Stratocaster Buzz

[gyrow35]

OK - Now I have had two strats over my lifetime and I still haven't figured out how to get rid of that annoying buzz that occurs on any of the settings except when I toggle the pickup between the bridge and the middle pickup???
Thanks Mike

[jmaibauer]

you might try adjusting the action. If the action if a little off it can buzz

[Blewbyou]

Is it a string buzz when you play or an electrics buzz coming from the pickups or vol/tone pots?

[gyrow35]

It is a electrical hum and depending on which direction I am standing will increase the sound.

[zachfrazier]

then its the amp

[Jstickley]

no lol.. What type of stratocaster is it? A squire? That buzz you are hearing, is an electrical buzz. This can be caused from a couple different area's. First try unplugging your guitar from the amp. leaving the cord plugged into the amp. Do not touch the end of the cable. Turn your amp on. Still hear the buzzing? If you do, unplug the cable from the amp and see if you still hear it. If you do, its somthing with the amp. If not, its somthign in the cable. If you have the cable in the amp, but not in the guitar, and there is no buzzing, then theres a issue with one or more of the grounds inside your guitar. This gets tricky. If you dont know what your doing when it comes to guitar electronics, then i would suggest one of two things. 1. dealing with it, or 2. taking it to a shop.

99% of the time, it is a guitar ground issue, inside the guitar. Move your selector switch to until it stops buzzing, if that is possible. The move it to where it is buzzing. Once you find where it is buzzing, take note of the selector switch and that will narrow down where it is coming from. Alot of times a bridge pickup wont buzz, but a mid and neck pickup will buzz. Again, if your not comfortable with opening up your guitar, take it to a shop and let them do it.

I hope this helps.. if you decide to tackle this, i can post some tips on what to look for.

Jesse

[Blewbyou]

Hey Jesse,
Is there not certain electrical frequencies that interfer with single coil pickups? I thought I heard a guy talking one day that his Tele he can't gig with in certain areas of the city because of interferece. I know neon signs interfere with them. Anther option would be to try pluging your amp into a different recepticle in the house or unpluging whatever else is plugged in with your amp to make sure there is no interference.Just a thought.
Blew

[Jstickley]

Well as far as interference.. It will effect pickups, like you have said, but it will also hit you through your cables, internal wiring, switches, pots, and the most damaging is the circuitry inside of your amp, and the wires that carry the signal to the amp's speaker (combo amp) or any of the wires inside/going to a cabinet.

For the most part, alot of the stuff is sheilded, and it does a good job. Ive played in a few places where ive accually had to throw a separate noisegate into the effects loop to attempt to get rid of alot of the interference. Alot of wireless guys will also be affected by this also.

As for this fender. I would be willing to bet money on it being inside the guitar. If i get a chance, i will scan a wiring diagram from fender on how they should be wired. Ironically enough, the ONLY guitars that accually follow this specific diagram is the custom shop fenders. The mass produced guitars from fender, that have a ground issue, are not wired in this fashion, but rewiring them to these specifications, completly eleminates all ground loop buzzing and for the most part, eleminates interference.

Jesse

[gyrow35]

Jesse - Thanks for the inofrmation - I think I am on my way now, just for the record it is a american regular strat. I definetly get the buzz from the neck and bridge pickup, a little from the middle pickup - but none when I position between the bridge and middle pickup. If you could send that wiring diagram I will take a look and see if I can follow it. If not I will take it in and have it fixed.
Thanks Mike

[Jstickley]

Will do, lemmie see if i can con this scanner into working for a few passes and ill send em over to ya.. if not, ill see if i can find the faxback information and give that to you

Jesse

[nitemare]

The single coil pickups can pick up the frequency of the mains supply from nearby electrical equipment, for example computer, tv, etc. It does not mean surely that you've got problems with your guitar, if you have lots of machines nearby then its normal. When I turn my guitar to face my computer then the noise gets louder.
Thats why someone invented the humbucker pickup. It has two coils connected in such a way the noise is eliminated.
As I know when you switch the strato between two single coils, then they will work as a humbucker. The single coils alone will have the noise.