The static on the D’Angelico sounds EXACTLY like small static discharge that you get when you brush the pickguard.

The pickguard is plastic, and you can make microscopic sparks with your fingers when the air is very dry. Because the volume and tone pots are under the pickguard, the sparks can make a signal that gets into the signal wire of the guitar.

Try plugging the guitar in and rubbing your fingers lighty, but quickly on the pickguard close to the knobs. I expect that you will hear the static.

If so, the solution is to move to someplace really awful and wet, like Belgium.

Or, you can move the volume and tone controls off the pickguard and onto the top of the guitar.

Or you can get an ebony pickguard to fit the guitar. Ebony (or other wood) will not make the electric static like plastic. Plus you will have a really cool pickguard.

Write back if you want. I’ll also join the PlayJazzGuitar Forum and post there too.

I am in Boston, but if you can not get a really nice pickguard made in Spain, let me know and I’ll make one for you (I am a former luthier and D’Angelico owner.)

Great sounds you get there. (Except for the static.)

Chris Parent