Pickup hum

[psycho]

I tried searching for this and I got a bunch of the wrong hits.

Anyway, I was just playing my LP Studio and I had my left hand muting all of the strings and I could hear a hum - it sounded kinda like muffled feedback. I turned my switch to the up position and back to the down position and the noise was gone. If I tap lightly on the pickup with my pick, the hum comes back and it does not go away on its own - I have to flip the switch off and back on. By that I mean: I have the volumes set so that the switch in the up (or center) position is effectively an off position.

Is it just the stock pickups or something else? Yes - my guitar is still stock - all the way down to the strings that came with it.

Thanks!

[captcoolaid]

Maybe a bad ground from the switch. Epis have switch problems, at least all the ones I have owned. Look to see if you can see a cold solder joint or a dirty joint.

[psycho]

I will have to check that out too.

It might be my amp settings though (Spider IV 75). Loud and with full gain/dist it hums like that. Low and mellow it doesn't. Maybe it is just a learning curve I need to go through with the guitar and amp.

[captcoolaid]

If it goes away after flip[ping the switch it is more than likely the switch. But you will figure that out. You will eventually change all the electronics. Sounds like you have bonded with it.

[adam_v64]

Originally Posted by psycho

I will have to check that out too.

It might be my amp settings though (Spider IV 75). Loud and with full gain/dist it hums like that. Low and mellow it doesn't. Maybe it is just a learning curve I need to go through with the guitar and amp.

I'd say thats exactly what your problem is. Dont forget toggling the switch briefly cuts the pickup out and stops any feedback. The feedback returns if you tap the pickup or make a noise that starts looping through your amp.

Try turning the gain down a bit or get a decent distortion pedal if you want a metal sound (boss mt2 metal zone is awesome). Having said that, perhaps stock epi pickups aren't the best fit for the sound you want, maybe some higher output ones, or even active ones are better for you

Just my take on it

[Thumpalumpacus]

Sounds like a loose ground to me.

[psycho]

Thanks for all the input! I will open up the back and check for a loose ground. Yes - I love the guitar but there are a couple things that I want to do to her. First would be to put better strings on it and lower the action just a bit. Set the intonation too.

I was not aware until I came to these forums that the quality of the stock electronics is not that good in most cases.

--edit
I opened it up and checked the grounds and visually they look ugly but intact. My meter agrees with me, too.
--

Thanks again!

[VealCutlet]

Wipe down the guitar with a Bounce dryer sheet. Every so often I get a humming sound when touching the pick guard. The dryer sheet neutralizes the static electricity and the hum goes away. I'm not saying that this is your issue but is your meter says the ground is ok, it could be static.

[psycho]

Interesting! I will have to try to remember that.

Thanks!