Shielding Electronics in a hollow box

Posted by Habanera Hal on February 3, 2015 at 8:01pm

Hello all!  I have a question regarding shielding electronics in a CBG.

In a solid body guitar (like a Strat), each routed cavity is normally wrapped with copper foil to reduce or eliminate hum and feedback.  Typically, our CBGs are just a hollow box - no seperate or small close-fitting cavities for the electronics.  Should the entire interior of the box be lined with copper tape?  How do you shield your electronics?  Pics please!

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Replies

  • BrianQ. February 9, 2015 at 3:09am
    You can just shield the isolated area around key components on the underside of your box, I think it's enough to keep down most RF interference. not very cost effective to cover the whole inside of the box.
  • Scott aka Farmer Ted February 4, 2015 at 7:03pm

    Not really needed in cigar box. But potentiometers should have a ground wire attached/soldered to their backs that connect to the ground lug of the output jack. Also, strings or the bridge if metal, should be grounded too. With all the metal grounded, most if not all 60Hz hum should be reduced effectively.

    If you want to go all out and shield a single coil mag pickup, and there is enough room, you can make a small enclosure that simulates a cavity like found on a solid body guitar. The enclosure would be lined with copper tape, but to make it a true shield, it would need to have a connection to ground, or it won't work.

  • Brian Revels February 4, 2015 at 6:27pm

    I know what you are talking about, but have never heard of, or seen, folks doing this with CBGs.  I imagine you could, but it would all depend on the pickups and electronics used whether it would actually be worth it.  I think it would be a waste in most cases... just my opinion.

    • Habanera Hal > Brian Revels February 4, 2015 at 8:16pm

      Definitely not a waste.  I am a firm believer in shielding as completely as possible.

      In a solid body guitar it is relatively easy to "quarantine" the individual components to reduce the amount of Radio Frequency (RF) buzz and interference that will come out of the speaker cabinet.  It makes a significant difference to the sound.  RF can create all kinds of unwanted noise.

      The intent of sheilding is to surround all the electronic components as much as is possible.  My query is specifically about the hollow boxes we use for CBGs, i.e.: is it better to wrap and ground each individual component (and how would you do that), or line the entire box inside with copper tape making a Faraday cage?


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