My 2018 Les Paul traditional has the exact same covers and made the same noise when I touched the plastic. Plastic! Your method fixed it! Thanks!!!!! My guitar also has several other problems that I've never seen on any guitar before in my entire life. Not even on a $100 guitar. I got it used online for pretty cheap price, but when I got it, I realized why it was so cheap. One side of the headstock, the edge of the open book was sanded a little too much at the factory and is a bit thinner than the other side. 3 nibs were filed wrong and they don't even match with the frets. Most of the nibs are not flush with the frets so the high E string catches the frets when I do pull offs. Only gibson would invent something that inhibits a technique, but looks so good! The fretboard right after the first fret is sanded down too much on one side and there's a quite noticeable depression. Nevermind the sanding marks and file marks on the fretboard. The neck binding is caved in a little, so it doesn't feel flush with the neck. There's also a tiny hole on the fret board that has been filled in with wood filler. They tried to match the color best they could, but I can definitely tell it's wood filler. This is my only 2nd les paul that I've owned in my life and my other one was stamped "2" which was a factory second. Gibson used to do that with their not so perfect guitars. That "2" guitar, I could not find any flaw at all. I looked all the time in the 2 years that I owned it, and I could not find a single flaw. Gibson definitely needs to label factory seconds again. But this 2018 les paul is not a factory second, but a redo. This guitar never should've left the factory. No wonder why they went bankrupt.
Well done! The problem is clear and you gave us all the fix , make sure there are no antennas, shield everything and ground everything (except the 'hot' wires). Happy life!
This helped me figure out a similar problem on my Epiphone Les Paul. I had a new switchcraft switch and CTS pots installed, and it was buzzing like crazy. Turned out there was no ground between the switch cavity and the rest, so a bit of ground wire was all that was needed. Quiet as a whisper now, even on full gain / master volume!
@@ceoofracism8057 I lined the switch cavity with conductive tape, and ran a wire connecting the tape to the ground on the pots. No solder, just copper tape, and it's held up for the past year. HTH
I have bought over a dozen Gibson guitars in the last ten years. Every single one of them had static problems. I live in Colorado where there is a very dry climate. I came to the conclusion that when I buy a Gibson guitar I have to shield the cavities inside of it. I know that Gibson should do this themselves, especially with what they cost! The only reason I keep buying them is because I love them. They are the coolest guitars on the planet and I will always love my Les Pauls and SG’s.
Dave, you are the man. This worked! Les Paul Classic Player 2018, bad static on neck and back. Ordered Kraftex copper tape from Amazon. Now I can keep this guitar. Thanks!!!
This solved my noise problem like 70%. I still get some noise that goes away when I touch the strings or the bridge but it still got a lot better. Thanks
Try experimenting with dryer sheets. Run one lightly over the back and neck of the guitar, and stuff one inside the control cavity so that it's touching the ground wire and/or metal case of the pot(s).
Yesterday I received a brand new Les Paul Standard 50's and it does the exact same thing. I'm glad I follow you Dave because now I know how to solve it. I was going to just put the copper tape on the backs of my (correct plastic) covers. Knowing that I need to put the tape down in contact with the components as well as bring it up to the screws is what makes the difference. Now, don't get me started on the crappy nut work on this guitar. Unbelievably bad!
I bought an SG faded 2 years ago and had the same problem. I took it to a tech and he finally sorted it out. I don't understand why Gibson don't put copper sheilding inside just to make sure there is no static going on especially considering they arnt cheap guitars. I never had this issue on any guitar even far cheaper ones like squires and epiphones. There is no excuse really.
Have the static issue on 2 les pauls , both have a matt black finish on the body and neck, only static in the winter when the air in the house is dry, get rid of it using a dryer sheets. Soon as I can those are getting stripped .There is something in the finish of those les pauls that is a static inducer.
similar issues on a 2018 Gibson SG special. I notice the input jack makes a low hiss. When i touch the metal part of the input jack it goes 98 % away. Also when i put the pick up switch in the lower position towards the ground it hisses more than the other two which sound pretty much silent. Any ideas on whats the fix?
For that kind of money, a guitar shouldn't need to be taken to a repair shop for a very long time! I've had yardsale guitars I bought for less than $10 that didn't have these kind of issues! It's crazy!👍😎🎸🎶
my 2013 les paul signature T was the same thing. Maybe even worse. I did like you did after seeing your video. The plastic seems to be problem. I bought after market cover and was better but no cigar. So now I have continuity on all seven cover screws to ground and its much better. thanks for the tip.
I purchased a 2016 LP Traditional that did the same thing. It had other issues/flaws so it was exchanged. The replacement ALSO did the same thing, so its something that’s originating in the factory in my opinion. In my case it wasn’t just the covers or screws.. literally the entire rear surface of the body, the sides near the binding, strap buttons... all produced audible static when touched, rubbed or casually grazed, etc, and seemingly louder and more pronounced than what I’m hearing in your video, Dave. The plastic covers on both were the same as this one as well. I replaced them with the normal flat non textured version. Also shielded and grounded out everything, included pup cavities, switch cavity, knob cavity, and plates themselves. For what it’s worth, there are threads on some LP forums I’d read then (this was 2016 upon discovering the problem) that mentioned the possibility of the nitro sprayed on the guitar having some effect or impact on the severity of the issue. I wasn’t aware of this when I read it, but apparently guitar bodies can be electrically charged to help when spraying lacquers and such? Helps adhesion as the paint is electrically attracted to the surface being painted? I honestly don’t know. Perhaps that’s a piece of the puzzle, especially if it’s a brand new or recently built guitar.
my les paul standard has static on the back, and i am trying to figure out the issue, also the pickups are microphonic which is another issue. grounding issue on my guitar is probably the jack, but not 100% until I start looking at it. so your video is helping as the guitar is only 2 years old now.
