To shield or not to shield?

[anorakDan]

I'm planning on starting with the GFS Dream and/or Mean 90s on the Brutal Legend V. Should I be thinking about copper shielding for the pickup and control routs? I don't know how noisy these single-coil pickups are. Anyone got any input?

 

[Pelagaard]

I've got Mean 90s in my Bass VI, and there's a noticeable hum.

 

[line6man]

There is no reason NOT to shield. Maybe it will work, or maybe it won't, but what do you have to lose but a few bucks and some of your free time?

 

[croquet hoop]

I always shield with passive pickups, and never with actives (I tried and had a short circuit problem with a shielded body & EMG active set).

A roll of aluminium tape is cheap and doing the job carefully does not take long.

 

[anorakDan]

Thanks for the input!

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I use teflon insulated shielded wire, surplus stuff from an airplane supply house.  While it does not shield the cavity, it does shield the signal.  It is quite easy to use, and there is not shorting problems, which I have had before.
Patrick

 

[Cagey]

I use teflon insulated shielded wire, surplus stuff from an airplane supply house.  While it does not shield the cavity, it does shield the signal.  It is quite easy to use, and there is not shorting problems, which I have had before.

That's the way to do it. You don't need to shield the cavity; it's unaffected by EMI/RFI. You need to shield the signal conductors. Shielding the cavity doesn't hurt anything, but it doesn't help anything, either.

 

[anorakDan]

Teflon insulated shielded wire? I take it the teflon is just an insulator and then the insulated wires are shielded in metal? Sounds great. I'll try to dig some up!

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Yeah, it is like normal shielded wire, but has a layer of teflon over the signal wire, and a layer of teflon over the shield.  I like it because when you have 24 or 22 gauge wire and you heat it up with a soldering iron, it cuts through the insulation of normal wires like nothing.  That makes for shorts that are quite annoying.  Because I only use a small amount of wire on the internals, I don't mind using the more expensive stuff.  Especially because it makes life so much easier.
Patrick

Oh yeah, I used to get it from these guys, but they might be out.  They are surplus guys and what they have is what they have...

 

[Alfang]

I dont shield anything in my guitars, not even the wires, the pups are gonna pick up WAY more noise than a few inches of wire between switches, pots and jack.

Having said all that, it doesn't hurt to shield everything, I just stay away from flourecsent lights when playing

 

[KaiserSoze]

I put two dream 90s in a Les Paul knockoff and they are very quiet.  The case around the pickup seems to make a difference.  Just make sure everything is properly grounded.

 

[Cagey]

I put two dream 90s in a Les Paul knockoff and they are very quiet.  The case around the pickup seems to make a difference.  Just make sure everything is properly grounded.

Interesting. I've been tempted to try one of those, but I have a zero tolerance policy on pickup noise. Quiet relative to what?

 

[KaiserSoze]

Cagey.  Quiet as opposed to any other single-coils I've used.  On the GFSs there is a ground wire for the case, which may make a difference.  I really cant hear any noise unless I get to a high volume or gain setting.  Also, they are each just as quiet on their own as in the middle setting.

Sound great with just a bit of gain by the way...

 

[anorakDan]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I'm feeling a lot more confident in the GFS pups now. The price is right, so if I really hate them, I'm not out much.

The next question is Dream 90s or Mean 90s or a combination? From GFS ad copy, the Dreams are a little growlier? The Means are smoother?

 

[KaiserSoze]

Wish I could make a distinction, but I've just used the dreams.  I was looking for something dirtier than my humbuckers and they fit the bill nicely.  I also can't say how much they sound like a true P90, but they are most satisfying to me playing classic rock stuff.  They have a crisp bass to my ear and can get pretty nasty.  They sound great through a fuzz pedal.

Also, like you said, if they don't do much for you, you're not out a lot, and you can always sell them.