording/playing session it solved that crazy annoying static! Huge success which allowed last night's session to happen perfectly and well. So stoked there's a cure, even if temporary and I'll take it every night of the week and twice on Sunday.

[Platefire]

"I've also heard of people rubbing anti static drier sheets on their guitars just prior to tracking or sandwiching a sheet between the pickguard and body."

Question? If you play a strat or tele, how do you sandwich an anti static sheet between the pick-guard and body without taking your guitar apart??

[stratomaster]

"I've also heard of people rubbing anti static drier sheets on their guitars just prior to tracking or sandwiching a sheet between the pickguard and body."

Question? If you play a strat or tele, how do you sandwich an anti static sheet between the pick-guard and body without taking your guitar apart??

You take the guitar apart. Pickguard at least.

Can be done easily without even taking the strings off since you're just sliding a sheet in.

[stratomaster]

Stratomaster!!! You the MFing man! Even though the drier sheets aren't like a permanent cure - THEY freaking WORKED like a charm. Even if it's only for a night or recording/playing session it solved that crazy annoying static! Huge success which allowed last night's session to happen perfectly and well. So stoked there's a cure, even if temporary and I'll take it every night of the week and twice on Sunday.

Glad it worked.

If you're this stoked about a band aid just wait until you take my advice about shielding and never worry about static again. 

[uki]

I have a case of static using a slide made of brass, a glass one wouldn't have static, shielding a guitar is always good.
Did you though about you been static charged somehow?!! Some type of clothes may charge more than others.

Here my shielding on a guitar:
before and after

Note the shield is connected to ground on the guitar circuit