To ground or not to ground,that is the question?

[Barklessdog]

I asked about grounding my Kahler at Talkbass and the discussion arose about people get electrocuted by grounding their bridges.

I know the Gibsons I have worked on all had bridge grounds.

What is your experience or opinion?

[Chris P.]

Isn't every bass grounded at the bridge??

[Dave W]

EMGs are internally grounded but aside from that, the bridge needs to be grounded in a normal wiring setup. That's basic and required by all wiring codes and standards.

It's true, people have (rarely) been electrocuted by becoming part of a live circuit in a club with faulty wiring. The bridge didn't cause it. If you suspect a problem, the solution is to check polarity and grounding before you plug in. Not to deliberately make your bass' circuit faulty.

[PhilT]

I've got an RCD adapter that goes in venue's wall socket before I plug anything else into it. That way I'm protected from any issues with their wiring.

[Chris P.]

And it isn't the sixties anymore. I think wiring is okay in almost all Dutch clubs and bars.

[PhilT]

We usually get one 13 amp outlet between 4 of us, and I often don't like the look of it.

I remember vintage Dutch wiring. My uncle's house used to frighten me to death.

[Dave W]

Chris, you might be amazed at some of the wiring in older bars and clubs in the US. Definitely not compliant with modern codes.

[Chris P.]

for internationals standards, the Dutch pop venues are very modern and well equiped.

[exiledarchangel]

On all of my wiring jobs, I follow this people's advices:

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/index.php

Star wiring can make even a single-coil equipped guitar sound (almost) silent, and using that large capacitor between your bridge and the rest of the wiring is a good idea.

[Barklessdog]

On all of my wiring jobs, I follow this people's advices:

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/index.php

Star wiring can make even a single-coil equipped guitar sound (almost) silent, and using that large capacitor between your bridge and the rest of the wiring is a good idea.

Interesting article- I still have never heard of any one dying from it. I do remember our guitarist getting jolt once touching a mic stand & guitar.

Quote=
I strongly encourage you to read the new section on electrical shock. I wrote this section after a discussion on the rec.music.makers.guitar newsgroup a few months ago made it painfully obvious that this is still a very common problem for working musicians and that many musicians are still ignorant of, or even dangerously misinformed about, the problem.

[godofthunder]

 I have been nailed a few times,  thrown back from the mike , all most knocked on my ass, the "stars" circling my head. Not fun.

[godofthunder]

 Yes people have died, the guitarist for Stone The Crows comes to mind