@@pipespeeps5349 my Les Paul no longer has a problem. it just went away, now the pickups are what I consider normal microphonic, and no longer picking up the string slap as loud as the string ring. The buzz now goes away when I touch the strings, so I think the case with my guitar was an environmental issue caused due to electrostatic buildup. I still don't know what caused it and can only make theories.
Dave, I’m still laughing at Gibson’s excuses for the static. I never knew that their arch-enemy was wool sweaters! Thanks for another informative video.
Dealing with it on my Les Paul. Base model below a Studio. Been doing it past several years and playing 3 other electric guitars I’ve purchased in the last year I finally realized it was as much an issue as it is. Annoys me. My Les Paul has same plastic covers. I use to have a better Les Paul decades ago so I know exactly the difference you speak of. It’s just a production company looking for cheaper ways to build a product to keep consumer cost low and higher profit margin. My guitar came to me without top correctly clear coated. 2 dry shot spots. Can see it in picture Gibson sent to me when It was brand new. Still have that pic. I liked the look though. I’ve rubbed away all clear coat and stain on corner where my forearm rests all the way to original bare wood. I love the look even more. A guitar with a worn out finish has many stories to tell.
I'm late to the Party. I have a few Gibson guitars that do the static thing.. I found it to be that the plush Fabric of the case was charging the plastic on the guitar causing the static sound. Kinda like when you walk on some carpets and the zap someone with your finger. A few dryer Anti static sheets in the case really helps also just rubbing the plastic with the dryer sheets works. It may wear off of the plastic from use but a box is cheap enough to last a year or 2 depending how many guitars you own.. Also it keeps you case smelling real good and clean...
Had this very same problem on a Gibson SG not too long ago. The cavity cover WAS the problem, though it didn't have the same textured finish. For whatever reason (cost?) They used a different kind of plastic for the cover. It had a different feel when handled. When I called Gibson support ....Yes! ..."dryer sheets" and or a humidifier was suggested. WTF? I shielded the stock one, but out of curiosity, I cut another out of some older standard pickguard material sheet, and even unsheilded, there was not the static noise. You'd think with something so simple, and probably not all that cost effective, they'd just go back to the good material.
Just got a new 2018 gibson les paul standard that did the same thing, replaced the covers with the ones from my epiphone and no more static! They fit perfectly!
That style of backplate has been on them quite a few years, if ordered from Gibson that’s what they sell on the website store. I used shielding paint (copper on the backplates) on both of my Les Paul’s and a friends Les Paul. Quiet as a mouse. Great video!
I’ve got a 2018 Paul Standard that develops a ton of static when I glide my fingertips along the pickguard. It was driving me nuts, so I applied a piece of clear surgical tape along the area my fingers touch, and no more static. Not an elegant fix, but it was cheap, and it works.
My 2016 SG has that pebble finish cover on it but has shielding on the inside surface. I've always heard that polishing the lacquer at the factory can cause a static build up on the whole guitar. My remedy is the spray "Static Guard" onto a rag then wipe down the guitar with it, works for me.
Brother I had the EXACT SAME problem with a 90'sish (95 maybe?) LP Standard. Gibson told me to send it to a licensed repair guy, HE couldn't figure it out, sent it back to Gibson, after 6 months of no guitar, I got my LP back completely rewired and foiled up (it was not foiled before) and guess what? Still did it. Still does it TO THIS DAY. Amazing quality craftsmanship, to see it's STILL happening lol No wonder why they are going out of business...
I had the same issue on a 2014 LP Classic, I took it to a tech and he had never seen the issue before, no matter where you touched the guitar it was full of static, I got a full refund and purchased a used 2009 LP Standard and had zero issues. Gibson told me to rub the guitar over with drier sheets! Really on a brand new guitar? Pffff
I had same issue with a prs , same drier sheet answer , it did kinda work lol. I returned it and got a strat lol. Never had this issue with any of my les Paul’s though
@@wallywanker7435 this is happening to my PRS and there’s no answer. The guitar tech has finally given up on it and I’m at a loss for what to do next. It’s a $1700 guitar so I’m… idk what to do.
@@jakecal6802 I don’t know what to tell you. I have 25 guitars and none of them do it. Just that 1 prs I bought I have another prs no issues at all. Try spraying it with static guard , is the weather very dry ? Cause that causes static I spray paint cars and when the humidity drops and the air gets dry we have issues with static cling with overspray. So if yours was fine and now is having an issue that could be the cause. The static guard and drier sheets do help.
I think there’s something that’s conductive in the lacquer and you’re more or less grounding the whole body via the cover plates. The tuners would ground the headstock. Curious if the static noise is up there prior to grounding the covers.
Dave, Is This any good to foil the inside of the guitarAndoer® 50mm * 10m One Side Copper Foil Tape EMI Shielding Single Conductive Adhesive for Guitar is this the type you use? many thanks in advance
I had a strat that did that. I did what you did and also ran a ground to the body in cavity that went through the finish that was sprayed in there. I thought maybe the type of finish and moister in the wood might have something to do with it. It drove me crazy
What’s with the wires that are not soldered but just stuck in the metal holey thingy in the middle of the pots? Are those just fake wires to make the hole thing look more complicated? If they are part of the circuit I’d solder them in place...
Just got a les paul jr, with a gig bag, new strings, a bag of picks, for 600$ thats as high as i would go for gibson. The p90 sounds great, but the frets are sharp, the action is highish (yes the bridge is to the deck), and the bridge is a set intonation. Gibson used to be well worth it but now i just cant see buying a newer one for that price. Guitar Center right now folks listed at 550$ a cheapo depot les paul jr. Needs a setup but sounds great!
