If you experience "static" noise coming through your amplifier when you touch the pickguard on your electric guitar with your fingers, don't pull off your pickguard to add shielding until you try this super-simple tip with absolutely no tools or parts removal at all.

This video was my own little experiment regarding the use of dryer sheets for removing the static caused by touching the pickguard with your fingers, which can cause a very annoying static crackle while you're playing amplified. I saw a similar video by YouTuber Scott Grove, and it seemed too good to be true. So I just had to try it for myself. My props to Scott Grove and his channel for turning me on to this!

RESULTS: The effects of the drier sheet lasted about 2 months for me under very dry conditions. I keep the drier sheets right in my music room now. I change strings on this guitar about that often, so I'll just make it part of the regular maintenance procedure whenever I put on a new set of Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9's. Works for me!

This NOT a permanent fix. Many swear that the only way to fix this problem is by putting foil or copper tape on the underside of the pickguard, and grounding it. That is generally not too difficult a job, but any time you open up your electric guitar's guts, you're running some risk of broken wires or damage to the pickups or electronics. While the dryer sheet works by preventing static buildup when you touch the pickguard, the grounded shielding works by removing the static electricity itself directly to ground, before enough static builds up to make an audible "spark".

While I believe the grounded shielding is a very worthwhile project, and I'm "for it", I just can't justify all the work and trouble required to do so if that is the ONLY reason I'm opening the guitar for surgery, because the "band-aid" of the dryer sheets is a very effective treatment that is so cheap and easy. But if I'm already in there for something "serious" like a faulty switch, pot, jack or pickup, and/or replacement/upgrade of any of those, then by all means I'll do the grounded shielding on the back of the pickguard while I'm in there. Otherwise, I'm just gonna wipe my static problems away with the dryer sheet until that day.

UPDATE: After a couple years, my dryer sheets have lost some of their umph. They last about a month now. Only a month of umph! That suggests to me that a new sheet from a new box of dryer sheets maximizes the amount of time the effect works.

Regarding the guitars used in this video:
2012 FENDER TELECASTER (Standard) - Lake Placid Blue (made in Mexico)
100% Factory Stock (except strings)
Original Pickguard (suspected to be unshielded)

1966 VOX WILDCAT - cherry red (made in Italy by Eko)
Body, neck, machine head tuners, and pickup are original to this guitar
Pickguard bracket is original Vox, but from a different guitar (1965 Vox Bobcat)
Pickguard is custom, made by me from new material (no shielding whatsoever)

Regarding the Dryer Sheets I used in this video:
I purchased the generic brand from my nearest grocery store. The ones I used were "For sensitive skin" and contain no dyes nor perfumes. I chose them because others had commented on the "fresh smell" that typical dryer sheets leave behind. That smell makes me gag, so I chose the non-smelly ones, but any brand or "flavor" of dryer sheet should function to remove the static. I don't use dryer sheets for the laundry, so I had to purchase some. (120 sheets for less than $3.50). Whatever brand your wife has in the laundry room should be just fine, smelly or not. Note: Use a NEW dryer sheet, not one that has already gone through the drier! UPDATE: For maximum effect, buy a new box of dryer sheets instead of using your wife's!

I hope you find this video helpful. This is my first instructional video, so please tell me how I'm doing in the comments below! And of course, please don't forget to Like, Share and Subscribe!

ROCK ON!
Weird Old Uncle Kenny