How To Shield Your Guitar - Myths Busted 

Hey Dylan! Big fan. Couple very important practical things. This isn't academic or pedantic, this is all practical - You can't solve a *magnetic* field (guitar noise) problem by treating it like an electrical field (radio antenna) problem. Using the "pickups are radio antennas" analogy is great, until you try to solve problems like noise. Pickups are not RF antennas. And yes, this difference matters! A 60hz EMI or RF wave is not 18 feet. A 60hz SOUND wave is 18 feet. A 60hz electromagnetic wave is 16,400,000 feet because it's *moving at the speed of light, not the speed of sound.* For your guitar to be a even a quarter wave antenna, the wiring would have to be about *790 miles long.* Further, all of the discussion of a guitar acting as an antenna is assuming it's in the "far field", as radio antennas are. Far field doesn't start until about 2x the wavelength. For 60hz, far field is about 6,000 miles away from the source of the noise. Meaning - *You'd have to be 6,000 miles away from the source of 60hz hum for RF shielding like copper tape to work.* These insane distances mean guitars are strictly in the "near field", which behave incredibly different from far field objects like radio antennas. RF shielding does not work on a problem that is not in the RF far field range. TLDR: Your guitar is not an antenna. You need to shield against magnetic fields, not electrical fields, which are very different, unless your pickup happens to be 6,000 miles long. Thanks for reading, if anyone did.

I built tv and cell towers. Ive had lots of engineers explain this. You have done the best job of explaining.

I'm an electrical engineer, and someone that earlier in my career did a bunch of RF stuff. And I just wanted to say that you did a great job of presenting the important information in a way that is simple enough for everyone to follow.

Thank you for the clarification! I have a roll of copper tape with conductive adhesive to put in the pickup cavities, and pick guard. Staying out of the control area is really great news! Eliminating possible shorting issues, with low to no benefit, will save a little sanity! ...I just have to remember, “Stay grounded!”

Once upon a time, I was awarded a degree in electrical engineering from an accredited university, so I've met the kind of people you're talking about, Dylan). For the record, I thought you did a great job of explaining the general ideas without dragging non-technical types into the weeds. For practical purposes and simplicity's sake we often neglect those higher-order effects, meaning that engineers usually deal with approximations of varying precision. Enough to get the desired results while still making the math possible. Looked to me like you walked that line very well with this video.

It’s very refreshing to hear people that are super knowledgeable explain things in an understandable way without being pretentious. Thank you for this!

I am a guitar player that has been completing my own hardware modifications for years. Changing tuners, relicing/aging, set-ups, etc.. but I have always been intimidated with the electronics part and therefore have avoided. After watching this, and a few of your other vids, my confidence has definitely grown. I recently completed a pick up swap on my Gibson Explorer which is something that I never would have attempted a year ago. I have always wondered about shielding, and whether there were any actual benefits in completing it. This video has explained it so well that I am now going to attempt a shielding project on my Classic Vibe Tele. That grounding part is gold. I wonder how many out there have been shielding but not grounding. Thank you so much for this...and all your other videos!

I'm sure its been said before, but I wanna say it again; who bothers to click through to this video and then give it a thumbs down. Were they displeased with you simple and effective message, or are they people who say "no" before the question is asked. I am totally befuddled about these folks, and have made a mental note not to go out of my way to meet them anytime this century or next. They need to take a long hard look at themselves.

I am always thankful for your logical approach to guitars. Thanks for the download of good solid info. I'll use these shielding (or not shielding) principles in my builds and mods going forward, for sure!

For my sins, I spent 2-1/2 years working on building cryogenic-soaked receivers for radio telescopes. The "cage" was about 10' x 10' x 7'. The contact setup around the door was really interesting and really complicated. As you say, people REALLY don't need to go there. I'm all in favour of proper shielding, but that's a whole other thing, and much easier. Glad to see this explained in straightforward layman's language. Thanks, Dylan.

Love these kinds of videos when you do them! Realistic technical information with practical application was what drew me to your channel in the first place.

Just found this guy .. Love the videos.. Practical science without getting lost in the theory.. Thank you sir !

Yet another excellent tech video! I think you are right about trying to simplify the theory behind and focus more on the practical application. Thank you Dylan

Thank you for taking the time to make this video and explain how it works!

Super informative!! Thank you!

I have used aluminum foil tape for HVAC use on a budget build for my seven year old. It had real shotty single coils and when you combine a 7 year old with little skills and a loud hum along with a cranked combo amp... It can be hard to keep your sanity.. Lol All I had on hand was my HVAC tape.. It worked pretty good..!

