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Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 5:37 pm
by gunslinger_burrito
So I have a parts guitar that's been laying around for a year or more. I messed it up by gorilla glueing the bridge in before placing the ground wire like a dumbass. It's a tune o matic style bridge if that matters. I tried to ground to the tremolo (jazz master term) but apparently I don't have the right kind of solder. Can I ground to a screw, bolt, or other random piece of metal somewhere in/on the body? I don't care about looks, I just want it to work. I'm finally inspired to work on this thing again after a handful of fuck-ups.

Thx dewds

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 10:23 pm
by weed_killer
Try grounding to the vibrato like this:

Image

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 10:49 pm
by Decibill
Ideally you want that ground wire to be in contact with the biggest hunk o metal that it can. Solder wont stick to a chrome finish so grind down a small area to bare metal and it should solder fine.

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:16 am
by gunslinger_burrito
Thanks guys! I somehow hadnt thought of grinding down past the finish. :facepalm:

Maybe I'll have time to mess with it tonight.

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:50 pm
by Decibill
Sweet man. Good luck...!!

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:11 pm
by gunslinger_burrito
aaaaand.....looking for a way to grind down that chrome.... :facepalm:

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 10:27 pm
by imJonWain
sandpaper or a file in a small part might do it, I doubt it's a heavy chrome finish if it's even actual chrome. You might be able to marr it up enough to get solder to stick, maybe buy some flux for soldering stainless? Never tried that before though.

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:24 pm
by Decibill
Any sort or grinding or sanding bit on a Dremel will do it. You can even use a drill bit to remove the chrome and dig a very shallow dimple the plate.

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 12:20 am
by gunslinger_burrito
thanks.
Turns out I could just sandwich it between the tremolo plates. :thumb:

I haven't had time to finish stringing and setting it up, but the electronics seem to work.

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 8:44 pm
by gunslinger_burrito
Success!!!
kinda big picture
NSFW: show
Image

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 6:05 am
by UglyCasanova
That looks great! :joy:

I want/need a P90 guitar. :mope:

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:10 am
by gunslinger_burrito
It worked great for a few days, but yesterday the bridge pickup went out on me. I'm pretty sure that it's just a loose connection but what a pain. At least it's an easy fix.

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 3:31 pm
by KaosCill8r
UglyCasanova wrote:That looks great! :joy:

I want/need a P90 guitar. :mope:

Yes everyone needs a P90 equipped guitar :thumb:

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 9:55 pm
by Derelict78
No shit, I use liber null to rest my neck on as well!

Re: Can I ground to a screw or something on a guitar body?

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:00 am
by gunslinger_burrito
Derelict78 wrote:No shit, I use liber null to rest my neck on as well!


:thumb: