Static build up in new Gretsch

[Lillis]

Well, received my new G5420t Gretsch from Sweetwater on Wednesday. Right away I noticed crackling sound through amp when strumming. I finally realized it was happening when my fingers contacted the pick guard. The guard was touching the pickups so I loosened it and moved it barely off the pickups. That fixed 95% of the issue but once in a while when I pick it up from the stand after it’s been sitting for a bit (plugged in) it will make a popping sound when my hand contacts the strings. Also there is the same cracking sound if I run my finger across the top of either pick up. Rubbing a dryer sheet will fix it for half a day or so.

So Sweetwater said I can return it and they can try to fix it. It’s a beautiful guitar and plays great out of the box so i’d Like to keep this one. Of course I don’t want to hassle with shipping it back and going without it for a period of time. Anyway curious on others thoughts whether to just live with it as is or send it back and see if they can even find the problem. I’m assuming it’s a bad ground somewhere.

BTW before I realized what was causing it I gave the pickup switch and output jack a shot of contact cleaner.

Thanks for any ideas.
Jim

[Dru Edwards]

I think you're probably correct that it's a ground wire connection or a bad solder joint. Have you checked the output jack and the pickup soldering? Also, is there another ground wire that connects somewhere that might be loose (Think Steve will know this).

[Lillis]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I think you're probably correct that it's a ground wire connection or a bad solder joint. Have you checked the output jack and the pickup soldering? Also, is there another ground wire that connects somewhere that might be loose (Think Steve will know this).

I really don’t feel confident taking apart a new guitar. A little afraid i could make matters worse.

[Roccorobb]

I had a telecaster that did this. I did everything I could to stop it. Some people said to wipe dryer sheets on the pickguard. It did work but only temporarily. I switched pickguards, did a full rewire, changed pickups, fully shielded the cavity and the back of the pick guard, etc. It never completely went away. Send the guitar back I hope the next one comes back without it!

[Gdjjr]

That's interesting- I have a 2657 I haven't even removed the protective whatever it is they put on the pick guard and the pick ups- I notice a bit of not perfect sound once in a while, but I just chalk it up to me-

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Lillis

I really don’t feel confident taking apart a new guitar. A little afraid i could make matters worse.

Understood. I'd return it / exchange it for another.

[Pnewsom]

Ground the pick guard. Find a way to descretely run a bit of wire from the pick guard mounting hardware to the nearest grounded piece of metal. It can be one of the pickups, tail piece, or some part of the controls, so long as it is to ground. It will serve to discharge any build up of static electricity in the pick guard. Adhesive backed copper foil also works well.

[Lillis]

My sales rep called earlier to follow up. He is going to have one of their techs call me. In the mean time i think i will take the guard off and see if static still builds up on the pickups.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I think you're probably correct that it's a ground wire connection or a bad solder joint. Have you checked the output jack and the pickup soldering? Also, is there another ground wire that connects somewhere that might be loose (Think Steve will know this).

On most Bigsby-equipped guitars regardless of brand, there's a ground wire underneath the tailpiece - be sure it's making full contact (if you're averse to soldering, a small compacted square of aluminum foil will do the trick); as far as the pickguard is concerned I've never heard of this problem before, even when it's making contact with the pickups, so anything I say will necessarily be pure speculation. Granted it's a long shot, but maybe the metallic paint on the underside of the pickguard is somehow contacting the pickup casing and creating a ground loop - I'd remove it outright for now and see if the problem goes away, until you hear from the tech...

[Lillis]

Thanks Steve. I did take the guard off and the issue is still present. Interesting about the ground under the Bigsby. I’ll research that and talk to the tech about it.

[phcorrigan]

Have you tried a different cable? Also, if you amp is facing you, position it so it is not directly on-axis with the guitar. Point it at least 15-20 degrees away.

[jonfields45]

Sometimes this stuff is unexplainable.

A friend dropped off an inexpensive Les Paul like guitar that was humming. I could not reproduce the hum and checked all the wiring, which was done entirely with shielded cable. I gave it back to him with some copper foil adhesive tape and said he can try shielding it but I expected it not to work. But he said it cured the problem.

I have a PRS S2 McCarty 594 Thinline which I recently rewired with Dunlop Ultra POTs ($12 each at Amplified Parts, double that at StewMac). Again entirely wired with coax and worked great before and after, but if I have the guitar in my lap, hands not on the strings, and touch my laptop, it picks up a lot of noise. No big deal.

However, I'm fooling around modding a Squier Affinity Mustang. It is a $150 guitar wired with unshielded copper wire. It does have cavity conductive paint and a metal plate for the controls. At 10% the price and under the same conditions DEAD QUIET!

Noise pickup is tricky for sure. I would spend a little more time experimenting with the guitar before sending it back. If you have or can borrow a multimeter, checking that all the metal is grounded is a good next step.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

On most Bigsby-equipped guitars regardless of brand, there's a ground wire underneath the tailpiece - be sure it's making full contact (if you're averse to soldering, a small compacted square of aluminum foil will do the trick); as far as the pickguard is concerned I've never heard of this problem before, even when it's making contact with the pickups, so anything I say will necessarily be pure speculation. Granted it's a long shot, but maybe the metallic paint on the underside of the pickguard is somehow contacting the pickup casing and creating a ground loop - I'd remove it outright for now and see if the problem goes away, until you hear from the tech...

Thanks Steve - that makes sense.

[Lillis]

Thanks for all the good input. I have used different cables and amps to no avail. I’ll decide what to do next after i talk to their tech. Otherwise it is a really great guitar and set up great. I’d really rather not exchange it for another. I suspect they would be able to fix this one easily enough.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Understood. I'd return it / exchange it for another.

The above.

Here's a recent review of your new Gretsch 5420T model: https://oldtimemusic.com/gretsch-g5420t/