Help ID-ing this Tele Part

[Perry Combover]

My best guess is that maybe it's for grounding, but I am otherwise stumped....

:icon_scratch:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

It can also be for grounding a shielded cavity as I've seen on an MIM Tele.

 

[Perry Combover]

It can also be for grounding a shielded cavity as I've seen on an MIM Tele.

Since there is a screw in there, that makes sense to me.  Doesn't the other grounding usually take place on the pots? 

It was thrown in with the pots and 3-way switch that I ordered.  Nothing in the description about it.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Yes, but though a shielded cavity is grounded, it isn't grounding the circuit.  Electrically, there is definition for and difference between a grounded conductor and grounding conductor.  I modded a friend's MIM Tele a few years ago.  It had 2 of those.  One in the control cavity, one in the neck pickup cavity.  It was factory wiring, and the shielding paint was under the finished paint.  Kind of strange because I've been told shielding is useless, it's why the big manufacturers don't do it.  Behold the paradox.