"Grounding" the strings....

Posted by Keith Stanford on February 5, 2013 at 9:50pm

Howdy folks,

Some time back, I read on CigarBoxNation about 'grounding' the strings....and I can't find the conversation anywhere on here.

So I thought I'd just go ahead and ask:

(1) Is it necessary to ground the strings, and if so what is the intention in doing so?

(2) If I am using a simple threaded (metal) screw for the bridge, I would imagine that I can solder a small wire to the end of the screw and stick the wire through a drilled hole in the cigar box.  The questions is where do I attach the end of that wire to accomplish the grounding?

Thanks,

kieta 

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Replies

  • BrianQ. February 6, 2013 at 12:58pm

    If yer using a Piezo, jus make sure it's in place firmly, with no room to vibrate,

    this is where u get hum & hiss from. I like to sandwich it under the top of da

    box with a square scrap of wood on top of it,don't b stingy with da glue when

    yer gluing these together, u want a tight fit so it won't a chance to vibrate.

    Good Luck, post pics when yer finished.

  • Stephen Stocker February 5, 2013 at 10:43pm
    Since most of the grounding is done to the back of the volume and/or tone pots, solder the wire to the back of one of those pots.
  • Ted Crocker February 5, 2013 at 10:19pm

    String grounding is not necessary when using a piezo.

    In a circuit with a mag pickup, the strings are part of the circuit.  They act as a conductor for outside interference which is picked up thru the magnetic field of the pickup and heard thru the amp as buzz, hum or hiss.  Outside interference includes fluorescent lights, dimmer switches, microwave ovens, cordless phones and more.  Grounding the strings eliminates this.

    Yes, you can solder a wire to your metal bridge.  Most pickup circuits that include a volume and tone control use a central grounding point on the back of the volume pot.  That point is soldered to the negative lug of the jack.  If it's just a pickup, run your string ground to that jack lug. 

    Hope this was easy to read and understand...

  • the anonymous pick February 5, 2013 at 10:09pm

    grounding  strings  is  not  necessary  in   all  guitars .

    more so  it is done  to  prevent    static  and  hiss sounds  , and/ or eliminate them.(many people only    ground    "IF" they hear  a hiss  . )

    it  is also  a safty  issue  in     enviroments where the  building you are is  is   grounded or  not  . 

     

    most  2nd grounding  points are      to  the back (top)  of the volume  pot .   sometimes   the   jack  .

     

    not  including   volume/ tone   pots    in   your build ,   and going  straight   pup  to    jack  ,  usually  omits the need   to  ground the strings .

     hope that helps  .  

     

     

     

     

     

     

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