Noiseless guitars (other than Variax) - is there anything?

ToneControl

no, when I say EMGs don't need grounding, they are designed to work noiselessly without grounding

EMGs should be fine, I think you had them before?

ToneControl

and EMGs aren't "sterile", it's a myth

thecolourbox

I think Emgs were better but not perfect (especially not with my DIY sg but that's because I had to solder to the switch as I probably cocked it up), I don't touch strings all the time so if that's a requirement I need to go for Variax instead.

I don't care if they are sterile or not, my playing is pretty sterile

ToneControl

thecolourbox said:

I think Emgs were better but not perfect (especially not with my DIY sg but that's because I had to solder to the switch as I probably cocked it up), I don't touch strings all the time so if that's a requirement I need to go for Variax instead.

I don't care if they are sterile or not, my playing is pretty sterile

you don't need to touch the strings on EMGs
you do on many other passive pickup guitars

thecolourbox

ToneControl said:

thecolourbox said:

I think Emgs were better but not perfect (especially not with my DIY sg but that's because I had to solder to the switch as I probably cocked it up), I don't touch strings all the time so if that's a requirement I need to go for Variax instead.

I don't care if they are sterile or not, my playing is pretty sterile

you don't need to touch the strings on EMGs
you do on many other passive pickup guitars

Sorry I think I misunderstood your post earlier, I thought that meant I'd still have to touch them to reduce the noise

I'm low wattage

victorludorum

If it's silver/chrome you are after, maybe the Lace Chrome Domes might work for you?

thecolourbox

victorludorum said:

If it's silver/chrome you are after, maybe the Lace Chrome Domes might work for you?

Would they be any less noisy than humbuckers though?

ICBM

Having listened to the recordings I think you're just unusually sensitive to noise - as in being bothered by it, not physically - and it's much worse when you're not touching the guitar, which is normal.

As ToneControl said, EMGs do not require the strings to be grounded, and it's actually better not to - both for noise and safety reasons. This is another useful feature for players who use them on big stages, often outdoors.

The old Lace Sensors are passive and do need the strings grounding, although Im not sure about their new models.

victorludorum

thecolourbox said:

victorludorum said:

If it's silver/chrome you are after, maybe the Lace Chrome Domes might work for you?

Would they be any less noisy than humbuckers though?

I don't notice any difference on my guitar. I don't like noise, hence the Lace Sensor/humbucker pairing, but it seems that you are maybe more sensitive to it than I am. EMGs sound like the answer, but they are possibly harder to find in the colour that you want. The Chrome Domes don't come up much, but from time-to-time I see them on ebay. Maybe grab one and give it a try; if you don't like it just re-flog it. You'll only probably lose the cost of postage.

thecolourbox

Blimey, I know I am quite sensitive to noises in general (is it called misophonia it something like that?)  but that is really loud?!?! I've never heard that much noise on any recording ever, surely that's not normal?

Re the lace sensors they would need to be quieter than humbuckers as the recordings above are humbuckers, so I don't think they'll work and I can't be bothered with the constant selling merry go round any more 

victorludorum

If I have time later I'll do a quick recording for you to hear the difference.

victorludorum

Here you go:

https://soundcloud.com/victorludorum/pickup-test

This was played direct into Amplitube (57 Deluxe model), then straight into a 24 bit recorder. The first two riffs are with the amp at 12 o'clock on both tone and vol. The first one is the Chrome Dome, and the second is an Oil City Blitz Spirit. You can hear a slight difference when I put my hand on the strings, but not much. The second two riffs are with both controls at full bore, and again the first of the two is the Lace, followed by the Blitz.