Guitar makes 'crackling scratchy noise'

[david/wales/u.k]

I'm baffled......when I play my Ric 330 through my Vox AC30VR it sounds really nice. There is no hissing or buzzing and until I hit the strings you wouldn't even know it was switched on. When I play it through my Roland cube 40xl, which i only bought this week, as soon as I go to touch the strings it makes a horrible 'crackling-scratchy' noise. If however i place my right hand on the pick ups and then touch the strings with my left hand (while still keeping my hand on the pick ups) it's fine......but as soon as my right hand leaves the pick up to go and strum a chord that noise comes back again..........I thought it was something wrong with the Roland amp but when I tried it with a Squire it was dead quiet with no problems..........Any ideas why this is happening??

[Rickissippi]

Sounds like a grounding issue probably worsened by typical single-coil hum. Does your Squier have single coils or humbuckers?

[david/wales/u.k]

The squire has got humbuckers............if it is a grounding issue what do i need to do?........is that a serious thing?

[Rickissippi]

I think you in the UK would call it an earthing issue.

[david/wales/u.k]

When I touch the jackplate the sound stops. I should imagine (hope!) this should be an easy thing for a tech to sort out.

[ken_j]

Check the ground wire to the bridge and make sure it is not "open".