Shielding my Tele

[Edutainment]

I want to shield my Tele so it doesn't hum so much but don't have copper tape and what not. Can I just use foil or something? You think I could use duct tape? Not normal duct tape, I mean the stuff you actually use on ducts. It's actually metal. Know what I'm talking about? It would be much cleaner than foil.

[thechamp96@hotmail.c]

I want to shield my Tele so it doesn't hum so much but don't have copper tape and what not. Can I just use foil or something? You think I could use duct tape? Not normal duct tape, I mean the stuff you actually use on ducts. It's actually metal. Know what I'm talking about? It would be much cleaner than foil.

I suspect that aluminum tape (if that's what you're talking about) would probably work as well as copper, although there may be an issue with conductivity.

Anywho, if you're concerned you can get copper shielding tabe for $5 at most places. I picked some up here: http://www.guitarpartscanada.com/product_info.php?products_id=175

[Edutainment]

The thing is, I don't wanna have to buy online. That's too much of a hassle.

[Hamm Guitars]

I use the aluminium tape on my R&D guitars. A friend of mine is an aircraft mechanic and they use the stuff all the time, so I get it for nothing.

You can see a roll in this picture:

http://www.hammguitars.com/pub/gc/pmb.JPG


It does the job, but you have to always fold over one edge as the glue does not conduct. You could also solder it, but that is just way more work that it is worth - large areas sink allot of heat and you end up inhaling burning glue fumes, which is not as pleasent as it sounds.

[Edutainment]

but you have to always fold over one edge as the glue does not conduct.

What do you mean? I understand the part about the glue conducting but why would I have to fold over an edge?

EDIT: Oh wait I think I know what you mean. I have to fold over an edge between separate pieces so they all touch? and I don't think you can solder aluminum, can you?

[Hamm Guitars]

Yes, you will want to fold them over so you have metal to metal contact. You can solder to aluminium, but it is a bit of a pain, so I don't do it.

[laristotle]

Yes, you will want to fold them over so you have metal to metal contact.

Another option is to use acetone or finger polish
remover to take off any glue at the contact points.

[Wild Bill]

What do you mean? I understand the part about the glue conducting but why would I have to fold over an edge?

EDIT: Oh wait I think I know what you mean. I have to fold over an edge between separate pieces so they all touch? and I don't think you can solder aluminum, can you?

Google up a site called "guitarnuts.com". They have tons of info for you, including great stuff on shielding. More important, they talk about how most guitars are wired WRONG, even from the factory!

The problem is bad grounding schemes which cause ground loops that pick up hum. Most times you see a rat's nest of ground wires running everywhere, across the back of the pots and tied to multiple points. It's like grounding in a car where everything is DC and grounds are tied to any convenient point on the frame. Guys seem to think the idea is to build a spider web in your guitar that will somehow shield everything.

The correct way is what's called "star grounding". You use ONE common ground! Forget about frying your pots by trying to melt solder on their backshells. It's not necessary to ground them at all. Just bring all the ground points to one spot and tie it to the ground side of the output jack.

I've found guitars that have come right from the factory with a "messy" ground. The last few years the manufacturers seem to be smartening up.

Anyhow, "guitarnuts" can help a LOT!

:food-smiley-004:

[SCREEM]

if you plan on keeping the tele, you may as well get the 12"x12" copper sticky backed foil. it's like 18 shipped on ebay. A tele uses 65% of the sheet including the pickguard
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g176/SCREEMER123/th_stuff085.jpg (http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g176/SCREEMER123/stuff085.jpg)
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g176/SCREEMER123/th_stuff082.jpg (http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g176/SCREEMER123/stuff082.jpg)
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g176/SCREEMER123/th_stuff081.jpg (http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g176/SCREEMER123/stuff081.jpg)

I made small tubes of copper shield to join all the cavity's in the wire channels, hard to see in the pics, but this tele is 100% shielded....helps alot when you turn up the drive on the amp.