I did this to a Squier Mustang that wasn't really noisy to start with but I had it all apart to work on it anyway so I figured "why not?" I used similar adhesive-backed 2" aluminum tape meant for sealing ductwork etc. The cavities were painted with black shielding paint, supposedly, but the meter showed it didn't always have continuity from point to point so I just put the foil over it, being neat and careful, going for full coverage. Also let the tape lip over the edges and shielded the back of the pickguard. I used a version of your folded edge jumper technique to maintain metal-to-metal contact between the tape strips. Long story short, I was ASTONISHED at how quiet this made the guitar. I've since done this on a couple other guitars and gotten good results. One technical point- this is not actually a 'Faraday cage' since your pickups, controls and hardware protrude outside. It's just a radio interference shield but it works, better on some guitars than others. The big pickguard area on Fender-styled guitars probably aids the effect.
Thanks for the feedback! Sounds like we’ve had similar results. I agree that this has made a big difference on all the guitars I’ve done it to (Teles & Strats). Like you said; conveniently, the guitars that typically need it (with single coils) usually have a large pickguard to help. I haven’t tried this on any humbucker equipped guitars I have.
@@NathanSink I did it to a Les Paul with uncovered humbuckers and it made a big difference. The uncovered fronts are still open to EMI exposure in some situations, nothing new and not a big deal really, just figure what's making the noise and don't aim at it. Tele, Strat and P90 single-coil players already know about this anyway. An interesting thing about shielding is besides amps, neon lights, display screens and so on, you'd be surprised how much the human body's own electrical properties and nervous system can interfere with signals in a guitar or other device, with some folks more than others. Try it with a portable radio sometime, if you're a charged-up live-wire kind of person like me you can mess with the radio's signal by changing body location or waving your arms. I was also hit by lightning when I was young, maybe I give off more radio energy than most people. Ha!
Thanks for the great video. I think when I do mine, I'm going to do the pickguard only as I've read that is where most of the hum cancelling is achieved. Basically creating a shield rather than a cage.
Just know that this will change the sound of the guitar. You may be fine with it, for me, I noticed pretty quickly that it sterilized my tone and I removed the shielding. And interesting thing to try however.
I did my strat with the aluminum tape. Total took away the hum. I didn't know about the continuity issue but it still worked. I did burnish all the edges and overlapped the top.
If you check out @22:55, you can see that the bridge pickup is grounded to its own baseplate & that baseplate is connected to the bridge plate through the screws. I did have a set of Tex Mex pickups in this guitar before. The bridge pickup of that set doesn’t actually have a baseplate, so instead there was a little “pig tail” that grounded it to the bridge plate. Hope that makes sense. Just for kicks, here is the video where I swapped out the pickups: ua-cam.com/video/0bJzKfwdrB4/v-deo.htmlsi=Bu25mPFoicTIwahX At @5:39 you can see a comparison of the bottom of the bridge pickups.
@@NathanSinkah I see what’s your mean, I’m not entirely sure that baseplate would serve the same purpose and based off the before and after that sounded like a grounding issue combined with the lack of shielding. Either way, informative video!!
Yes, but I’ve found it difficult to work with. It tears easily & doesn’t seem to go where you want it. If you use it I would recommend the heavy duty kind (not the cheaper, thin version).
@@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364 here’s an article from Guitar.com that says, “While copper is indeed the better conductor, it also carries an increased price per metre. Aluminium is only slightly weaker for guitar shielding purposes, but it’s both cheaper and more plentiful.” guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/tech-talk-how-to-shield-your-guitar/#
@@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364 I can afford a roll of copper, but I’m also economical. The goal here is shielding unwanted signal noise, not fine circuitry. I’m not wanting to argue. If you choose copper, great….but aluminum does the job too: it just does. 🤷🏻♂️
![GUITAR SHIELDING 101: A [Relatively] Quick Guide to Working with Foil Tape](/img/n.gif)
Nice work! I am convinced.
I did this to a Squier Mustang that wasn't really noisy to start with but I had it all apart to work on it anyway so I figured "why not?" I used similar adhesive-backed 2" aluminum tape meant for sealing ductwork etc. The cavities were painted with black shielding paint, supposedly, but the meter showed it didn't always have continuity from point to point so I just put the foil over it, being neat and careful, going for full coverage. Also let the tape lip over the edges and shielded the back of the pickguard. I used a version of your folded edge jumper technique to maintain metal-to-metal contact between the tape strips. Long story short, I was ASTONISHED at how quiet this made the guitar. I've since done this on a couple other guitars and gotten good results. One technical point- this is not actually a 'Faraday cage' since your pickups, controls and hardware protrude outside. It's just a radio interference shield but it works, better on some guitars than others. The big pickguard area on Fender-styled guitars probably aids the effect.
