what are people's views on the necessity of shielding a guitar, and to what extent do you (if you do) shield yours?

@tv1010101 I never used to shield at all but since I started building guitars for other people, It’s become a standard practice. The reason for this is that I want to try to cover all eventualities before any problems occurred. For me, it doesn’t really matter because I do all my playing at home where I get very little, if any, external electrical interference (apart from my soldering iron and a florescent light in my workshop/garage). If I was going to give public people a headache by playing in pubs, clubs, events etc, then the chances of picking up external electrical interference increases. Even though wouldn’t put anyone through that torture, there are many skilled and capable players that can play gigs and events, giving pleasure to peoples’ eardrums. As I don’t know where my guitars will be played, I want to cover all bases as much as I can so if one of my builds is used on a stage somewhere, I want to sound as good as it can. I don’t want to give someone the opportunity to blame the guitar, whether they are a good or bad player. If it’s got my name on the headstock, it’s my reputation. 

That is my angle but it could be £ollocks! 

Some of you may say “Never mind the £ollocks!” 

If it’s got my name on the headstock, it’s my reputation. 

I think that's a very valid consideration.

A good thread and discussion.

I have shielded and then not on builds just to experiment really. As @TV1010101 pints out Mark doesn’t shield on the course so I didn’t on the beginning. 

I have a few bought branded guitars and not many of them are shielded ( I think one out of 9). However I think that’s more to do with production cost.

A couple of builds has particularly noisy pickups and I though what the heck. I did find it worked well especially when playing live near fluorescent lighting or dimmer switches. Not too mush of a problem when the gig starts as usually those lights are turned off. I did find shielding did help a tad though.

@johnnierox-boo If you feel it’s worth the cost and effort especially whith your logo on the headstock...go for it..to be honest it doesn’t add too much time to a build and on single pups I’m sure it worth it.

@johnnierox-boo   Thanks for that good explanation of the shielding.

Another question though, does the shielding in each cavity then need an earth wire?

does the shielding in each cavity then need an earth wire?

@robin My answer is no because I make sure there is some of the copper tape overlapping onto the top of the body, so when I put the metal pickup rings on, it connects with the tape to complete the cage. 

I think that's a very valid consideration.

@tv1010101 I used to have the same attitude when spraying cars. Most people want a good job doing and I’m happy to do it but the occasional person would come along and say “just do a quick, cheap job, I don’t really care about it being a good job”. Even if they don’t care, I do! I either wouldn’t do the job or, if I was in a good mood, do the job to my standard but at their price (but that was a rarity). It’s my reputation! It’s just a good ethos to have and a good habit to develop. 

to be honest it doesn’t add too much time to a build

@deej That’s right, it doesn’t take that much time and I just feel like I’m doing the best job I can. Also, if and when the new owner or a guitar tech has to work on it, they can see the effort I went to and see the consideration I left for their benefit. I put a little bit of bees wax on every screw and I make sure the nut is snug (not too tight or too slack) and held in place with just a drop of glue, not a tub full. It’s all good fun! 

My answer is no because I make sure there is some of the copper tape overlapping onto the top of the body, so when I put the metal pickup rings on, it connects with the tape to complete the cage. 

In which case, why would you need an earth link from copper foil in a control cavity, if the inside of the cavity cover is also lined with the foil?

I thought the rule was that it should all the earthed - though, I confess, I don't understand the principles behind the rule!

Todays topic sorted - cheers @tv1010101 !!

? @markbailey - I'll be sat here at 1pm, ready and watching!!