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Okay dudes check this out. My Tele has something weird going on in the electronics. Whenever I have the neck pickup selected (middle position too), I sometimes get this weird popping or crackle sound. Sometimes it's really subtle and sometimes it's super noticable and happens with a lot of pops in a row.

Me and my guitar tech can't figure it out! A while ago we took out the tone stack so it only has a volume pot now. Other than that it's a normal Tele. I initially thought it was the pickups, which I was planning on replacing anyways. After we swapped pickups though the problem was still there. Today we replaced the switch, so that ain't it either. What might it be? Grounding issue? Just bad wires?

Important note: I didn't have this problem before we yanked the tonestack.

I attached a short clip to give you guys an idea of what it sounds like. You gotta listen carefully but it happens 3 or 4 times withing the first 8 seconds of the clip.

Any help you guys can offer would be sweet.

I bought my Tele used and the original owner put this thin metal sheet under the pickguard. Maybe you should try that?

I guess it was noisy before but it's fine now.

Is the cover wobbly?

nbabmf wrote:Is the cover wobbly?

The cover as in the pickup cover? Or the control plate? Neither are wobbly.

Could this be as simple as a bad wire? I honestly can't think of what else might be affecting it. It's shielded just fine and everything. YARG.

Does it do it when you're just open position strumming chords? Cuz it sounds to me like your strings might be hitting the pickup when you mute them... if not that, then maybe a wire is coming loose somewhere. It doesn't sound like a shielding issue, as the guitar doesn't sound overly noisy. I'm assuming that it doesn't happen when you use the bridge pup? Check the pickup itself as well. Take off the metal cover and look at the top side of the base of the pup. There might be two little copper wires coming out (depending on the model)... sometimes, those bastards will come loose a bit. It's a real bitch to fix securely and I've only ever seen it happen on lower end guitars but it's still possible.

I know this sounds stupid but where is your cell phone when you play?

You could just have a pickup that sucks in noise from unshielded devices.

I had a strat that would pop and crack but it's these special lights for reading in a room at our church. When I play it at home it sounds fine.


Copper sheilding would help and ensure you had a good ground as well.

Just took another listen doesn't sound like sheilding issue although I would think strings hitting the pickup would be noticeable when you played onthe bridge as well.

You could find that out by lowering the height of the pickup a touch.

elbandito wrote:Does it do it when you're just open position strumming chords? Cuz it sounds to me like your strings might be hitting the pickup when you mute them... if not that, then maybe a wire is coming loose somewhere. It doesn't sound like a shielding issue, as the guitar doesn't sound overly noisy. I'm assuming that it doesn't happen when you use the bridge pup? Check the pickup itself as well. Take off the metal cover and look at the top side of the base of the pup. There might be two little copper wires coming out (depending on the model)... sometimes, those bastards will come loose a bit. It's a real bitch to fix securely and I've only ever seen it happen on lower end guitars but it's still possible.

Nah it usually makes the noise when I'm playing chords higher on the neck too. It's also strange because I've never heard it when I'm playing single-note stuff.

That's correct about the bridge pu not being an issue. I'll double check the pickup.

Thanks guys!

Just give the Tele to me.

nbabmf wrote:Just give the Tele to me.

Man would you really be willing to do that for me? This place is the best!!

I'd double check all the grounds - retouch them if necessary. Grounding issues are a pain in the ass, and sometimes it's as simple as a solder point not being clean enough.

That, and like said above - look at what lights are on, cell phone, computer, etc. Interference is always possible, especially with single coils.

Noise... wrote:I'd double check all the grounds - retouch them if necessary. Grounding issues are a pain in the ass, and sometimes it's as simple as a solder point not being clean enough.

That, and like said above - look at what lights are on, cell phone, computer, etc. Interference is always possible, especially with single coils.

Word, thanks a bunch.