Les Paul pop and crackle

[zdogma]

I'm getting a loud crackle/popping sound from my Gibson Les Paul when I move the guitar body suddenly. Tried different patch cord and different amp, same thing.

Wired in a new switchcraft jack, no change.

Pots are clean, switch works fine and the internal wiring is nice and neat, all connected.

I wondered about static from the carpet, but not sure why it just started recently?

Any other ideas?

[konasexone]

Get an iron and warm up the solder joints inside your guitar.

[Paul]

I've not witnessed it myself, but I have heard tales of guys whose keys in pockets were the root cause of audible rice krispies.

[greco]

Can you make the crackle/popping sound occur by gently moving any of the wires in the control cavity?

This might help to narrow things down a bit...just something to consider. It might look nice and neat to the eye...but something might be making and breaking contact.

Please let us know what the problem is (was)...once you are sure that you have solved it.

Good Luck

Dave

[zdogma]

I'll give those things a try and get back to you all. Thanks.

[zontar]

Sorry, but given the title of this thread, I couldn't resist-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/cflstampman/Lespaulpopandcrackle.png

[dwagar]

I could very well be static electricity.

[Paul]

I could very well be static electricity.

That's more likely in dry winter months. Now that we've got some humidity in the air.......much less static.

[zdogma]

So checked all the joints and poked at all the wires, can't get the snapping sound. I set a little grounding noise when I touch the capacitors, but I think that's normal.

It seems to happen most consistantly if I'm sitting and move the guitar body away from me. I can shake the guitar and move it around, play, nothing, then I move it away from my body and loud "snap"

Tried it off of the carpet it seems to be the same, so less likely static I think.

I'm going to try a complete rewire next...unless someone can think of something else.

[Tarl]

I've not witnessed it myself, but I have heard tales of guys whose keys in pockets were the root cause of audible rice krispies.

That happened to me. Could not figure it out for the longest time. Then I just moved my keys and change to my left pocket and the crackle was gone.

[zdogma]

So checked all the joints and poked at all the wires, can't get the snapping sound. I set a little grounding noise when I touch the capacitors, but I think that's normal.

It seems to happen most consistantly if I'm sitting and move the guitar body away from me. I can shake the guitar and move it around, play, nothing, then I move it away from my body and loud "snap"

Tried it off of the carpet it seems to be the same, so less likely static I think.

I'm going to try a complete rewire next...unless someone can think of something else.

SO after 10 or 15 minutes of playing in the (damp) linoleum floored laundry room, it goes away. Was there initally, then went away after one or two pops. Static, then, I guess.

[Balou]

ZDOGMA, i got the same problem with my Les Paul.

I finaly found that it was the toggle switch witch was loosy and the contacs not properly clean.

I tighten the switch arms and put some contact cleaner on the switch and all goes fine now.

Hopefully that will help

[zdogma]

ZDOGMA, i got the same problem with my Les Paul.

I finaly found that it was the toggle switch witch was loosy and the contacs not properly clean.

I tighten the switch arms and put some contact cleaner on the switch and all goes fine now.

Hopefully that will help

I'll try that too, thanks for the idea.

[greco]

Did you get this mystery sorted out? Was it due to static?

Just curious.

Cheers

Dave

[zdogma]

ZDOGMA, i got the same problem with my Les Paul.

I finaly found that it was the toggle switch witch was loosy and the contacs not properly clean.

I tighten the switch arms and put some contact cleaner on the switch and all goes fine now.

Hopefully that will help


I did get it sorted out, it was the switch, as Balou suggested. I tightened it up, shot it with some contact cleaner and its completely gone (for about a week, and no sign of it coming back yet).

Thanks a lot to everyone who gave advice.

[greco]

Thanks for posting the problem and solution.

Hats off to Balou !!

Dave