zeppelinchld Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 if it is necessary to ground the strings then i need help.... cuz im building a lap steel with a bone bridge and ferrules so how am i supposed to ground them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 If you're using passives, yes - you'll need to ground. Electrically link all of the ferrules somehow and ground them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psw Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Either the string ferrules, perhaps mounted to a plate on the back and ground that and so the strings...or workout a way to ground the tuning machines...yes you will generally need to ground the strings. Some Active pickups and piezos are exceptions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Either the string ferrules, perhaps mounted to a plate on the back and ground that and so the strings...or workout a way to ground the tuning machines...yes you will generally need to ground the strings. Some Active pickups and piezos are exceptions. How does Gibson do it on their Les Pauls? I haven't figured it out yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 It's a wire linking one of the tailpiece studs to ground, I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djhollowman Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 It's a wire linking one of the tailpiece studs to ground, I believe. I always thought it was a wire link from one of the bridge studs, but you could very well be right! DJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffster Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 I asked the same question some time ago on this forum about that same question about where to ground a tunomatic. I was told that you ground the bridge stud/post. Here is the link I used. Grounding a Tunomatic. The guitar I am making now is going to use a tunomatic and I am not using a tailpiece, just string ferrules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djhollowman Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Funnily enough, the one I'm just finishing is exactly the same! DJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewCE Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 yes you will generally need to ground the strings. Some Active pickups and piezos are exceptions. why exactly do the strings need to be grounded? does it affect the sound? or is it just so you don't get electrocuted? and while we're on the subject, why does a guitar hum when you're not touching the bridge/strings, and then stop humming when you touch the bridge/strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeppelinchld Posted December 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 i nnever actually got to finding a way to ground the strings on this guitar but the hum is very minimal so im not worried about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psw Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 Here is a really good article from Guitar Nuts on what is really going on with "string grounding"... Your Body is a Bucket 'o Noise! This was a very enlightening answer to this question that we do, including me, just do without really realizing why, just the effects... In fact we are not using the string to "ground" to our body at all...at least not in a simple sense. Your bodies attract noise towards the guitar and by touching the strings we ground ourselves to the common ground in the amplifier and such...but the article does a much better explanation than I can give. or is it just so you don't get electrocuted? Actually, it is largely the grounded strings that puts you most at risk. Because you are holding metal strings in both hands and have them electrically wired...it there is a fault or a mismatch in electrical equipment...it can often be fatal. In a typical electrical accident...you may touch something and the power will try and run to ground through your body. Rubber soled boots will often "save you" as the power wont make the circuit to the (literal) ground through your feet. However, holding a guitar and wired to the amplifier ground, should a mic become live say, the power will run through your lips to the nearest ground, the guitar strings... Why it is fatal is that the current surge through both hands grounded to the strings puts the current directly through the heart, stopping it instantly and you are dead! One good idea to combat this is to get a powerboard with a circuit breaker on it (not just an overload breaker) and use this especially in strange places where you don't know the wiring is safe...and make sure all your amps and effects are connected to it...that way it will instantly switch off if you should say, reach over to adjust a light with one hand while holding a guitar and it will break before you get a fatal shock (hopefully)...unless of course you play without shoes and play in a puddle of beer...you may still risk yourself then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewCE Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 Here is a really good article from Guitar Nuts on what is really going on with "string grounding"... Your Body is a Bucket 'o Noise! This was a very enlightening answer to this question that we do, including me, just do without really realizing why, just the effects... In fact we are not using the string to "ground" to our body at all...at least not in a simple sense. Your bodies attract noise towards the guitar and by touching the strings we ground ourselves to the common ground in the amplifier and such...but the article does a much better explanation than I can give. or is it just so you don't get electrocuted? Actually, it is largely the grounded strings that puts you most at risk. Because you are holding metal strings in both hands and have them electrically wired...it there is a fault or a mismatch in electrical equipment...it can often be fatal. In a typical electrical accident...you may touch something and the power will try and run to ground through your body. Rubber soled boots will often "save you" as the power wont make the circuit to the (literal) ground through your feet. However, holding a guitar and wired to the amplifier ground, should a mic become live say, the power will run through your lips to the nearest ground, the guitar strings... Why it is fatal is that the current surge through both hands grounded to the strings puts the current directly through the heart, stopping it instantly and you are dead! One good idea to combat this is to get a powerboard with a circuit breaker on it (not just an overload breaker) and use this especially in strange places where you don't know the wiring is safe...and make sure all your amps and effects are connected to it...that way it will instantly switch off if you should say, reach over to adjust a light with one hand while holding a guitar and it will break before you get a fatal shock (hopefully)...unless of course you play without shoes and play in a puddle of beer...you may still risk yourself then! thanks, i had actually read that exact article a long time ago, but i forgot what it said and I couldnt find it again so basically my body is an electrical shield and by grounding it, the EMI that i'm picking up gets sent to ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesy Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 thanks, i had actually read that exact article a long time ago, but i forgot what it said and I couldnt find it again so basically my body is an electrical shield and by grounding it, the EMI that i'm picking up gets sent to ground It acts as as shield, only after it is grounded, before that, a more correct term would be antenna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 There are alot of choices for active pickups out there...my favorite is EMG...but guitarheads has them very cheap...they are available as well from bartolini and others...expensive for those though. Duncan also has livewires...I don't know how many of those require no ground...but I assume most if not all of them don't...I know EMG does not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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