How Do You Shield A Solid-Body Electric Guitar Or Bass?
Is the buzz or noise you hear when you plug in your guitar or bass driving you crazy? If you’ve already tried upgrading your cables, and using a different electrical outlet or circuit, and you’re fairly sure your amp is in good working order, your guitar’s electronics may need to be shielded from radio-frequency interference that can be caused by light dimmers, florescent or neon lighting, motors, appliances, and so on. Single-coil pickups are particularly susceptible to this RF (radio-frequency) interference. Guitars from many manufacturers are shielded to some degree at the factory, but most guitars can benefit from a thorough, custom shielding job. This article only covers solid-body electric guitars; shielding a hollow-body guitar would be well beyond the capabilities of anyone other than an experienced luthier. Remove the strings from your guitar and lay it face up on a horizontal work surface. Use a rolled-up towel to prop up the neck, if needed. Remove all knobs and switch tips.