This is the best video I’ve seen in a long time! I have an Epiphone Les Paul I was redoing and wanted to do it right. I shielded everything, and lo and behold, it didn’t work. I hadn’t touched it for a couple months, until I watched this video, the second you said to not shield the control cavity, I jumped, a half hour later, I was playing! Thanks bro!

A very scientific and thorough discussion. Thank you!

Thank you so much, Dylan. I had a lot of annoying static electricity on my G&L Asat classic. I've just shielded the pickguard the way you explain with conductive copper tape and it works fantastic. Have a nice day and happy new year. 🙂

Learned a ton from this video. Thank you!!!

Great video, Thanks for taking the time to explain.

Thank you for your information, very well explained & to the point.

Okay, so I’ve watched a couple of videos and feel like I have gained valuable, knowledge. Well explained, without frills or bias. Thank you Dylan! Subscribed!

Thank you for making this video! you cleared up a lot of confusion for me👍🏻 the video made the whole process a lot simpler. I ordered the tape it'll be here tomorrow great video!

Thanks very informative and time saving !

Thanks Dylan for a very informative video. I'm definitely going to use copper sheeting that I have bought to shield my D.I.Y. Strat kit that I built, using your method. I'm glad that I looked this up and found your video.

Thank you! I did a Strat copper shielding project this weekend - including the output jack bc the other youtube examples did NOT mention to avoid jack cavity shielding. Shielding made a huge difference, but I started having some popping sounds when moving around. So I swapped the jack for a new one. Then I had NO sound after screwing jack into cavity w cover, but it did work w/o cover. Noticed that jack plug was just touching shielding, and had watched this vid, so I removed. Problem solved. And the guitar is still quiet w all of the other copper foil treatment and groundings.

Thank you for this. You saved me a lot of work, and it all makes perfect sense.

Put an aluminum pickguard plate under my AmStd Strat pickguard. Looks cool, really made a huge difference in noise, and did effect the tone a bit. Positively in my opinion.

Dude I love your content! Perfect level of information and great value!

Great Video. This method helped so much and saved me so much time and headache from having to remove everything.

Thank you very much 👍 .Great explanation and can't wait to do it . Thank again

Great - Really liked the video. Thank you for your time.

Thx Dylan. I came back for the parts I missed.

Thanks for this video. This is going to be very useful info as I build my new kits and repair/upgrade some of my older projects

This was such a great video, thanks man

Thank you! Great explanation of what shielding is and is not! This simplifies my task of shielding my guitars tremendously.

This makes so much sense thanks

Truly an inspiration Dylan busted some of my myths for sure. I posted this in several "guitar" groups on fb.

excellent presentation. I like the "here is why" and " this is how shielding works" instead of just, "stick tape here and here now it's quiet because science" Cheers

perfect video. thank you!

Awesome, as always,,, Ty my friend!

You're the best Dylan. You've saved me quite a bit of money by just being as straightforward and honest as you are. I seriously appreciate what you do man. Thanks. Rock on man

thank you!...I'll give it a try.

Nice and simple!

Copper tape for me too. Thanks for the tip on the control cavity, I didn't know that. I always learn some good info from you.

Thanks for the video

my tele kit is delivering today, call it divine intervention or what ever, but found you today and this saved me a ton of time. I was planning to install the tape in all cavities, connect them via 24ga wire and claim victory. Now pick guard to control screw ground, boom done. thank you sooo much. great job

You just saved me a bunch of time and tape. I was planning on putting tape everywhere like some recommend.

This is one of your best videos.

Thank you! Cool and explaining video

You asked - I use conductive paint in cavities, always have. I use foil on pickguards. Nice review : -)

Thank you so much for the detailed explanations, now I got a hold on dos and do'nts about how to properly shielding my telecaster. :)

A lotta knowledge, expertise and well-explained to the details - thank you , sir. :-)

Good information.

Hey Dylan! Great vieo! You said that shielding controll cavity would not change much. I have old Framus guitar, with Bill Lawrence LTS pickups. I decided to change wires in cavity, which were old and degraded. I didn't want to mess with shielded pickup wires which were fine. Cavity wires were also of shielded type. I changed them to regular wires and instantly i got massive noise. Then i shielded that cavity with tin foil and averything was back to normal.

