Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I would think that grounding the strings would make you a potential return path.

The issue is that stray current returns to the chassis and to the earth ground. I'm looking at what I can read about "safety guitar grounds" for strings. So far, what I'm reading generally is about noise, rather than actual safe grounding practice, but I know sometimes a capacitor (low value/high voltage) is used in series for this.

Ok, yes John, exactly what the green wire does. I was wondering if having the ground of the amp go to the ground of the outlet might make working on amps safer?

whojamfan wrote:Ok, yes John, exactly what the green wire does. I was wondering if having the ground of the amp go to the ground of the outlet might make working on amps safer?

Working on them safer? A better ground with sloppy working habits in a high voltage circuit would provide more chances for shocks. Still, the chassis is grounded via the "third" green wire on any piece of electrical equipment that has the three wire cords, if the wiring is intact and not damaged or changed.

Or am I missing what your really intending?

http://www.misterfixit.com/hotnot.htm
Sort of a house wiring for dummies.
Helps illustrate hot,neutral and ground relationship.

Not quite what I was getting at, but I'll think of a better way to ask this question later.