Static noise on wound strings - Elixir Nanoweb coated strings to blame??

[Deleted member 2284]

I just changed to nanowebs, which are coated strings, and I noticed a crackling especially when sliding on the wound strings. Weird. I think this is from the polymer coating, has anybody else experienced this?

 

[jfb]

I use Elixir strings exclusively. Can't say I have experienced your issue. If anything I feel like the coating makes them quieter when sliding around the neck.

 

[Deleted member 2284]

When you say quieter, do you refer to sliding "squeaks"?

The noise I'm talking about is distinctly different, more of a static crackling.

 

[jfine]

I've used Elixirs for years, and I've never experienced anything like that.

 

[HighGain510]

If it's a static crackling, perhaps it's a grounding issue? Did you look at the electronics cavity already to ensure there wasn't a cold solder joint or a loose wire somewhere? Stock pickups or did you/someone else swap the pickups out? That could be a potential culprit as well. I don't think the coating on Elixirs would cause you any type of static/buzzing issue at all, so my guess is the strings are not the cause there.

 

[László]

Try changing back to regular strings and see if it still happens. If it does, HighGain's post has the usual stuff to check.

 

[Deleted member 2284]

OK, further investigation indicates that it is a combo of grounding and the strings

It is now clear that it ONLY occurs when sliding on the three wound strings, and ONLY when the guitar is otherwise not grounded - i.e., when I'm not touching the other three strings or the bridge etc.

So I would guess that when sliding, I get "intermittent" grounding (or maybe rather intermittent non-grounding) on the wound strings, and that is what causes this. Weird.

 

[Deleted member 2284]

(And no, it hasn't bothered me enough yet to get me off my lazy a$$ and do a proper cavity inspection)

 

[Tricko]

I can confirm this as an issue: Have a 2020 Les Paul Standard 50's on which I was getting an irritating crackling static only when I slid up and down the wound strings. After much research and testing for continuity with my Fluke multimeter, it seems the coating on the Elixir wound strings provides an intermittent continuity resulting in inconsistent grounding (at least to fingers). Have not really noticed this on my other Elixir loaded guitars. LP forums going back years speculate on this common LP issue with static being attributable to Nitro coating not being cured, to not enough shielding, etc - so perhaps its a combination of elements but I notice a definite correlation to having a coated string on the guitar. Further investigation is necessary.

 

[Tricko]

https://epublish.panaprint.com/arti...he+Uncoated+Truth/1115676/118550/article.html

 

[RickP]

I've heard of this problem, but have never experienced the issue and use Elixirs on 18 different guitars from multiple manufacturers. I'd like to think I'm just lucky, but I surmise that the issue occurs when only a stand-alone bridge is grounded and not the stop bar where the ball ends make contact. A total guess, but it's the only thing I can imagine that might explain my total lack of issue in a decade of use.

 

[Tricko]

I've heard of this problem, but have never experienced the issue and use Elixirs on 18 different guitars from multiple manufacturers. I'd like to think I'm just lucky, but I surmise that the issue occurs when only a stand-alone bridge is grounded and not the stop bar where the ball ends make contact. A total guess, but it's the only thing I can imagine that might explain my total lack of issue in a decade of use.

Oh, good idea. I will test this theory.