Hello!. .i bought a Les Paul Junior 2015 recently, but i noticed it to have loud humming sound and clicking sound that lessens when i touched the strings. I ask if what you did to your guitar will make the noise go away? Tnx
Hi Dave I have a epiphone les Paul and I installed new dimarzio pickups in and new wiring harness when I went to plug everything back in I was getting a lot of noise and static. May i ask where to purchase that copper tape? I love the channel.
The buzz isn't static, it's RF, sounds like it might be AC power hum. It changes when you touch it because your body is acting like an antenna. It's not just the covers, if you grip the wood you're getting a similar effect even after you shielded. Something in the wiring is acting like a radio antenna due to a lack of shielding and/or grounding. Shielding is a good plan and of course the shielding is part of your ground plane which will help ground the whole thing but to properly shield everything would require entering other parts of the guitar. I suspect the shielding & grounding on the cabling is incomplete or ineffective somewhere. Shame Gibson support assumed it was not faulty wiring.
Gibson has been installing those pebbled plates on their Les Pauls and SGs for a year or two. My guess is they're using it because it's cheaper than the old-style 2x mirror finished plastic material.
I got that a lot on my plastic pick guards, I used foil to get rid of it and I've not suffered it since. BTW I live in a dry 10-15% humidity climate so it can get bad. So bad I sometime I dread the discharge shock when turning on a light even. I've never had a static problem bake-a -light (spelling lol)
I'm pretty sure this plastic is on most Gibsons nowadays, I think since about 2016 or 2017. I have a LP Tribute and SG Standard which both have this. SS infused polycarbonate for ESD protection is what they term it. I never had any issues with static etc.
I have extensive experience with this issue over the last several years with 2 different newer Gibsons. I got a lot of "experts" involved who were referred by Gibson. All were baffled. The unusual textured plastic covers were actually designed to fix the static issue. They are supposed to be metal infused according to Gibson. The static, according to Gibson, is a negative by-product caused by the application process of their nitro lacquer. It will never go away. Obviously, it's worse when humidity is low, but my symptoms have been so bad that the guitar was completely unplayable unless I stood perfectly still and didn't let the it touch my body at all. Anyway, Gibson is very aware of this issue and has unsuccessfully tried to deal with it for years. It's the nitrocellulose. I did find that the static has greatly been reduced over the last year since I completely shielded both guitars with copper tape. Not perfect, but after what I went through with over $3000 worth guitars, I'm pretty happy now.
Yeah, that's what I found too. When I did the copper tape on the control plate covers, I punctured the screws through it when I re-installed them. Then, complete copper tape in both cavities that is all grounded to the jack. My Gibsons both have PCB's which is a problem when you set it on copper tape, so I put a piece of poster board between the copper and the PCB so they don't short out. Problem is that you are just managing the symptom, not fixing the cause, which is Gibson's finishing process. You will still have static issues, trust me. Just when you think it's gone for good, one day, down the road when you forgot all about it, on a real dry day, BAM! That damn static is back!
although slightly different than your problem thought id tell you what i found...i have a LP with p90s.and a telecaster . if my fingers ran across the pickguard i got crackling...my fix was tape...had some 2" clear tape (like like scotch tape) for taping boxes to ship. one pc over the lp guard and no more noise...on the tele i used a couple of strips of electrical tape()it had a black guard)
Yeah it does not. Watching this vid because my L.P. just started this nonsense.love hate relationship with it...otherwise it woulda been gone and forgotten
The textured style plastic covers are shielding. They’re usually accompanied with routs covered in shielding paint. Those metal plates need to go man, nothing but trouble in any Les Paul Ive dealt with.
I love the science 'Capacitive Bullshit' cracked me up man!! I have this problem of buzzing so this was very helpful thanks. Maybe I'll put some shielding on too. Your fix did the job, nice and quiet. I'm doing this right now, thanks. My first Gibson, I now realise that the quality is not like the old days, cos my frets needed crowned right out of the box, 'School Bus Frets' my arse!! Subbed.
Thanks for this. I have a Peter Frampton LP Signature, the most expensive guitar I ever bought, and it has always had 'static' handling noise on the strings - I have lots of other guitars included a 76 LP and never had this problem before. I know nothing of guitars' innards but having seen this I'll at least check out what's under those covers and maybe put shielding on them.
I’ve got the same static issue with a Paul I bought new in 2018. I just haven’t been playing the damned thing and no one seemed to have an intelligent solution. Hopefully this will work for me, although I get static pops and crackles even from the strings. I had had the problem emanating from the original pick guard, so I switched it out and put in a genuine tortoise shell guard which eliminated that noise anyway.
I had a similar issue with my BC Rich Stealth which has a crazy preamp and active pickups system in it but I had a lot of luck clearing it up by covering the pocket cover with shielding tape. This is a totally different issue apparently.
Yep. I've tested many Gibsons in Music stores and at home--this has been a recurring problem. It's pretty much turned me off them. Epiphones don't have this problem! If ANY one out there is going to post something about using Bounce sheets- Forget it!!!
I have had 2 Gibsons, that really picks up the static!! No cure, other than keeping a dryer sheet in the case and praying for humidity to go up!! I am in New Mexico !! The covers with the raise finish make it worse it seems!
I believe that the plastic covers were acting as a capacitor and storing a charge as a balloon does, when you rub it on a sweater and you hold it above someone’s head and it makes their hair stand up.
i had the same problem with a G&L Strat a good sounding guitar but had awful static sounds even with the humbucker not split, 1 tech at pickers exchange told me how to fix it without taking it to the shop for repair , remove the pick-guard,completely and electronics make sure all the shipping plastic is removed,wet sand both sides with 2500 or 3000 grit sandpaper,look at the shielding mine being mfg in Korea only had shielding around electronics, I double shielded the whole back of the pickguard ,reassembled the guitar and this stopped the static noise,this was a new guitar ,I was not going to send the guitar for factory service cause this was one I did not want to lose when I picked it up in the music store, you could hit the A string and feel the whole guitar vibrate neck and all without being plugged up !
Had it way worse on a 2012 Les Paul Studio. Tried every trick out there. Went away mostly after 2 years approx. Pooping and static like crazy. Shielding didn't make any diff for me. Did rehearsals in running shoes...no difference. I think some of it was due to the finish and it all went away after I had the input jack changed so that may have been part of it as the tech moved some of the wiring...PITA.
Gibson actually have an article about their new technologies for reducing noise and combatting static buildup. The control and switch plates from 2016 on are some kind of conductive polycarbonate. So far as I can judge, this is supposed to be grounded to the copper-covered ground plane on the new-style Gibson control assemblies. If it isn't, as here, it will just accumulate charge with nowhere to go. Any exposed wire touching the inside of the control or switch plates would surely make them act as antennas, since they're electrically conductive. Touching the plates would be like touching the strings on a guitar with a bad ground. www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Gear-Tech/en-us/Gibson-Multi-Shield-Technology-Minimizes-Noise.aspx
Shield the pickup cavities. I've had a V and a strat that did that. I'll emanated it by completely shielding the the body cavities with shielding paint
This is caused by Gibson's final clear coat process. They put an electrostatic charge on the truss rod and charge the clear nitro with the the opposite charge so the 2 stick together. I'm told by many Gibson users the buildup of static will go away over time with playing wear.
Is this true, I’m still going to shield my tribute but would make sense since my Gretsch had this problem when i first got it and now it’s super quiet even with the volume pushed and the gain cranked
A nice little Montrose tease on the second upstairs test. Make it Last! I have an Oscar Schmidt OE-20 with foil on the cavity covers. Can Gibson not afford any foil tape at their asking price?
You would figure for that expensive of a guitar they would have shielded the covers unless those covers were installed as aftermarket parts, i have never seen those on a gibson either.. .Cheers Dave love your videos!!!
I got a R8 paul and they use so much plasticisers in the clear that I get static crackle when I run my hand up n down the neck. Just like when u run your finger tips on a strat pickguard. My buddies R8 does it too. Out of our combined 30 guitars the only two that do it. I asked Gibson and they wouldn't respond.
I think I may own that ES that you saw. F'n-holes I think were chiseled out, not cut with a saw. I rubbed a dryer sheet on them but they-re still rough. I'm going to try taking my wool sweater off now and play it. Wish me luck! 🙄
My 2018 Les Paul traditional has the exact same covers and made the same noise when I touched the plastic. Plastic! Your method fixed it! Thanks!!!!! My guitar also has several other problems that I've never seen on any guitar before in my entire life. Not even on a $100 guitar. I got it used online for pretty cheap price, but when I got it, I realized why it was so cheap. One side of the headstock, the edge of the open book was sanded a little too much at the factory and is a bit thinner than the other side. 3 nibs were filed wrong and they don't even match with the frets. Most of the nibs are not flush with the frets so the high E string catches the frets when I do pull offs. Only gibson would invent something that inhibits a technique, but looks so good! The fretboard right after the first fret is sanded down too much on one side and there's a quite noticeable depression. Nevermind the sanding marks and file marks on the fretboard. The neck binding is caved in a little, so it doesn't feel flush with the neck. There's also a tiny hole on the fret board that has been filled in with wood filler. They tried to match the color best they could, but I can definitely tell it's wood filler. This is my only 2nd les paul that I've owned in my life and my other one was stamped "2" which was a factory second. Gibson used to do that with their not so perfect guitars. That "2" guitar, I could not find any flaw at all. I looked all the time in the 2 years that I owned it, and I could not find a single flaw. Gibson definitely needs to label factory seconds again. But this 2018 les paul is not a factory second, but a redo. This guitar never should've left the factory. No wonder why they went bankrupt.
You got scammed and bought a Chibson.
All “open book” headstocks are like that on Gibson’s. It’s not symmetrical
Well done! The problem is clear and you gave us all the fix , make sure there are no antennas, shield everything and ground everything (except the 'hot' wires). Happy life!
This helped me figure out a similar problem on my Epiphone Les Paul. I had a new switchcraft switch and CTS pots installed, and it was buzzing like crazy. Turned out there was no ground between the switch cavity and the rest, so a bit of ground wire was all that was needed. Quiet as a whisper now, even on full gain / master volume!
Yo I got the same problem. Could you run me through what you did exactly because it sucks really bad.
@@ceoofracism8057 I lined the switch cavity with conductive tape, and ran a wire connecting the tape to the ground on the pots. No solder, just copper tape, and it's held up for the past year. HTH
Respect to the Montrose Make It Last lick you threw out while testing out the final shielding solution! Well done sir!
Had the exact same problem with a 2018 LP, same trick solved it. Thanks for posting this vid!
I have bought over a dozen Gibson guitars in the last ten years. Every single one of them had static problems. I live in Colorado where there is a very dry climate. I came to the conclusion that when I buy a Gibson guitar I have to shield the cavities inside of it. I know that Gibson should do this themselves, especially with what they cost! The only reason I keep buying them is because I love them. They are the coolest guitars on the planet and I will always love my Les Pauls and SG’s.
Dave, you are the man. This worked! Les Paul Classic Player 2018, bad static on neck and back. Ordered Kraftex copper tape from Amazon. Now I can keep this guitar. Thanks!!!