Shielded my tele per this video and it sounds soooooo quiet! Thank you very much brother!!!

i added copper shielding to each of the individual pickups. I shielded the top of the coils and ran it down to a shield wrapped around the coil itself. This was grounded with a solid wire directly to the pickup ground. The top shield is one long U shape with a tab at the bottom of the U to wrap over the end of the bobbin and down on the end of the coil. This runs alongside of the pole pieces. The top of the bobbin, opposite the tab end, has to be open. The shield can't totally surround the pole pieces. This lets out eddy currents. If you shield in the eddy currents, the highs will be sacrificed. The same applies to the shield wrapped around the coils. It can't be a complete wrap. I leave about a half inch gap open. This wrap goes over the tab from the top shield. I put the gap on the side opposite the pickup wires. This way I can solder the wire right from the ground connection to the copper shield. I use copper shielding with conductive adhesive, so I don't have to solder the two shielding pieces together. I think this may stop the "sticking out" scenario from letting EMI in through the front of the pickup. Some people put the upper shield on the inside of the pickup cover. That requires that piece to then be connected with a wire to ground or to the other shield piece. Easier to just do it on the bobbin itself.

the graphite paint does seem to help. but if a pot feels loose,don't turn it till the body moves cause one of the solder lugs could ground out. so tighten it pronto. Every little bit helps.

Genius!!!! Damn bro thank you for all the useful info. Greatly appreciated!!

Thank you sir. Nice and simple.👍😎😇🇺🇸

great video!

If your electronics cavity is shielded (either by a foil job or conductive paint spray) and something is touching where it shouldn’t, leading to a short or one pickup not working or whatever - just put clear packing tape in the insulated cavity over the foil. Insulates it electrically from the wiring harness while still retaining rf isolation.

Dylan, Even being buzzed,... You did a great job on this one!

I shielded my Tele pickguard & grounded exactly as you specified (nothing else). For all practical purposes, it eliminated a very noticeable 'hands-off' hum. Thanks so much!!!

Great video. Used your method of a tiny strip of shielding to have continuity between control plate and the pick-guard. Super- Genius Level. Wyle E Coyote....Super Genius.

I did it! it’s work 🎉 Thanks 🙏

Between you "guns n' guitars" and Highline guitars, I'm building a killer bass, thanks man, knowledge that comes with experience is powerful and you got it.

Been waiting for this since last year.. ha ha.. yeah..

thank you for shering the knowlege.

Spot on! if you're looking for info describing how to shield your guitar from electrostatic interference, it's all here in this video.

To all the Propeller heads that try to correct Dylan’s “science” He is teaching concepts/ practical applications for laymen guitarists. Not mathematics or physics. Lay off... Most guitarists... even legendary ones ... Don’t know shit about guitars... and they will tell you. They just pick it up and if it sounds great they love it... If it doesn’t they leave it. Us hobbyists love tinkering though, and need practical applications to improve what we are doing and BASIC concepts that we can apply to our next guitar or project. For instance... I’m betting that trying to shield the output jack cavity is a bad Idea on any guitar not just a tele... If your solder joint for the signal wire or a bare part of your signal grounds on that shielding..... Welcome to Zero output. Keep putting it out the way you do Dylan... We get it.

Great video glad I found it. The most important thing that you mentioned is it's about location. I never had a problem until I moved. Cell tower, hydro towers and transformers all within sight.

I did my 89 Kramer Nightswan a few years after I bought it. I use copper foil and I did solder the joints between each strip. Now my volume pot is a push/pull as it's my pick up selector switch, I have a Seymour Duncan JB pickup in the neck (passive) and a Seymour Duncan heavy metal live wire (active) in the bridge. The guitar is completely silent with the volume cranked until I hit the strings and it's full sound. I wish all my guitars were like this. It's a guitar with pass and active and works wonderful. Anyone who knows those pick ups, knows how hot and loud the Heavy metal live wire is, 18volt , lots of jam lol. Probably the most versatile guitar I have, the JB has a coil tap, so the guitar goes mild to wild. Each pickup cavity has copper tape and the control cavity with a wire soldered to each joining them. Lots of work, but well worth it for me. Also did my Epiphone Zakk Wylde model and changed the 9volt setup to 18 volt on it and works just as well.

I am super grateful to find this video. Doing home recording I cannot stand the noise. I’ve purchased noise eliminators, gates etc. I probably have more of them than I do FX pedals. I could care less about all the science, and all the nerd stuff. I find people on RU-vid, and the Internet tend to beat there chest to seem more intelligent than they actually are. There’s an old adage keep it simple stupid. I really appreciate this more than you know. I’m going to order the tape and follow everything that you said and I really hope it works. Thank you for putting this up!

