WTF is happening with my strat?

[the_carl]

So I've noticed that sometimes, if I stop playing for a little and happen to rest my arm across the strings of my strat, I'll get a little electric shock. At first I thought that maybe I had a sharp spur somewhere on my bridge that was pricking my arm and being mistaken for a shock, but I couldn't find anything like that with my guitar unplugged, so I just kind of shrugged it off and moved my arm on the rare occasion that I felt a shock.

Recently, though, I started playing a bit with a slide, and if I use a brass slide, I'll get all sorts of static/buzzing/hum kind of stuff if the slide is touching multiple strings. It's fine with a glass slide, so I thought it was some kind of grounding problem. I took the pickguard off to look at the wiring and it seemed fine. The cavities aren't shielded, but there's never been enough noise for me to bother shielding them.

But tonight, I had my guitar in hand, power on, and went to move my headphones from my laptop to my 2880 for some silent jamming. I made the unpleasant discovery that touching a metal part of my guitar and the metal end of my headphone connector while it's plugged into my laptop will produce a larger shock that is consistent and definitely a shock. Like "oh god it's burning my hand" kind of a shock, which I don't think is good. Any ideas what's happening? I don't really want to accidentally fry myself.

[Holy Schnikes]

I've heard of this before and oddly enough, both times it involved a Strat. The first was a grounding issue with the guitar itself that led to the strings picking up a pretty vicious electrical charge. The guy shielded the pickguard and properly grounded everything, never to be shocked again.

The second was actually an issue with the amp, polarity problem I think. Doesn't seem to be your issue though considering you experienced it when using a laptop only.

Also, the cable could be the culprit. Have you tried switching it out?

[the_carl]

Switching out the cable changed nothing. I only get the shock if my laptop is plugged into the AC adapter, which makes sense. If I bypass my pedalboard and go straight into my amp I get no shock regardless of how the laptop is powered. The laptop power adapter is connected to a different outlet from my from my amp and pedalboard. I do know that my cheap patch cables have started to crap out on me, and my board is powered by a combination of a 1spot and a couple EHX supplies.

Since I don't have this problem with my bass, shielding the guitar and touching up the ground connections sounds like the way to go, so I'll try that when I have the time.

[willc]

I do not think your strat is the problem here. The strat is making you aware of the problem which if I am following you correctly here either your amp and laptop has a polarity problem.
Or it could be the wall wiring too but yes it could be a bit dangerous.
Does your amp have a 3 prong power plug? If not it could be as simple as turning the plug 90 degrees.

[Rygot]

Yeah, make sure everything you're playing through is properly grounded. If your amp has a polarity switch, maybe flip that too.

A few months ago my bassist friend had hooked everything up, his brother used a 3 prong>2prong adapter without grounding it out somewhere...therefore we were getting shocked.

[Gearmond]

its evolving into a stratachu

[CaptainWampum]

its evolving into a stratachu

[veteransdaypoppy]

its evolving into a stratachu

brilliant.

[the_carl]

its evolving into a stratachu

Dude, I wish!

Switching around the power supplies did not improve the situation. Since it only happens when my board is in the chain, though, could still be something to do with my power strip and/or onespot, maybe? I'll probably borrow a different power strip and try that, or find a place where I can plug everything directly into outlets.

[McSpunckle]

Clearly, it's trying to murder you.