Thanks for the feedback! Sounds like we’ve had similar results. I agree that this has made a big difference on all the guitars I’ve done it to (Teles & Strats). Like you said; conveniently, the guitars that typically need it (with single coils) usually have a large pickguard to help. I haven’t tried this on any humbucker equipped guitars I have.
@@NathanSink I did it to a Les Paul with uncovered humbuckers and it made a big difference. The uncovered fronts are still open to EMI exposure in some situations, nothing new and not a big deal really, just figure what's making the noise and don't aim at it. Tele, Strat and P90 single-coil players already know about this anyway. An interesting thing about shielding is besides amps, neon lights, display screens and so on, you'd be surprised how much the human body's own electrical properties and nervous system can interfere with signals in a guitar or other device, with some folks more than others. Try it with a portable radio sometime, if you're a charged-up live-wire kind of person like me you can mess with the radio's signal by changing body location or waving your arms. I was also hit by lightning when I was young, maybe I give off more radio energy than most people. Ha!
@@markpell8979 😂 that’s crazy. You’re electric!
Thanks for the great video. I think when I do mine, I'm going to do the pickguard only as I've read that is where most of the hum cancelling is achieved. Basically creating a shield rather than a cage.
Glad to help! Thanks for the kind words. Hope your shielding goes well!
Subscribed, because of this video
Thank you!
Just know that this will change the sound of the guitar. You may be fine with it, for me, I noticed pretty quickly that it sterilized my tone and I removed the shielding. And interesting thing to try however.
@@TeleCaster66 something to consider, for sure.
I did my strat with the aluminum tape. Total took away the hum. I didn't know about the continuity issue but it still worked. I did burnish all the edges and overlapped the top.
Nice!
Very nice.Btw can you tell me how much these semi hollow Teles weigh pl? [without the Bigsby]
I have written down that mine weights 6lbs 10oz. (I’m pretty sure that’s without the Bigsby).
Very nice ,my Lightest Tele is 8lb 2oz so that's really good.
There’s no ground connected to the bridge plate, doing this killed two birds with one stone though!
If you check out @22:55, you can see that the bridge pickup is grounded to its own baseplate & that baseplate is connected to the bridge plate through the screws. I did have a set of Tex Mex pickups in this guitar before. The bridge pickup of that set doesn’t actually have a baseplate, so instead there was a little “pig tail” that grounded it to the bridge plate. Hope that makes sense.
Just for kicks, here is the video where I swapped out the pickups: ua-cam.com/video/0bJzKfwdrB4/v-deo.htmlsi=Bu25mPFoicTIwahX At @5:39 you can see a comparison of the bottom of the bridge pickups.
@@NathanSinkah I see what’s your mean, I’m not entirely sure that baseplate would serve the same purpose and based off the before and after that sounded like a grounding issue combined with the lack of shielding. Either way, informative video!!
does regular kitchen aluminum foil work?
Yes, but I’ve found it difficult to work with. It tears easily & doesn’t seem to go where you want it. If you use it I would recommend the heavy duty kind (not the cheaper, thin version).
@@NathanSink thanks for the answer. great video btw, it's helping me a lot
@@tomhet_0 glad to help!
is there any difference between aluminum - copper tape at the end result? or one of them actually better than the others?. thanks!!
Nope. Both work the same. 🙂
Yes, Google it.
@@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364 here’s an article from Guitar.com that says, “While copper is indeed the better conductor, it also carries an increased price per metre. Aluminium is only slightly weaker for guitar shielding purposes, but it’s both cheaper and more plentiful.”
guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/tech-talk-how-to-shield-your-guitar/#
@@NathanSink It is inferior for several reasons, if you can't afford a roll of copper tape go find something else to do.
@@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364 I can afford a roll of copper, but I’m also economical. The goal here is shielding unwanted signal noise, not fine circuitry. I’m not wanting to argue. If you choose copper, great….but aluminum does the job too: it just does. 🤷🏻♂️
I know the pain 😢
Everyone likes this color
😻 Promo sm