I have just rewired my les Paul and changed the pickups as well. I have changed the standard wiring to 50's style I have used cts pots, paper in oil caps and quality vintage style wiring. I know how to solder and have taken my time over this project but to my disappointment when played for the first time it has got a hum when my hands are not on any of the metal parts, strings, bridge etc. It gets worse when played through a drive pedal when I'm not touching any of the metal parts. I know this is an earth problem, but is there any part of the circuit I should check first ? Any advice welcome.
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If you've used vintage-style braided cable and it's all soldered to the pot casings and switch frames, it's probably a lack of shielding in the control cavity which is the problem. Although this is how they were wired in the original Les Pauls, it will let in some noise. Some caps can be quite prone to it as well, particularly as in the standard Gibson scheme, neither side of the cap is grounded when the tone control isn't turned fully down. If the caps have the outer foil end marked, make sure that's towards the tone control not the volume control, but it still won't make much difference.
Fully shielding the cavity - and the switch cavity - might be the only way. Also, if the pickups aren't covered then that will be a problem too.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
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If the latter, that's the problem.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
This Ebay seller seems to have it in the right length - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLOTH-COVERED-1-7MT-BRAIDED-SHIELDED-PUSH-BACK-WIRE-GIBSON-STYLE-CH14009/201363537009?hash=item2ee233bc71:g:jp0AAOxyBjBTPtGT
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein