Earth wire on a hollow body?

[ozzbike]

Guys of much wisdom. This less endowed member of the PB Community is trying to wire an ES-175 style build. I have a feeble inquiry, that you may wish to assist me with.

This is a true hollow body kit. Where do I run an earth wire? Across the body under the f hole, out of sight of course, to one of the banged in bridge posts for a tune-o-matic bridge, or down the body and out a sneaky drilled hole under the mounting body of a trapeze tailpiece. These are the only two options I can think of. As a hollowbody...no wood for the pickup cavities....they are just cut into the top and will screw into the veneer itself.

Being a fender style person myself....bridges are reasonably easy to find. I have never even done the push down the hole thing on a solid body Les Paul.

[WeirdBits]

Typically, under the trapeze tailpiece for floating bridges. However, with fixed bridge posts you also have the option of the ground wire in the side of the post hole. Your choice.

[enikoy]

For me I did....

"Across the body under the f hole, out of sight of course, to one of the banged in bridge posts for a tune-o-matic bridge."

I stripped the wire insulation the same length as the bridge post. Then held the wire against the post as I pushed the post in. So the earth/grounding wire is making contact the full length of the bridge post side, squashed against the timber body.

[ozzbike]

It is only a 3 to 5 mil veneer. That will be enough contact on the bridge post? The bridge holes don't go into solid wood. The strain of the strings is taken by the trapeze tailpiece.

I think I will try the bridge post thing......just keep it tucked up under the lip of the post socket.

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

[WeirdBits]

Is it a PBG kit? If so, there should be a small solid block that runs from the top to the bottom to support the bridge post holes. A ply top alone isn't enough for the ground wire (or the bridge posts imo), unless you maybe used a washer/eyelet and nut on the underside of the post to attach the wire to etc.

[Dedman]

On my Es-5 I drilled a hole under the mounting plate for the tail piece , stripped a good length of wire and let it get sandwiched between the tail piece and body...seems to work

[enikoy]

Mine has block inside, as deep as the bridge plugs, about 11cm x 8cm. Then this has a brace running through to the back of the guitar. It’s not a pitbull, but a DIY guitar shop version.

You can see the block on mine here.

[ozzbike]

Oops, went to the shed and had a look....mine is the same as enikoy.....above. Think I will try the bridge post. Thanks guys. 😀

[Simon Barden]

My ES-3 kit already had a hole drilled for an earth wire to the bridge post nearest the controls. It's not obvious, but it should be there.