There are two main methods to shield a guitar – shielding graphite paint (conductive paint) or more commonly, aluminium or copper tape. Have a work area with ample room and lighting. Do this process in a well-ventilated area and provide appropriate cover over the work area (layers of paper, drop cloth, etc.) NOTE - while this is hardly a dangerous job, the edges of the copper foil tape can become very sharp. Watch your fingers!

IMPORTANT! It is imperative that you understand that doing this work requires removing and replacing electrical components in your guitar. DO NOT attempt this work unless you have the full knowledge, understanding, skills, and tools to complete this project. Mistakes made in attempting this work can ruin electrical components in your guitar! A fresh, sharp razor blade or hobby knife is essential for this kind of work. For one, you’ll be slicing through thin bits of metal, which will eventually dull the blade. You’ll also be cutting a lot of different shapes and curves into the tape, and a sharp edge will make that task much, much easier. In this guide (and the above video) we will show you how to create a perfectly grounded “Faraday cage” protecting your guitar’s electronics from outside interference using copper shielding tape, the most popular way to shield your guitar. This guide covers how to shield a Strat but the principle is the same regardless of what model you use. Carefully wrap the windings (not too tightly) with electricians tape. Next, use 1/2″ strips of conductive tape to cover the electrician’s wire.Completely mask off all of your guitar’s body except where you are going to apply the shielding paint.

The best guitar shielding method is to use either specially designed copper tape or specially designed shielding paint. The commonly overlooked but critical aspect of shielding is correctly grounding the tape or paint. If your shielding is not grounded it is effectively worthless. Should I Do This Myself or Pay a Guitar Tech? Grounding is, arguably, the most important part of the process. It is also probably the easiest thing to do.Your Faraday cage currently looks really pretty...however it is useless unless it is well grounded. To do this, connect your main ground coming from the tremolo claw/bridge to the volume pot casing as normal. This now means that the control circuit is grounded. As previously mentioned, copper tape can be incorporated into a selection of different crafts and DIY projects. This can include stained glass artwork and wall art, as explored above, but it can also include a wide range of innovative craft ideas. To fully understand what shielding is and how it works you should learn about a Faraday Cage. A properly formed Faraday Cage protects electronic components from external radio frequency interference (RFI). Once this is done, test for continuity between the copper shielding and the casing of the volume pot (ground). If everything beeps, you have successfully created a fully grounded Faraday cage and therefore a well shielded guitar.

DISCLAIMER: The following information is provided as a general guide on how to shield your guitar. The exact process for any particular guitar brand or model may vary from this guide. We are not responsible for any problems which may occur when attempting to do this work and directly or indirectly using the information provided herein. Per a 2013 article by the pros at Seymour-Duncan , here is what you can expect shielding your guitar to do and not do for you: Repeat this process until the whole cavity is covered. Pay attention to ensure each strip overlaps the previous one, as well as making sure the tape goes over the edge. It is possible to solder copper tape, a practice which is largely used when working with non-conductive tape types. Separate strips can be soldered together, creating a strong join and a more reliable path for electrical connection to flow through multiple lengths. Have a small dish of warm water and a rag within reach to do a prompt cleanup of any paint that gets on your guitar’s finish.Use the same principle when shielding the inside of the body – carefully lay cut to size strips which overlap each other. Your scissors will become useful to cut strips to desired lengths and smaller widths to fit copper into all the little nooks and cranny’s. Use cut strips of copper tape lengthways running up the sides and use the full width (50mm) to do the floor of the cavity. Allow a full 24 hours drying time between coats. Do not try to accelerate drying time with heat guns, etc. Although this is not a particularly difficult thing to do it makes sense to let a guitar repair shop do this for you. Why should you pay a guitar tech to do this for you? The answer is lower cost and more convenience for you.

Although copper tape is not intended specifically for use on walls, some people have adopted it as a means of creating attractive, decorative wall art. Due to its high levels of versatility, copper foil can easily be adapted and shaped to suit a variety of patterns and designs. Due to its versatile nature, copper foil tape can be used in a wide range of applications and environments. It is used by professionals and hobbyists alike, across a spectrum of uses including electro-magnetic shielding, slug repellent, and DIY crafting.To use, simply peel the tape and place it on the edge of the first piece of glass. Press it firmly down around the edge of the shape, taking extra care if the glass is sharp or jagged. Ensure that each new section of tape you apply overlaps with the last to avoid any gaps. Copper Tape for Walls I also like to keep a piece of scrap dowel rod around to help me work out any air bubbles and lay down foil in the corners of the body routs.