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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Electric "sparks" When Touching The Strings

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Jan 18 2013, 06:15 PM

Hey guys - this one is just out of curiosity.
It happened to me 100x times that sometimes when I'm playing a bass (or guitar), if I would touch the strings with my left hand - there would be a sort of "electric spark/shock" kind of sound. Just like a small crack at the moment my hand makes first contact with something metal on the guitar. If I keep my right hand on the strings, these cracks/sparks stop.

I was interested in learning why this happens exactly and how to stop it from happening?

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jan 18 2013, 06:27 PM

Sounds like a slight Earthing problem, also it may be that you have a naturally high level of Static Electricity in your body that earths out as soon as you touch your strings. Check all your Earth joints and re-solder if necessary!

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Jan 19 2013, 01:31 AM

This is happening to me, but not in these circumstances, but when entering into the car ! Ignition switch and boom! As Neil says, it's a
static electricity, but also the clothes you're wearing at that moment - wool and synthetics creates a lot of static electricity, so be careful !!

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jan 19 2013, 03:11 AM

yes! this really happens to me, and it's even more powerful sometimes when it happens touching another person... I knew that if was something about static Electricity but I've never asked myself how this really was generated... it's so curious.