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ESD Crackling

Ruouthere

New member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3
Hi folks, first post. I’ve recently purchased a new LP Modern that crackles when I run my hand up and down the back side of the neck without touching anything metal on the guitar. I hear what appears to be ESD discharge crackle through my amp. After running my hand back and forth a few times then touch the strings, I hear a louder snap. The store tells me that it is ESD and it’s normal with LP’s.
Does anyone else have this problem? I’ve tried 2 Moderns and they both do it. Thanks.
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
Static electric charges occur because some materials have a tendency to give off electrons and develop a positive charge (air and human skin are examples of materials that do this) while others tend to attract electrons and develop a negative charge (plastics, metals, the lacquer finish on your guitar are examples of materials that can do this). If too much charge builds up it can cause the crackling effect you describe. Les Paul guitars are no more or less prone to this than any other guitar but there are lots of variables that mean some people can experience the problem with a specific guitar while others don't.

Some of the things you can do to try to minimise this is wiping the guitar down with an anti-static cloth (the anti-static clothes dryer sheets are good for this), avoid wearing man made fibre clothes that are prone to static build up, if you have particularly dry skin use a moisturiser on your hands as dry skin is much more prone to developing a static charge than moist skin.
 

Ruouthere

New member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3
Paul, good explanation but let me fill in a few blanks from my first post. My other guitars - Fender American Tele, Strat and PRS CE 24 being played on the same amp, same cord, sitting on the same stool within minutes of each other don’t crackle. Once I figured out it was ESD, I sprayed Static Guard on my hand and wiped down the neck. Also sprayed the carpet under my feet. It will also crackle in the guitar store completely different environment. My guitar instructor and band member has never heard any LP make that noise. Lastly, I brought my first Modern back to the store and exchanged for the one I have now, they both crackled in my home and at the store, I’m stumped?? Thanks.
 
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renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Quick experiment.

Get a 12" or larger piece of copper wire and strip the ends around an inch or two.

Pop off a knob on your volume control.

Wrap one end around something on the bridge, the legs if you can or the bridge itself.

Wrap the other around the screw post of the control (not the shaft).

Does it stop?

Yes = you have no ground on the bridge inside.

No = Take off the wrap on the control and loosen the output jack and wrap it under the nut there.

Yes = ground on the jack or going to it is bad.

No = you are an electrical gremlin.
 

Ruouthere

New member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Messages
3
Hey guys, mystery solved. While googling this topic it brought me to a YouTube video from 2019 reviewing the new LP Modern. Low and behold the reviewer talked about the ESD snapping while moving your hand up and down the neck. Apparently it’s a carry over from a previous Classic model. Thanks for the input all.
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
ESD = electro static discharge. If you get a static charge build up on the guitar it can cause a crackling noise through the amp.
 

Linaberd

New member
Joined
Nov 7, 2021
Messages
4
All normal acoustic guitars are made of wood. The thing is that my humbuckers have 2 wires only, a signal wire and a shield, it was necessary to unscrew the sensor and unhook the whiskers of coils and solder wires to them, I did everything successfully, but six months later decided bridge sensor better quality rag tape to wrap, and then only was regular, the result was sad: when unwinding the tape broke the turns, had to buy another humbucker. The guitar is connected to the body of what it is connected to. And if this case is not grounded, it can pull, but for this you should hold on to something metal and grounded in addition to the guitar.


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