strange scratchy sounds from TA

[picnic]

The guitar is a HTC with M1, VA1, and TV3 mini toggle to split the M and pull pot to add bridge. 01-27-09A
I get a scratching sound when I strum the guitar, especially over the neck and middle pickups. After each note of a chord or individually picked note is a scratchy tick. The sound seems to occur when the VA pickup is on. Scratch that, the scratch occurs in all positions. I tried different cables, amps and other guitars to isolate the cause. No issues with other guitars, scratch sound happens on all amps and cables.

I turned off the lights in the room because they are on dimmer switches. Scratch still persists. Could it be from the computer?

Any thoughts as to what may be causing this?
Thanks

[bruce]

The first thing that comes to mind is static. Static from the fingers and pickguard. Static does build up from the pickguard while strumming and your finger(s) drag down the pickguard. Don't laugh, this happens all the time. Try to replicate it with just the drag of the fingers and not hitting the strings. This can happen more noticeably in a dry situation or climate.

[picnic]

Thanks Bruce. Static electricity was the problem. I did a google search and found a ton of info. Got to love the innernet.
Solution was to rub the pickguard with a dryer sheet. Static popping is gone and my guitar smells like a fresh load of clean laundry. 8^)

[bruce]

Aromatherapy!