What’s wrong here? Pickup noise

[Duroc17]

Can’t see any loose wires but the bottom part of the pickup is making a grounding noise when touched but not the top bit. I’m getting some low end break up when played

 

if i touch the white wire from pickup to  volume I get the earth sound 

 

appreciate any tips. Have to say electrics are not my strong point 

 

 

[tauzero]

The most obvious answer is that the wires from the pickup that buzzes are reversed, so the ground side is connected to where the hot side should be. If the connection to the pickup is through solder pads on the bottom of the pickup, just unsolder them at the solder pads and reverse the wires.

[Bigguy2017]

19 hours ago, tauzero said:

The most obvious answer is that the wires from the pickup that buzzes are reversed, so the ground side is connected to where the hot side should be. If the connection to the pickup is through solder pads on the bottom of the pickup, just unsolder them at the solder pads and reverse the wires.

???  Pickups will then be out of phase?

P pickups are wired RWRP.

It's pssible/probable (?) the two coils are wound the same direction and simply reversed for one half, with flipped magnets. IF so one coil will be 'hot end out' and one 'earth end out' rather than wound CW and CCW. That could explain the noise.

Check the magnets' polarity (with a DVM and an allen key) - each PuP half should be opposite polarity, and coils should be opposite wind.

 

It can help to ground the pole pieces - one each PuP stick a strip of conductive copper tape along the underside of the pole pieces and connect to the cold terminal.

 

 

[Duroc17]

4 minutes ago, Bigguy2017 said:

???  Pickups will then be out of phase?

P pickups are wired RWRP.

It's pssible/probable (?) the two coils are wound the same direction and simply reversed for one half, with flipped magnets. IF so one coil will be 'hot end out' and one 'earth end out' rather than wound CW and CCW. That could explain the noise.

Check the magnets' polarity (with a DVM and an allen key) - each PuP half should be opposite polarity, and coils should be opposite wind.

 

It can help to ground the pole pieces - one each PuP stick a strip of conductive copper tape along the underside of the pole pieces and connect to the cold terminal.

 

 

Taking it to mr fixer. He thinks the base plate isn’t earthed properly but that’s a guess from pics. Will know tomorrow night and report back 

[tauzero]

15 hours ago, Bigguy2017 said:

???  Pickups will then be out of phase?

 

But a P pickup is two halves each covering two strings, so out of phase is irrelevant - it wouldn't make any difference to the sound, unlike a twin pickup bass (J type) where out of phase would be relevant.

[Bigguy2017]

Just now, tauzero said:

 

But a P pickup is two halves each covering two strings, so out of phase is irrelevant - it wouldn't make any difference to the sound, unlike a twin pickup bass (J type) where out of phase would be relevant.

The magnetic fields overlap and phase does make a difference on the A and D.

[Duroc17]

Back from having guitar tech mate look at it. 
 

all earths were ok - couple of connections he didn’t like so resoldered - which has sorted the low end break up - but still making noise only when touching poles

 

others have had same problem and said nail varnish or electrical tape. I’m going down the Joe Dart route and tape it. 

[Uncle Rodney]

Fascinating.. I can only think there is some kind of insulation fault on that half of the PUP. I'm sure your Tech guy did all the necessary tests. Mine would be to check for continuity between any part of audio circuit and the pole pieces. It's highly unlikely that will be the fault but... that what shouts at me

From what I gather about that type of PUP there is no metal contact with the pole pieces, but I do know the enamel on the verrry fine PUP wire corrodes.

.. Fascinating

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Uncle Rodney

[Beedster]

On 16/10/2025 at 11:50, Duroc17 said:

....but still making noise only when touching poles

 

[Beedster]

On 16/10/2025 at 11:50, Duroc17 said:

Back from having guitar tech mate look at it. 
 

all earths were ok - couple of connections he didn’t like so resoldered - which has sorted the low end break up - but still making noise only when touching poles

 

others have had same problem and said nail varnish or electrical tape. I’m going down the Joe Dart route and tape it. 

 

I have that with a Precision that I keep meaning to look at but I HATE removing Precision PUPs, it's bloody fiddly getting the guard on and off and the wires and PUP back in - and it goes without saying I've managed to separate PUP from wire one too many times - but the reason I haven't done the fix is simple, I never touch the pickup when I'm playing it so the fact that when I do touch the pickup it makes a noise is largely irrelevant. @Duroc17 do you actually touch the PUP when you play?

[Duroc17]

3 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

Exactly what my guitarist said

[Duroc17]

3 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

I have that with a Precision that I keep meaning to look at but I HATE removing Precision PUPs, it's bloody fiddly getting the guard on and off and the wires and PUP back in - and it goes without saying I've managed to separate PUP from wire one too many times - but the reason I haven't done the fix is simple, I never touch the pickup when I'm playing it so the fact that when I do touch the pickup it makes a noise is largely irrelevant. @Duroc17 do you actually touch the PUP when you play?

I play over the pup - just never happened before. So occasionally I do with fingers. Tape over now - all good 

[Beedster]

12 minutes ago, Duroc17 said:

I play over the pup - just never happened before. So occasionally I do with fingers. Tape over now - all good 

 

Nice, even looks the part 👍