mini Humbucker buzz

[big_teee]

It is too bad someone butchered the guitar by adding an access panel but it does make a rewire go easier. The buzz that goes away when you touch one of the grounded pieces of the harness is normal. You need to install a string ground and shield all the internal runs and call it good.
There is one more thing that'll make you think a problem is worse than it really is- If your workbench has a bunch of outlets, soldering iron, and lights, it can be a much more buzzy environment than just playing in another room. My bench is quite the gauntlet for testing hum resistance. If I can get a guitar fairly quiet on the bench, it will be dead silent in actual use.

Same here at my desk. All the electronics, computer, Lights and all.
Personally, I think all electric guitars should have rear access.
If you do any experimenting at all it sure helps.
Have you noticed that some guitars are inherently noisier than others.
I have a ibanez copy that I test Humbuckers in, Its always been the quietest guitar.
I have a SG copy, I've rewired it several times, it still buzzes.
The Ibanez copy has no special shielding or anything.
The SG I've put grounding foil and everything on it is still makes more noise than the other.
One day I was bored I swapped all the parts between them, same thing.
They are both tolerable, but the one is always quiet, the other is always less quiet.
I've tried a variety of grounding schemes, same deal.
Same with tone.
You can take a guitar that sounds great, and one that doesn't.
I have a real heavy Les Paul Copy, It doesn't matter what pickups you put in it, it sounds great.
Some pickups better than others.
Then I've had a few guitars that don't sound that good.
Usually you can get to that point of it sounds ok, but not great.
IMO that's why the Les Paul is still around. Most folks had rather play something newer looking and lighter, but when it comes to tone the old heavy Les P is hard to beat.
Later,