This solved my noise problem like 70%. I still get some noise that goes away when I touch the strings or the bridge but it still got a lot better. Thanks
Try experimenting with dryer sheets. Run one lightly over the back and neck of the guitar, and stuff one inside the control cavity so that it's touching the ground wire and/or metal case of the pot(s).
Yesterday I received a brand new Les Paul Standard 50's and it does the exact same thing. I'm glad I follow you Dave because now I know how to solve it. I was going to just put the copper tape on the backs of my (correct plastic) covers. Knowing that I need to put the tape down in contact with the components as well as bring it up to the screws is what makes the difference.
Now, don't get me started on the crappy nut work on this guitar. Unbelievably bad!
did u grund it?
When your Les Paul is LESS Paul.
More cutting corners.
I bought an SG faded 2 years ago and had the same problem. I took it to a tech and he finally sorted it out. I don't understand why Gibson don't put copper sheilding inside just to make sure there is no static going on especially considering they arnt cheap guitars. I never had this issue on any guitar even far cheaper ones like squires and epiphones. There is no excuse really.
Kiesel is the only company I've seen that copper-shields everything as part of their basic electric guitar building.
Kylie McInnes Ibanez does it as well... my Ibanez RG920 Premium has full copper shielding in the cavity.
Very few companies provide copper shielding in their builds, so clue in and quit trolling on Gibson.
I have exactly the same problem right now with a 2017 SG faded lol. Think I‘m gonna try to fix it with copper tape too. Maybe this will work.
Have the static issue on 2 les pauls , both have a matt black finish on the body and neck, only static in the winter when the air in the house is dry, get rid of it using a dryer sheets. Soon as I can those are getting stripped .There is something in the finish of those les pauls that is a static inducer.
Frank Quinn had the same issue with a satin finish prs. I returned it. Didn’t want to deal with it.
similar issues on a 2018 Gibson SG special. I notice the input jack makes a low hiss. When i touch the metal part of the input jack it goes 98 % away. Also when i put the pick up switch in the lower position towards the ground it hisses more than the other two which sound pretty much silent.
Any ideas on whats the fix?
Same issue on my SG, after i changed pickups. Did you figure it out?
I had a few older ones and seen a new 1 its not the same material . Nice to see what u did to fix it. Thx.
For that kind of money, a guitar shouldn't need to be taken to a repair shop for a very long time! I've had yardsale guitars I bought for less than $10 that didn't have these kind of issues! It's crazy!👍😎🎸🎶
i love watchin your vids. its chill and funny and informative
my 2013 les paul signature T was the same thing. Maybe even worse. I did like you did after seeing your video. The plastic seems to be problem. I bought after market cover and was better but no cigar. So now I have continuity on all seven cover screws to ground and its much better.
thanks for the tip.
I purchased a 2016 LP Traditional that did the same thing. It had other issues/flaws so it was exchanged. The replacement ALSO did the same thing, so its something that’s originating in the factory in my opinion. In my case it wasn’t just the covers or screws.. literally the entire rear surface of the body, the sides near the binding, strap buttons... all produced audible static when touched, rubbed or casually grazed, etc, and seemingly louder and more pronounced than what I’m hearing in your video, Dave.
The plastic covers on both were the same as this one as well. I replaced them with the normal flat non textured version. Also shielded and grounded out everything, included pup cavities, switch cavity, knob cavity, and plates themselves.
For what it’s worth, there are threads on some LP forums I’d read then (this was 2016 upon discovering the problem) that mentioned the possibility of the nitro sprayed on the guitar having some effect or impact on the severity of the issue. I wasn’t aware of this when I read it, but apparently guitar bodies can be electrically charged to help when spraying lacquers and such? Helps adhesion as the paint is electrically attracted to the surface being painted?
I honestly don’t know. Perhaps that’s a piece of the puzzle, especially if it’s a brand new or recently built guitar.
my les paul standard has static on the back, and i am trying to figure out the issue, also the pickups are microphonic which is another issue. grounding issue on my guitar is probably the jack, but not 100% until I start looking at it. so your video is helping as the guitar is only 2 years old now.
my les paul has a grounding issue i think too, did you get it figured out
@@pipespeeps5349 my Les Paul no longer has a problem. it just went away, now the pickups are what I consider normal microphonic, and no longer picking up the string slap as loud as the string ring. The buzz now goes away when I touch the strings, so I think the case with my guitar was an environmental issue caused due to electrostatic buildup. I still don't know what caused it and can only make theories.
I had a similar issue with that rippled plastic, I bought Gibson replacement flat (normal) covers, and the issue went away.
Dave,
I’m still laughing at Gibson’s excuses for the static. I never knew that their arch-enemy was wool sweaters! Thanks for another informative video.
been watching for years, resent subscriber, love the content always, learn by watching... thanks again.
1:30 in I’m cracking up at his commentary on the animal outside. Subscribed!
My LP does the exact same thing and now I know how to fix it. Cheers Dave!
Dealing with it on my Les Paul. Base model below a Studio. Been doing it past several years and playing 3 other electric guitars I’ve purchased in the last year I finally realized it was as much an issue as it is. Annoys me. My Les Paul has same plastic covers. I use to have a better Les Paul decades ago so I know exactly the difference you speak of. It’s just a production company looking for cheaper ways to build a product to keep consumer cost low and higher profit margin. My guitar came to me without top correctly clear coated. 2 dry shot spots. Can see it in picture Gibson sent to me when It was brand new. Still have that pic. I liked the look though. I’ve rubbed away all clear coat and stain on corner where my forearm rests all the way to original bare wood. I love the look even more. A guitar with a worn out finish has many stories to tell.
