Trem unit and signal disruption but only for bridge pickup
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 10:50 am
The guitar is an American professional II with the Panorama trem unit. Using the bridge pick up only, and regardless of whether it’s being tapped or not, the signal will randomly diminish in volume and quality, but if I work the tremolo arm vigorously in a more exaggerated sense than I would while playing (think repeated divebombs), the signal strength of the bridge pick up will return. This does not happen when using the neck, combined or the rhythm circuit. Things will rock along with no disruption for some random period of time and then the pattern repeats.
My first thought was that the grounding wire beneath the tremolo had depressed into the finish and was no longer making a good ground connection to the plate. This was my best guess even though it was only happening with the bridge pick up. So, I exposed more of the ground wire and also folded a very small wedge of aluminum foil under the wire to enhance the contact with the tremolo plate. This did not solve the problem. (I also inspected the cavity to make sure that the trem unit wasn’t in some way catching on the ground wire and saw nothing unusual). Next, I rigged wire to connect directly from a string to the tremolo plate to see if that would clearly demonstrate a grounding issue, but it made no difference.
I’m stumped, and would appreciate any ideas you folks may have. Thanks!
My first thought was that the grounding wire beneath the tremolo had depressed into the finish and was no longer making a good ground connection to the plate. This was my best guess even though it was only happening with the bridge pick up. So, I exposed more of the ground wire and also folded a very small wedge of aluminum foil under the wire to enhance the contact with the tremolo plate. This did not solve the problem. (I also inspected the cavity to make sure that the trem unit wasn’t in some way catching on the ground wire and saw nothing unusual). Next, I rigged wire to connect directly from a string to the tremolo plate to see if that would clearly demonstrate a grounding issue, but it made no difference.
I’m stumped, and would appreciate any ideas you folks may have. Thanks!