Why does my guitar hum when I'm not touching the strings?

Your body is grounding the circuit when you touch the strings. When you let go, unshielded cavities pick up interference. Shielding the cavities fixes it: copper foil $160, conductive paint $100.

How much does it cost to fix a crackling volume knob?

A single pot replacement is $60, and each additional pot on the same job is $40.

Will shielding change my tone?

Properly done, no. Shielding blocks interference, not signal. Some players notice a hair less top end on single coils, which is the noise going away.

Can you fix a guitar that cuts out when I move the cable?

Yes, that's a worn output jack or a cold solder joint. Jack replacement is $60.

Do you do this on basses and acoustics?

Yes. Active bass preamps and acoustic endpin jacks are regular jobs here.

Guitar Shielding and Noise Repair in Manhattan

New York apartments are full of dimmers, neon, fluorescent tubes and bad wiring, and a stock Strat picks up all of it. If your guitar hums until you touch the strings, crackles when you turn a knob, or cuts out when the cable moves, it's a shielding or electronics problem and it's cheap to fix.

Labor-only pricing, published up front. Strings, parts and sales tax are extra. Free quote at the repair desk or call 646-559-8771. 316 East 84th Street, Upper East Side.

We find it first

Bring it in and we'll plug it in, find what's wrong and quote it before any work starts. Half the time the fix is a $60 jack or a $60 pot and you're done.

Shielding

Copper foil shielding ($160) lines the control cavity, pickup cavities and the back of the pickguard with foil, all grounded to one point. Conductive paint ($100) covers the cavities you can't foil cleanly. Do both and a single-coil guitar gets close to humbucker quiet without changing the sound. SRV-style coil shielding is $50 per coil for the last bit of noise.

Common electrical repairs

Output jack $60. Single pot $60, each additional pot $40. Blade or toggle switch $75. Endpin jack on an acoustic $60. New pickup leads $75 to $100. We can also rewire a whole harness or drop in a pre-wired one for $125.

Prices

Copper Foil ShieldingControl and pickup cavities	$160
Conductive Paint Shielding	$100
Coil Shielding, SRV-stylePer coil	$50 / coil
Output Jack	$60
Single Pot	$60
Additional PotSame job	$40
Blade or Toggle Switch	$75

See the full repair and setup menu for everything else we do.

Electrical work is usually done within the week. Parts are extra; most are a few dollars.

Drop the guitar off any day we're open, or send a photo and a note and we'll quote it before you come in.
Get a free quote

Common questions

Why does my guitar hum when I'm not touching the strings?: Your body is grounding the circuit when you touch the strings. When you let go, unshielded cavities pick up interference. Shielding the cavities fixes it: copper foil $160, conductive paint $100.
How much does it cost to fix a crackling volume knob?: A single pot replacement is $60, and each additional pot on the same job is $40.
Will shielding change my tone?: Properly done, no. Shielding blocks interference, not signal. Some players notice a hair less top end on single coils, which is the noise going away.
Can you fix a guitar that cuts out when I move the cable?: Yes, that's a worn output jack or a cold solder joint. Jack replacement is $60.
Do you do this on basses and acoustics?: Yes. Active bass preamps and acoustic endpin jacks are regular jobs here.

Related services

Pickup installs and wiring mods Setups Full repair menu and prices Guitar lessons on the Upper East Side