Buzz from my 57' Classics...

[HeyMrTeleMan]

My new LP Traditional Plus emits a large amount of buzz in my blackfaced Vibrolux Reverb. It has 57' Classics, just like those in my ES339, which is totally quiet.

Is this a grounding problem? A loose wire? What should I look for? I'm using the same guitar volume/tone settings and the same cord on both guitars.

TIA!

[Billy Penn]

Is the guitar brand new with no mods? This sounds like a ground/wiring problem. Are you using the same guitar cord with both guitars?

[HeyMrTeleMan]

Originally Posted by Billy Penn

Is the guitar brand new with no mods? This sounds like a ground/wiring problem. Are you using the same guitar cord with both guitars?

Thanks for the reply, Billy!

Yes, it's brand new, no mods. And I am using the same guitar cord with both guitars. If it is a ground problem, any clue how to fix it?

Sounds like a trip to a luthier? Is this a warranty thing?

[Billy Penn]

That seems strange being brand new and all. Maybe the ground wire never made it to the tailpiece? Maybe the positive wire is connected to ground and vice versa on the output jack.

It buzzes with the switch in any position? You can try taking a piece of wire and touch it to the tailpiece and touch the other end to one of the pots inside, or touch it to one of the pickup covers but the pots inside will be better.

[Jan Folkson]

As mentioned above, sounds like a grounding issue. The grounding problem could be anywhere, really. Lots of les paul wiring diagrams on the web , follow one visually to see if anything is obvious. If it's nothing obvious and you don't have much experience with wiring, a trip to the tech would be in order.

Alternately, if it's new, you could bring it back and have the dealer troubleshoot it on their dime. If it was mail order, I probably wouldn't risk shipping it.

It probably won't take long for a good tech to figure out the problem and correct it.

[HeyMrTeleMan]

Originally Posted by Jan Folkson

As mentioned above, sounds like a grounding issue. The grounding problem could be anywhere, really. Lots of les paul wiring diagrams on the web , follow one visually to see if anything is obvious. If it's nothing obvious and you don't have much experience with wiring, a trip to the tech would be in order.

Alternately, if it's new, you could bring it back and have the dealer troubleshoot it on their dime. If it was mail order, I probably wouldn't risk shipping it.

It probably won't take long for a good tech to figure out the problem and correct it.

Thanks! In fact it was a purchase from the local GC and they have a tech guy I trust (at least now). I'll give him a call. Wiring is not one of my strong suits. In fact I don't even have a suit...

[GtrDr]

I thought the stock '57's were not potted vs the after market '57's that are potted.

[Don A]

All '57 Classics are potted though that has nothing to do with buzzing. It's probably a bad ground. Does the buzz go away when you touch the strings?

[Jan Folkson]

Originally Posted by GtrDr

I thought the stock '57's were not potted vs the after market '57's that are potted.

Just curious...

What does potted have to do with buzzing?

[HeyMrTeleMan]

OK, I've had time to experiment. No other guitar I have exhibits this much of a buzz. When I touch the strings it lessens a little but not much. It's only when I touch the strings and the pickup that it quiets down. This makes me suspect a ground problem. No? My 339 with the same pickups is quiet as can be. Where might I look? Is this for a skilled luthier? (gut says yes) And will Gibson pay for this under warranty? (I'm the original owner; I would think so.) Do I have to send it back to Gibson? BTW-this guitar did not have this buzz when I bought it. It started a little before I originally posted this, um, post...

Thanks again!

[Billy Penn]

Open the electronics cavity and see if the wire coming from the tailpiece is grounded properly. Maybe it came loose or the solder joint is cold. I believe that the wire used is like a guitar string (maybe it is one) and it is a little weird to solder to it. Keep us, um, posted.....

[Don A]

Use a DMM to check for continuity between the strings and the back of the pots.

Gibson handles this ground very poorly! Sometimes it's not soldered to the pot well (as on my Les Paul), sometimes it's not contacting the threaded insert correctly (as on my ES-135) and sometimes it's completely missing!

[Billy Penn]

Originally Posted by Don A

Use a DMM to check for continuity between the strings and the back of the pots.

Gibson handles this ground very poorly! Sometimes it's not soldered to the pot well (as on my Les Paul), sometimes it's not contacting the threaded insert correctly (as on my ES-135) and sometimes it's completely missing!

YIKES! That would explain it.....hopefully he can figure this out and get back to rockin'!!

[doveman]

I have a new LP Traditional w 57/57+ that I really love ... but I have noticed that when I take my hands off the strings it has a bit of a buzz on all pickup settings. My most expensive guitar and the only one that has this noise.

Strings and bridge seem to be grounded ... when I touch the strings it becomes quiet.

Looked inside and no shielding anywhere. Actually somewhat cheap looking wiring from the switch ... I was suprised actually.

I ran a bit of an experiment. Laying the guitar down on it's face with the plastic control cover off ... quiet ... until I bring my hand close to the control panel ... I introduce the noise with my body.

Anyway, I'm going to replace the wiring ... shield with Stewmac foil in the control and switch cavities I think ... although I have successfully used their shielding paint on a few quitars. I'm pretty sure it's simply picking up RF interference ... mostly through me. While I'm at it, I going to do the RS Guitarworks "modern" kit and standard high quality shielded cable.

Should be good to go after that ... but I was a bit suprised that by the way it looked frankly. A guitar that expensive really ought to have a top quality wiring job.

[bastet]

My Historics buzz when not touching the strings. This appears to be normal per some of the Les Paul forums.

I would say its normal. My guitars are stock with Burstbuckers 1 & 2.