Thank you for sharing tips and saving time subscribed..thumbs up! Had to edit most important thing you said is you're trying to minimize the hum no way to eliminate it

I copper-shielded my Fender strat and it helped to a noticeable degree. I did the same with my Franken-Squier (with new Fender pickups) and while it helped, it was much less noticeable. But with the Fender it was absolutely worth the 30 min. and $4 of copper-tape. If you have the materials, I don't see why NOT to do it. It may help, it may not, but so long as you don't short something out it surely can't hurt...

yes... thanks !!! God bless you

Funny thing is, I rewired my guitar completely yesterday. A strat. Went online, looked for tips, instructions and aaaaaaall the major names (and forums) tells you to shield the whole thing. And I did. And my guitar, although quieter, still noisy. AND, I had to remediate it cause I shielded the jack hole as well and I grounded the whole thing. Good to come online and seeing a video of a dude saying what actually works, with facts, data. Awesome, thanks! Oh, first time using the copper tape, and love it. It's clean, easy, and works (being conductive)

Great video! Love this kinda content that totally clears up old wive tails. I hate getting ahold of a guitar built by an old wife!😆

A good test for your guitar is to play a show at Blind Willie's in Atlanta, where everybody has a buzz... :)

wow, proper info on shielding ..... it's quite rare! Big thumbs up to you! :)

Thank you!!! You are a voice of reason in a sea of misinformation about this subject. Even when we filter out ridiculous snake-oil sales pitches, there's still a ton of information that is intentionally withheld, like what we really need to do to keep our electric guitar as quiet as possible. The sales pitches for all these expensive conductive paint products draws our focus to the technicalities of it's ingredients, continuity, and attenuation curves. You've refocused my attention to what I need to do to shield my Take build. Again, thanks thanks thanks!!

Thanks. Dylan yer the best

I had to carve out my guitar to fit my new selector switch in and was worried about having cut through the metallic paint. I ain't worried a'tall now.

Such a great film. I had a feeling that creating a Faraday cage was never going to happen!

You explain it correctly, I did also shield my guitar the same way and that's the right way.

What are your thoughts on the aluminum pick guard shield that Fender sells for strats? I know it's not copper but it seems to be an effective solution.

thank u mannn 🙏🙏👍

After watching, I went and opened up my strat and ripped out allllll the copper tape I lined the cavity with. I them added allllllllll the copper tape I DIDNT originally add to the pickguard. 😂 By golly it sounds so much better! Thanks Dylan!

Thanks Dylan... Great info to add to my research as I start my first build. It will in fact be a Tele. The control cavity advise , was time and trouble saving and also leaving the output jack alone. Does the ground wire however have to hit the copper or will the normal pot grounding be enough.?

I have seen people run wires between the cavities and solder to the foil. If the pickguard is shielded and you have overlapping shielding (for example as you have from control cavity to body), then doesn't the pickguard tie them all together and you don't need wire between the cavities?

Great video again. Yes, I use the foil you use. I looked into the paint, only to discover they recommend several coats. Well that means I would be sitting around waiting for paint to dry.lol How silly is that. I understand from a manufacturing view,(making big batches) they can put them aside while making other parts. For me, if I take the strings off of a guitar, I want to get the new strings on asap or at least,the same day...

Great video, thank you. Dumb question, how would u ground the shield to guitar?

For the shielding: wood glue, standard tin foil, desoldering copper mesh as a ground wire, small wood screws to fix the copper mesh in a few points and to have good ground to the tin foil, the bridge and the pickguard. For the wiring: twisted pair wires from an old ethernet cable and shrink tubes over all terminals, so i don't have to worry about anything making shorts, therefor I shield all cavities and don't have problems with shorts. I also use a TRS jack to keep GND and low side of the signal separated. With classic TS cables the GND the low side of the signal will get connected when the guitar is plugged in. With a TRS cable and amps with balanced inputs, i can reduce hum even more, because now i have a balanced signal and shielding to the amp.

This is such a great video, but what would you do for a guitar with no pickguard? Thanks for posting this video, I’m going to try this on my Strat.

Filling cavities with shielding makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside regardless of noise or not...

That makes a lot of sense.

I will try to use fine copper mesh I ordered in the US. It seems like it’s much better than the other stuff. But that one I will have to glue or fix and solder it together afterwards.

Thanks for very useful video You mean just shield pickguard then connect it with ground without shield any pickup / controll cavity in guitar body ?