ripoffriffs
Silver Supporting Member
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I posted this in the Guitar Tech forum, but I would like to get maximum exposure to this problem, so I post it here too:
I've got a noise/microphonic problem with my 1991 PRS EG (the small neck heel model) pickguard . If I touch the pickup screws with my fingertip, I hear a "tick" from the amp. Touch the screws by tapping on it repeatedly with my fingertip and its tick-tick-tick-tick-tick. Furthermore, if I take my fingertip and rub it across the pickguard, it would produce a scratching sound coming out of the amp. This is most prominent if the amp is on overdrive mode or OD pedal on. The screws on the top part of the pickups does not seem to be a problem.
See picture below: it's the circled area between the pickups and pickup selector, including the bottom screws of the pickups. If you were to take your fingertip and rub across that white area, it would sound like a rap DJ scratching coming out of the amp. Not my style of music.
It's most problematic if I am playing and my right-hand would touch the pickup screws alot when strumming. Aside from hearing the music, I hear the tick-tick-tick. Obviously, it just ruins the music. Note: there is NO SHOCK whatsoever from touching the screws, just the tick noise.
Does anyone else have this problem? Anyone have any insights as to how this can be alleviated? Will I need to place copper shielding tape on the bottom side of the pickguard? What's the solution I can suggest to my guitar tech before I take it to him?
Otherwise, this is such a great guitar--- intonation, feel, playability, tone. But it's in danger of losing its mojo from that noise, and I don't want to have to sell it to a rap DJ.
I've got a noise/microphonic problem with my 1991 PRS EG (the small neck heel model) pickguard . If I touch the pickup screws with my fingertip, I hear a "tick" from the amp. Touch the screws by tapping on it repeatedly with my fingertip and its tick-tick-tick-tick-tick. Furthermore, if I take my fingertip and rub it across the pickguard, it would produce a scratching sound coming out of the amp. This is most prominent if the amp is on overdrive mode or OD pedal on. The screws on the top part of the pickups does not seem to be a problem.
See picture below: it's the circled area between the pickups and pickup selector, including the bottom screws of the pickups. If you were to take your fingertip and rub across that white area, it would sound like a rap DJ scratching coming out of the amp. Not my style of music.

It's most problematic if I am playing and my right-hand would touch the pickup screws alot when strumming. Aside from hearing the music, I hear the tick-tick-tick. Obviously, it just ruins the music. Note: there is NO SHOCK whatsoever from touching the screws, just the tick noise.
Does anyone else have this problem? Anyone have any insights as to how this can be alleviated? Will I need to place copper shielding tape on the bottom side of the pickguard? What's the solution I can suggest to my guitar tech before I take it to him?
Otherwise, this is such a great guitar--- intonation, feel, playability, tone. But it's in danger of losing its mojo from that noise, and I don't want to have to sell it to a rap DJ.