Good lord, that’s not a guitar, it’s a microphone 🎤
I thought that myself. I would swap those pups.
The question is: can its owner "rule a nation" with it?
I was thinking add an oscillator and call it a theremin.
@@greatgrey2193 *Good...good...good*
...
Good Vibrations!!
Why, because you're that good? Those pups just won't suffice for a slugger like you?
Same problem with a 2016 gibson explorer. I'll try this. Thank you for the help.
I'm late to the Party. I have a few Gibson guitars that do the static thing.. I found it to be that the plush Fabric of the case was charging the plastic on the guitar causing the static sound. Kinda like when you walk on some carpets and the zap someone with your finger. A few dryer Anti static sheets in the case really helps also just rubbing the plastic with the dryer sheets works. It may wear off of the plastic from use but a box is cheap enough to last a year or 2 depending how many guitars you own.. Also it keeps you case smelling real good and clean...
Had this very same problem on a Gibson SG not too long ago. The cavity cover WAS the problem, though it didn't have the same textured finish. For whatever reason (cost?) They used a different kind of plastic for the cover. It had a different feel when handled. When I called Gibson support ....Yes! ..."dryer sheets" and or a humidifier was suggested. WTF?
I shielded the stock one, but out of curiosity, I cut another out of some older standard pickguard material sheet, and even unsheilded, there was not the static noise.
You'd think with something so simple, and probably not all that cost effective, they'd just go back to the good material.
Just got a new 2018 gibson les paul standard that did the same thing, replaced the covers with the ones from my epiphone and no more static! They fit perfectly!
Dryer sheets ftw.
-"Doc, it hurts when I do this"
-"Don't do it"
That style of backplate has been on them quite a few years, if ordered from Gibson that’s what they sell on the website store. I used shielding paint (copper on the backplates) on both of my Les Paul’s and a friends Les Paul. Quiet as a mouse. Great video!
I’ve got a 2018 Paul Standard that develops a ton of static when I glide my fingertips along the pickguard. It was driving me nuts, so I applied a piece of clear surgical tape along the area my fingers touch, and no more static. Not an elegant fix, but it was cheap, and it works.
My 2016 SG has that pebble finish cover on it but has shielding on the inside surface. I've always heard that polishing the lacquer at the factory can cause a static build up on the whole guitar. My remedy is the spray "Static Guard" onto a rag then wipe down the guitar with it, works for me.
'Why don't we get this fockin' thing right out of there?'
Love it. 😁
That's a handsome guitar...even with the snap crackle and pop.
That's just Gibson "tone". Comes with the detachable headstock
Brother I had the EXACT SAME problem with a 90'sish (95 maybe?) LP Standard. Gibson told me to send it to a licensed repair guy, HE couldn't figure it out, sent it back to Gibson, after 6 months of no guitar, I got my LP back completely rewired and foiled up (it was not foiled before) and guess what? Still did it. Still does it TO THIS DAY. Amazing quality craftsmanship, to see it's STILL happening lol No wonder why they are going out of business...
Nice work Dave
I had the same issue on a 2014 LP Classic, I took it to a tech and he had never seen the issue before, no matter where you touched the guitar it was full of static, I got a full refund and purchased a used 2009 LP Standard and had zero issues. Gibson told me to rub the guitar over with drier sheets! Really on a brand new guitar? Pffff
I had same issue with a prs , same drier sheet answer , it did kinda work lol. I returned it and got a strat lol. Never had this issue with any of my les Paul’s though
Waaahh!
@@wallywanker7435 this is happening to my PRS and there’s no answer. The guitar tech has finally given up on it and I’m at a loss for what to do next. It’s a $1700 guitar so I’m… idk what to do.
@@jakecal6802 I don’t know what to tell you. I have 25 guitars and none of them do it. Just that 1 prs I bought I have another prs no issues at all. Try spraying it with static guard , is the weather very dry ? Cause that causes static I spray paint cars and when the humidity drops and the air gets dry we have issues with static cling with overspray. So if yours was fine and now is having an issue that could be the cause. The static guard and drier sheets do help.
I think there’s something that’s conductive in the lacquer and you’re more or less grounding the whole body via the cover plates. The tuners would ground the headstock. Curious if the static noise is up there prior to grounding the covers.
Dave, Is This any good to foil the inside of the guitarAndoer® 50mm * 10m One Side Copper Foil Tape EMI Shielding Single Conductive Adhesive for Guitar is this the type you use? many thanks in advance
thanks again Dave
I had a strat that did that. I did what you did and also ran a ground to the body in cavity that went through the finish that was sprayed in there. I thought maybe the type of finish and moister in the wood might have something to do with it. It drove me crazy
Did you check for cold solder joints ?
What’s with the wires that are not soldered but just stuck in the metal holey thingy in the middle of the pots? Are those just fake wires to make the hole thing look more complicated? If they are part of the circuit I’d solder them in place...
Yay! Great video.
Just got a les paul jr, with a gig bag, new strings, a bag of picks, for 600$ thats as high as i would go for gibson. The p90 sounds great, but the frets are sharp, the action is highish (yes the bridge is to the deck), and the bridge is a set intonation. Gibson used to be well worth it but now i just cant see buying a newer one for that price. Guitar Center right now folks listed at 550$ a cheapo depot les paul jr. Needs a setup but sounds great!
The UPS truck got struck by lightning :)
Hello!. .i bought a Les Paul Junior 2015 recently, but i noticed it to have loud humming sound and clicking sound that lessens when i touched the strings. I ask if what you did to your guitar will make the noise go away? Tnx
can't hurt
I have the same problem with my Les Paul. Now, I can fix it. Thank You!
every cover must get GROUND and gone..good luck
Hi Dave I have a epiphone les Paul and I installed new dimarzio pickups in and new wiring harness when I went to plug everything back in I was getting a lot of noise and static. May i ask where to purchase that copper tape? I love the channel.
