Is there a grounding problem with my brand new Les Paul Studio?

[kingneptune117]

Hey all,

Here is my problem. When I play my les paul studio through high distortion, i get an annoying buzzing/humming sound. This is really frustrating considering how this is my first experience with gibson.

Even my Agile AL-2000 (250 dollar les paul knock off) has little to no buzzing, just like a guitar should.

There is a clear difference between the buzzing levels between these two guitars, which leads me to think there is an issue.

Any ideas?

Should I send it back??

Please help me

Humming possibly? - YouTube

 

[LKB3rd]

No. That is normal or at least common. Some people do all sorts of stuff to fix it, but I just rest my hand on the bridge if I am not touching the strings with the fretting hand (which isn't often).
A tuner with a mute, volume pedal, or the volume knob on the guitar can be used between songs to mute it away.

 

[kingneptune117]

but then why is it that, with my agile al 2000, there is no buzzing noise at all? The video doesnt quite do it justice.

 

[Hotrat66]

Does the buzz go away if you touch the bridge?

 

[kingneptune117]

Does the buzz go away if you touch the bridge?

Yes, it does. It sounds normal when I touch the bridge.

 

[River]

but then why is it that, with my agile al 2000, there is no buzzing noise at all?

Low-output pickups, perhaps?

 

[LKB3rd]

but then why is it that, with my agile al 2000, there is no buzzing noise at all? The video doesnt quite do it justice.

Different guitars are... different. Try a Tele. It hums like crazy, but it sounds so good people put up with it. Maybe Agile put more effort into shielding, whereas Gibson doesn't because when you touch it to play, it goes away. Therefore why bother. Just speculating on that, but you get the point hopefully.

 

[Hotrat66]

Yes, it does. It sounds normal when I touch the bridge.

Then yes there is a ground problem

 

[River]

Then yes there is a ground problem

Roman Rist and BCRGreg, among others, assure me that there is no such thing as an electric guitar that doesn't generate hum which virtually disappears when you touch the strings/bridge.

I take them at their word, backed up with my personal experience.

It's a matter of degree, and OP saying his video doesn't do his hum justice leads me to believe the degree in this case is significantly perceived, not actual. The signal/noise ratio is greatly affected by effects, amp settings, and local interference (check cable shielding, etc.).

No hum isn't actually possible.

 

[kingneptune117]

Roman Rist and BCRGreg, among others, assure me that there is no such thing as an electric guitar that doesn't generate hum which virtually disappears when you touch the strings/bridge.

I take them at their word, backed up with my personal experience.

It's a matter of degree, and OP saying his video doesn't do his hum justice leads me to believe the degree in this case is significantly perceived, not actual. The signal/noise ratio is greatly affected by effects, amp settings, and local interference (check cable shielding, etc.).

No hum isn't actually possible.

Would you agree that if my les paul knockoff generates a good amount less hum then my studio, there is a problem?

 

[River]

Would you agree that if my les paul knockoff generates a good amount less hum then my studio, there is a problem?

No, because I can't quantify "good amount" without hearing it. It could be solely attributable to pickup output, or a combination of that, shielding, potting, length of ground wires, and several other factors.

If it's buzzing so loudly it's overcoming your quiet strumming signal, or doesn't stop when you touch, you've got a real problem. Anything more subtle than that, I wouldn't try to diagnose without having the guitar in hand.

 

[refin]

There is a HUGE difference between "buzz".....and "hum".
Buzz is a grounding problem......hum is a coil problem.

 

[Hotrat66]

I just listened to your video and I have NEVER owned a guitar that did that that didnt have a bad ground somewhere. NONE of my guitars do that, and if they did I would check every ground until I got it to stop.

 

[kingneptune117]

I just listened to your video and I have NEVER owned a guitar that did that that didnt have a bad ground somewhere. NONE of my guitars do that, and if they did I would check every ground until I got it to stop.

Go to 10 seconds. I realize that me hitting the strings created some noise, but you can really hear the buzz/hum at this point in time. Would you send this thing back if you were me?

 

[kingneptune117]

Here's a second, more clear video. Listen for the noise differences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_L84qDl65M&feature=youtu.be

 

[kingneptune117]

UPDATE**

I am noticing something here. Sometimes the problem is present. Sometimes it is not. I just played it for a solid 5 minutes with no hum, i repositioned myself and moved around, and boom, the issue was present again. Could this be a loose connection moving around inside the guitar?

 

[VictorZA]

Take it to your local tech and have him check it. It's just not possible to properly diagnose over the net.

 

[Colnago1]

UPDATE**

I am noticing something here. Sometimes the problem is present. Sometimes it is not. I just played it for a solid 5 minutes with no hum, i repositioned myself and moved around, and boom, the issue was present again. Could this be a loose connection moving around inside the guitar?

Sounds like you're getting interference from an outside source. Fluorescent lighting, fridge, monitor, any of these things will cause issues and you moving away from them will lesson the problem.

 

[gpasq]

UPDATE**

I am noticing something here. Sometimes the problem is present. Sometimes it is not. I just played it for a solid 5 minutes with no hum, i repositioned myself and moved around, and boom, the issue was present again. Could this be a loose connection moving around inside the guitar?

It's your computer screen or some other source of interference.

 

[AngryHatter]

Would you agree that if my les paul knockoff generates a good amount less hum then my studio, there is a problem?

No, it could just be the difference in pickup output.
Your knockoff could use tinfoil or paint for shielding that Gibson thinks looks like poop in a cavity.