Y'all have power conditioners? That may help.
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I used to work for an "external dev partner" studio, and currently work on audio middleware.
It could be a combination of both - if something is funky in the guitar's wiring, and you don't notice it with other guitars, maybe something in this one is more sensitive to the environment for some reason.
I fight with the same thing - my general desk area, conveniently where I would do most recording, generates a ton of electrical noise and I never figured out where it's coming from. Doesn't seem to matter which guitar, or where in the room I stand, or which gear I'm using, and I don't think it's a ground loop or something since it doesn't seem to matter what else, if anything is plugged in, or where, etc. It's just a noisy room.
In my case, I suspect I really just need a power conditioner or something - but if touching metal makes a difference, that sounds like a grounding problem to me.Still have to touch metal at all times though, or it's buzz-city.
Happy NGD.
It's great to see actual Chinese brands recognized by western little by little. China actually builds nice guitars like NK, McTang and Shijie (also great).
I don't get the reason that such industry can be so undeveloped here, mass-produced guitars like Ibanez, there shouldn't be difficulties. Money is enough, tech is enough (machines are simple and cheap these days). Just they don't seem to make money from it, so they don't do it.
Too sad in domestic markets they aren't particularly known as well, most main stream Chinese brand things are just shit. Those things as well are only known inside people who actually plays guitar, so actually brands like McTang will have fairly tight connection with players, as some luthiers are players themselves, these are good, but not well known.
In my case, I suspect I really just need a power conditioner or something - but if touching metal makes a difference, that sounds like a grounding problem to me.
Yeah, you are right, it's hard to make a living unless selling mass produced cheap guitars. The fact this market is already taken by Ibanez, Squier and something that has a mature factory and production line, you are very hard to make your own and take a part of the market. So things like NK they choose for headless and cheap custom, which is a market that not taken by others, eventually they are somewhat successed.From what I gathered chatting with the McTang owner/luthier, it sounds like it's just generally very hard to make a living unless you're selling mass produced cheap guitars. I imagine the vast majority of guitar players just want something affordable that kinda plays alright. Only a minority of enthusiasts would be interested in something more elaborate, like nice tonewood, handwound pickups, multiscale, extended range, etc, that's all fairly niche stuff that will be hard to sell a lot of anywhere I imagine. (Except on a forum like this? haha)
I'm sure there are also people who only recognize and feel comfortable with established brands like Ibanez, so as a small shop you'd also have to fight for some recognition before anyone will take a chance on you.
The economy right now is probably not helping?
Overall it sounds risky financially and isn't something you can make happen over night. I think it also took years for brands like NK and GoC to gain any traction overseas.
McTang guy said he's into nice guitars himself, and got tired of working for one of these large factories that just churn out cheap knockoffs, and that's why he started his own thing.
I do wish there are more like him who try to change the trend and make more interesting stuff happen.
Oh that's actually nice to know! I do plan to take it with me on flights. Will they let you also take a carry-on backpack if you're slinging a guitar?Some of these off brands are really nice. I have a GOC and an NK and they play great, are pretty, and well built. I travel with them and one of my Legators, as they each fit in the upper bin in a real airplane, using a mini strat gigbag.
Sure thing, let me know if you spot anything!Can you post a pic of the electronics cavity?
Always suspect the ground. Even if they look good, if all the pickups switch correctly and the symptom is just "noise", like 99.9% chance its a ground.
In which case i usually recommend buttoning up the solder joints even if they look fine or just tearing them out and starting over. Check the ground to the bridge also
Outside chance its an output jack or pot issue (in that order) but I always say start with the free/cheap and high probability solution and work your way out from there.
Some of these off brands are really nice. I have a GOC and an NK and they play great, are pretty, and well built. I travel with them and one of my Legators, as they each fit in the upper bin in a real airplane, using a mini strat gigbag.
Talking just the grounds, yeah. Output jack to pot, pot to pot, pickups to pot, pot to bridge.So, re-do every solder joint, including the ground to bridge, and 99% chance it'll fix? I can do that.
Thanks mate! Your advice was spot on. I touched up a few ground joints and it fixed the problem!Talking just the grounds, yeah. Output jack to pot, pot to pot, pickups to pot, pot to bridge.
Oh lol, how'd that get there?
It's funny you recognized it. Do you do some game dev by any chance?
Yeah of course I realized it was a risk, but I think I did the best to improve my odds.
I talked to the luthier for probably a few weeks before pulling the trigger. I wanted to know everything about his craft, his business, his attitude, and I wanted to get a feel for the guy overall. In the end I felt like he was genuine enough and humble enough that he wasn't trying to sell me something and we ended up just being two guitar enjoyers talking about guitar stuff. I think we even got into some of his family issues and struggles on occasion. XD
So yeah, it's not like a $4000 full custom made by a master luthier, but it is exceedingly good for the money, and actually way more guitar than a hobbyist like me would ever need. ^^
The wiring is actually fine, as it turned out. Since I only get noise on my PC+interface and not a physical amp, I'm trying to solve the issue of potentially bad wiring setup in my apartment. After a brief googling it appears this is a way more tedious problem than just bad wiring in a guitar. Some people (jokingly) suggest you should just move to another place to get rid of the issue.
From what I gathered chatting with the McTang owner/luthier, it sounds like it's just generally very hard to make a living unless you're selling mass produced cheap guitars. I imagine the vast majority of guitar players just want something affordable that kinda plays alright. Only a minority of enthusiasts would be interested in something more elaborate, like nice tonewood, handwound pickups, multiscale, extended range, etc, that's all fairly niche stuff that will be hard to sell a lot of anywhere I imagine. (Except on a forum like this? haha)
I'm sure there are also people who only recognize and feel comfortable with established brands like Ibanez, so as a small shop you'd also have to fight for some recognition before anyone will take a chance on you.
The economy right now is probably not helping?
Overall it sounds risky financially and isn't something you can make happen over night. I think it also took years for brands like NK and GoC to gain any traction overseas.
McTang guy said he's into nice guitars himself, and got tired of working for one of these large factories that just churn out cheap knockoffs, and that's why he started his own thing.
I do wish there are more like him who try to change the trend and make more interesting stuff happen.
Yes, my backpack goes up top, everyone else's carry on goes up top, then the guitar sits on TOP of everything. I have been on well over 100 planes in the 10-12 years I've been carrying headless guitars and have yet to have one not fit. You do get the "is that a rifle?" comments occasionally, though. I started with a Steinberger Spirit and have had numerous different guitars over the years, still have the steinberger.Oh that's actually nice to know! I do plan to take it with me on flights. Will they let you also take a carry-on backpack if you're slinging a guitar?