Have the same problem on my Gibson SG standard. Right around the same back-plates area. Copper taped also but it's still there. Gibson QC is shocking.
The buzz isn't static, it's RF, sounds like it might be AC power hum. It changes when you touch it because your body is acting like an antenna. It's not just the covers, if you grip the wood you're getting a similar effect even after you shielded. Something in the wiring is acting like a radio antenna due to a lack of shielding and/or grounding. Shielding is a good plan and of course the shielding is part of your ground plane which will help ground the whole thing but to properly shield everything would require entering other parts of the guitar. I suspect the shielding & grounding on the cabling is incomplete or ineffective somewhere. Shame Gibson support assumed it was not faulty wiring.
I think the cover material is Kydex. Themo plastic often use to make gun holsters and knife sheaths. It’s probably homemade.
Jeez, even my '76 Ibanez LP has foil tape on the back of the cavity plates, and my '05 Epi Paul does too
Gibson has been installing those pebbled plates on their Les Pauls and SGs for a year or two. My guess is they're using it because it's cheaper than the old-style 2x mirror finished plastic material.
No, they're actually supposed to prevent the very issues this guitar had. It's an easy fix, so all you Gibson bashers can calm the fuck down.
I just enjoy all the Sailor verbiage. I had to subscribe!
I got that a lot on my plastic pick guards, I used foil to get rid of it and I've not suffered it since. BTW I live in a dry 10-15% humidity climate so it can get bad. So bad I sometime I dread the discharge shock when turning on a light even. I've never had a static problem bake-a -light (spelling lol)
Hey Dave great video Gibson's all improved maybe they will get there shit together!Cheers Happy thanksgiving to you and family,Rock on brother.
I'm pretty sure this plastic is on most Gibsons nowadays, I think since about 2016 or 2017. I have a LP Tribute and SG Standard which both have this. SS infused polycarbonate for ESD protection is what they term it. I never had any issues with static etc.
I have extensive experience with this issue over the last several years with 2 different newer Gibsons. I got a lot of "experts" involved who were referred by Gibson. All were baffled. The unusual textured plastic covers were actually designed to fix the static issue. They are supposed to be metal infused according to Gibson. The static, according to Gibson, is a negative by-product caused by the application process of their nitro lacquer. It will never go away. Obviously, it's worse when humidity is low, but my symptoms have been so bad that the guitar was completely unplayable unless I stood perfectly still and didn't let the it touch my body at all.
Anyway, Gibson is very aware of this issue and has unsuccessfully tried to deal with it for years. It's the nitrocellulose.
I did find that the static has greatly been reduced over the last year since I completely shielded both guitars with copper tape. Not perfect, but after what I went through with over $3000 worth guitars, I'm pretty happy now.
Yeah, that's what I found too. When I did the copper tape on the control plate covers, I punctured the screws through it when I re-installed them. Then, complete copper tape in both cavities that is all grounded to the jack. My Gibsons both have PCB's which is a problem when you set it on copper tape, so I put a piece of poster board between the copper and the PCB so they don't short out.
Problem is that you are just managing the symptom, not fixing the cause, which is Gibson's finishing process. You will still have static issues, trust me. Just when you think it's gone for good, one day, down the road when you forgot all about it, on a real dry day, BAM! That damn static is back!
Get a TOKAI and never be disappointed again!
Well, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who wears suspenders!....lol
My bass does the same thing. Only a few minutes into the video. So I’ll give it a try my self. Thanks.
although slightly different than your problem thought id tell you what i found...i have a LP with p90s.and a telecaster . if my fingers ran across the pickguard i got crackling...my fix was tape...had some 2" clear tape (like like scotch tape) for taping boxes to ship. one pc over the lp guard and no more noise...on the tele i used a couple of strips of electrical tape()it had a black guard)
Does the strip down the cavity need to touch the back of all pots, or just one?
Ah, ok, thanks :) For such a simple fix, one can't help but wonder why they don't do it at the factory.
Dave, you said pinch hit so I did! I feel better now!
Dave do you fix guitar from anyone? If it can be mailed to you for repair what's your rates, turn around time?
That new plastic is actually supposed to prevent the static noise...go figure...
Yeah it does not. Watching this vid because my L.P. just started this nonsense.love hate relationship with it...otherwise it woulda been gone and forgotten
@@stepvanjoe3469 You know how THEY say
"Only a gibson is good enough"
Corporate liars
The textured style plastic covers are shielding. They’re usually accompanied with routs covered in shielding paint. Those metal plates need to go man, nothing but trouble in any Les Paul Ive dealt with.
I love the science 'Capacitive Bullshit' cracked me up man!! I have this problem of buzzing so this was very helpful thanks. Maybe I'll put some shielding on too. Your fix did the job, nice and quiet. I'm doing this right now, thanks. My first Gibson, I now realise that the quality is not like the old days, cos my frets needed crowned right out of the box, 'School Bus Frets' my arse!! Subbed.
Thanks for this. I have a Peter Frampton LP Signature, the most expensive guitar I ever bought, and it has always had 'static' handling noise on the strings - I have lots of other guitars included a 76 LP and never had this problem before. I know nothing of guitars' innards but having seen this I'll at least check out what's under those covers and maybe put shielding on them.
I’ve got the same static issue with a Paul I bought new in 2018. I just haven’t been playing the damned thing and no one seemed to have an intelligent solution. Hopefully this will work for me, although I get static pops and crackles even from the strings. I had had the problem emanating from the original pick guard, so I switched it out and put in a genuine tortoise shell guard which eliminated that noise anyway.
I had a similar issue with my BC Rich Stealth which has a crazy preamp and active pickups system in it but I had a lot of luck clearing it up by covering the pocket cover with shielding tape. This is a totally different issue apparently.
When I take a good look at these things I understand why people buy Chibsons.
Yep. I've tested many Gibsons in Music stores and at home--this has been a recurring problem. It's pretty much turned me off them. Epiphones don't have this problem! If ANY one out there is going to post something about using Bounce sheets- Forget it!!!
I have had 2 Gibsons, that really picks up
the static!! No cure, other than keeping a dryer sheet in the case and praying for humidity to go up!! I am in New Mexico !! The covers with the raise finish make it worse it seems!
What manafyer was you using
Those textured back plates have static reducing “stuff” woven into the plastic. Don’t seem to help though. They made the switch in 2014.
They're worse now. All my old used gibbys don't have this problem.
flourescent light noise too? must be after market covers
I believe that the plastic covers were acting as a capacitor and storing a charge as a balloon does, when you rub it on a sweater and you hold it above someone’s head and it makes their hair stand up.
Dammit Dave if you had left it alone maybe I could have picked it up cheap lol
i had the same problem with a G&L Strat a good sounding guitar but had awful static sounds even with the humbucker not split, 1 tech at pickers exchange told me how to fix it without taking it to the shop for repair , remove the pick-guard,completely and electronics make sure all the shipping plastic is removed,wet sand both sides with 2500 or 3000 grit sandpaper,look at the shielding mine being mfg in Korea only had shielding around electronics, I double shielded the whole back of the pickguard ,reassembled the guitar and this stopped the static noise,this was a new guitar ,I was not going to send the guitar for factory service cause this was one I did not want to lose when I picked it up in the music store, you could hit the A string and feel the whole guitar vibrate neck and all without being plugged up !
Had it way worse on a 2012 Les Paul Studio. Tried every trick out there. Went away mostly after 2 years approx. Pooping and static like crazy. Shielding didn't make any diff for me. Did rehearsals in running shoes...no difference. I think some of it was due to the finish and it all went away after I had the input jack changed so that may have been part of it as the tech moved some of the wiring...PITA.
Gibson actually have an article about their new technologies for reducing noise and combatting static buildup. The control and switch plates from 2016 on are some kind of conductive polycarbonate. So far as I can judge, this is supposed to be grounded to the copper-covered ground plane on the new-style Gibson control assemblies. If it isn't, as here, it will just accumulate charge with nowhere to go. Any exposed wire touching the inside of the control or switch plates would surely make them act as antennas, since they're electrically conductive. Touching the plates would be like touching the strings on a guitar with a bad ground.
www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Gear-Tech/en-us/Gibson-Multi-Shield-Technology-Minimizes-Noise.aspx
Had one too, 2016 studio static like hell. Everywere you touched the thing. Even on the wood. Sold it and got a Gibson u2 instead.
Did it come with cream colored plates? Looks like aftermarket.
yes it came with the cream colored plates
Is the texture on the back of those cover plates new to me?
IT'S IN THE FOOOKING FINISH!!
Shield the pickup cavities. I've had a V and a strat that did that. I'll emanated it by completely shielding the the body cavities with shielding paint
I got distracted at the beginning of the video (by a beer 🍺) and when I looked, 0:44 , Dave was gettin' down with the Gibson.
Time for some popcorn.
@Surrounded byCowards Thanks for sharing your syntax and spelling problem!
This is caused by Gibson's final clear coat process. They put an electrostatic charge on the truss rod and charge the clear nitro with the the opposite charge so the 2 stick together. I'm told by many Gibson users the buildup of static will go away over time with playing wear.
Is this true, I’m still going to shield my tribute but would make sense since my Gretsch had this problem when i first got it and now it’s super quiet even with the volume pushed and the gain cranked
A nice little Montrose tease on the second upstairs test.
Make it Last!
I have an Oscar Schmidt OE-20 with foil on the cavity covers.
Can Gibson not afford any foil tape at their asking price?
I have a 2015 Junior and its the finish causing static not the plastic. I can just rub the neck and it goes crazy
@@DavesWorldofFunStuff Good ol modern Gibson should sell branded dryer sheets because that's their answer.
You would figure for that expensive of a guitar they would have shielded the covers unless those covers were installed as aftermarket parts, i have never seen those on a gibson either.. .Cheers Dave love your videos!!!
I got a R8 paul and they use so much plasticisers in the clear that I get static crackle when I run my hand up n down the neck. Just like when u run your finger tips on a strat pickguard. My buddies R8 does it too. Out of our combined 30 guitars the only two that do it. I asked Gibson and they wouldn't respond.
Had the exact same issue with my 2018 SG Jr.
When you pay an assload for something that doesn't work right...
It works fine, genius. Like many guitars, it needed 50 cents worth of copper tape.
Sounds like ass = works fine? More like Gibson QC is dog squat.
Looks to me like aftermarket pot work has been done.
Omg I actually had to travel for 6 hours to pick it up and imagine I had to go again for 6 hours to fix the guitar that I paid 2k for
fuqinazhole No shit. Wouldn’t be watching this video if it were!! Love the sound, but Gibson’s QC needs a reload. No wonder they filed for Chapter 11.
Dave can u show us how to properly shim a neck ???
good info, thanks.
I looked at an ES at the Gibson factory, the F-holes looked as if Ray Charles cut them with his feet! I expect more from a $5000 dollar guitar.
I think I may own that ES that you saw. F'n-holes I think were chiseled out, not cut with a saw. I rubbed a dryer sheet on them but they-re still rough. I'm going to try taking my wool sweater off now and play it. Wish me luck! 🙄