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Static issues with new Les Paul

golfnut

Active member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
196
I recently picked up a brand new Les Paul Standard 50's that I am pretty much satisfied with. Playability and tone its a perfect fit for me. Having owned many fine guitars I realize nothing is perfect and I don't mind putting a little work in to a guitar to make it my own and solve small issues if need be.
I did some googling and it seems that I'm not the only one that has experienced this problem
Some players report that the get static from the neck and parts of the body. I don't have that, but it seems any contact with the back control plates screws can cause it. Sometimes touching metal parts in the front of the guitar can cause some crackling. Also I've read that some say its just an issue with the nitro finish and that after playing the guitar for a couple years it will go away on its own.
So I'm just wondering if anyone knows this to be true. Or is there something I could do for grounding or whatever?
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276

Grounding wire, internal?

Could be your environs, your electricity source, cabling... but you have others as a control group so....

Also folks have tried wiping plastic bits with anti-static wipes i.e. dryer sheets.
 
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golfnut

Active member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
196
It is from low humidity and is an enviromental issue. Weirdest damn thing makes me crazy. I've been attatched via alligator clips and wire to a ground point on the guitar, in the studio, to eliminate it!!
For me its only a minor annoyance at home. I'll have my first gig with it next weekend and I'm sure it will be less of an annoyance. I tested with my teles and my strats because I didn't think it happened with my Fenders. No static on the Tele's but the strat will have static if I rub on the screws of the trem cover on the back. I just never noticed it before. The Les Paul seems to be the worst. My office gets fairly dry and its carpeted so I imagine that doesn't help. I'll have to get some static guard for the winters I guess.
 

tjdjr1

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2016
Messages
71
I have tried the dryer sheets and shielding tape and everything else under the sun and only a temp fix. The longest fix I have found for it is I spray a dab of static guard on my finger and rub it on the plastic control covers and pickguard it has not left and residue or harmed anything that I can see and it lasts for a fairly long time.
 

golfnut

Active member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
196
I have tried the dryer sheets and shielding tape and everything else under the sun and only a temp fix. The longest fix I have found for it is I spray a dab of static guard on my finger and rub it on the plastic control covers and pickguard it has not left and residue or harmed anything that I can see and it lasts for a fairly long time.
I'll try that. I don't even mind if I have to do it daily when I pick the guitar up for a session as long as it lasts that day. My strat does it as well but not nearly as bad as the les paul. I get static on the les paul from the metal parts on the front and the screws for the control plate on the back. On the strat its just the screws on the back trem cover and it seems like the static is much quieter. I hadn't even noticed the issue on the strat until I purposely ran my fingers over screws.
 

golfnut

Active member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
196
Worth it to try a portable humidifier in the room..?
Yes I do have one but haven't been running it lately as this time of year the humidity doesn't dip much below 40%. My room hygrometer is reding between 35 and 40%. I actually like the way my Martin acoustics sound at about 35%. Thats too dry for some Martin owners but they sound best at that humidity.
 

tjdjr1

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2016
Messages
71
I run a humidifier at 50 % in my practice area for the band and I still had static from the Gibson electrolysis process.. The static guard worked the best for me so far..I have a 2016 that still has some static but it's improving over the years..
 

torren61

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
228
Wipe down the guitar with a rag soaked in acetone. Kidding. Don't do that. You'll be so mad at me....
 

NIckS

New member
Joined
May 6, 2022
Messages
16
I ran a small bare braided wire from the ground lug on the switch to the rim for the cover. So when the cover is replaced it touches the wire. I did the same for the pots cover. Just twisted the wire around the ground wire first. No static problem any more. I striped the covering off a a single strand of Cat 5 cable.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
The Dryer Sheet application worked for me luckily...But! Don't wear wool socks on synthetic carpet too! I used to get hideous static crackling with that, especially with guitars that had plastic control cavity covers like LP's.
Another one was wool pants on a plastic chair that I used for my little home recording set up...crackle city with that too. So now I have to slip into something more comfortaaaaable - made out of fine Egyptian cotton - I kid..it could be made anywhere ;), before I sit down to make some magic! :D
 

NIckS

New member
Joined
May 6, 2022
Messages
16
The Dryer Sheet application worked for me luckily...But! Don't wear wool socks on synthetic carpet too! I used to get hideous static crackling with that, especially with guitars that had plastic control cavity covers like LP's.
Another one was wool pants on a plastic chair that I used for my little home recording set up...crackle city with that too. So now I have to slip into something more comfortaaaaable - made out of fine Egyptian cotton - I kid..it could be made anywhere ;), before I sit down to make some magic! :D
Well now I can even play naked.....:oops: I know, Not Shocking my naughty parts anymore.....:ROFLMAO:
 

SpencerD

Active member
Joined
Mar 11, 2016
Messages
910
I learned something new today!

What The Fuck Is That? šŸ˜€

Naw. Ain't happening.
 
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