Should Reverb or Delay pedal add noticeable hum?

Jarold Carlton · From: Michigan, USA

Whenever I add either or both my Boss DD-2 or RV-5 stompboxes, my amp instantly picks up hum. At first, I thought it was my power supply, but discovered that running the boxes off of a 9V battery makes no difference. Somehow voltage is seeping into the signal and introducing a sizeable amount of hum. I’m using an inexpensive but well known brand of cables and was wondering if upgrading to a better brand would make any difference or, if this hum is considered a normal nuance that we must live with.

Any thoughts?
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Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

Should't do that. Try to isolate it. It's probaby just one pedal.
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

and try different cables. It's usually the cables.
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

Stephen Cowell · From: Round Rock, Texas, USA

When you put a Boss pedal inline you're adding a buffer circuit to the mix... even with the pedal off, you've isolated the pickup from the amp's input impedance.

Without knowing your pickup (is it a humbucker?) I'd have to agree that the next step would be low-capacitance (geo-L or equiv) cables... at least, from the guitar to the first pedal. We don't know what other things are inline... are you running a volume pedal, which type, etc. You could do a test by setting up the rig to hum, then unplugging your guitar and shorting the plug you just unplugged... does the noise stop? Then perhaps it's coming from the guitar.

So if you lay out your rig in detail perhaps we can do some more to help.
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Carl Kilmer · From: East Central, Illinois

Make sure your pedals are not on top of the amp
or really close. They can pick up a 60 cycle hum
from the transformer in the amplifier. Also make
sure your using good quality well shielded cables.
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aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

just for fun, try lifting the ground from the amp plug.

Jarold Carlton · From: Michigan, USA

Thanks for all the advice. I have a Peavey Session 400, recently modded by Ken and with nothing plugged into it, as quiet as a church mouse. Using a 10ft cable directly into my Emmons Humbucker, I get very little hum. I've ruled out the Emmons humbuckers by trying other guitars. I have a Hilton Pedal, and the two stomp boxes. If I remove the stompboxes from the equation, there is a very little hum.

Could upgrading to George L cables make a difference? I'm now beginning to think that the problem is coming from those little 12" cables in between the boxes.

I've tried Hum-X for ground loops and Hum Debugger with Zero results (not to say those products aren't good). I've tried every scenario imaginable even throwing all the breakers in the house except the one that my amp and walwarts are plugged into. I've moved the guitar around in relationship to the placement of the amp, and my pedals are about 8 feet from the amp.
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Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Are your pedals powered by batteries or AC? Batteries will rule out hum from AC.

Stephen Cowell · From: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Jarold Carlton · From: Michigan, USA

I've tried all of the above. The batteries are brand new alkaline. I'm pretty sure that the problem is related to a bad patch cable or just inferior quality cables. I'll order some good shielded cables and go from there. If that doesn't fix the problem, then I'll have to send the pedals in to put on a scope.

Having issues with my car is one thing, but I can't stand it when having issues with my guitar and equipment!
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Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez

Carl Kilmer · From: East Central, Illinois

I don't know what amp your using, but if it has the
send and return jacks, try hooking the FX boxes there
one at a time instead of going to the input jack. The
send on the amp will go to the input on the FX and
the return on the amp will go to the output on the FX.
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aka "Lucky Kay"--Custom built Rittenberry SD10 3X5, Walker S/S, NV-112, and Hilton Pedal

Jerry Tillman · From: Florida

They usually hum when they don,t know the words.

Jimmy Gibson · From: Cornwall, England

Just a thought Are you using a regulated power supply? because a unregulated Power Supply may cause a hum on some pedals.

Jimmy.G

Jarold Carlton · From: Michigan, USA

Now if I could get them to hum in key, I could create some pretty good effects.

I am using a One Spot power supply. All electrical components are on the same path and circuit with no other interference such as dimmers, motors, or transformers. No power plants or transformers nearby. The RV-5 is 6 months old, and I've taken the DD-2 to two dealers who tried it out and stated that it seems to work without any problems.

The cheap cables are suspect at this point.
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Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Cheap or improperly wired cables may be the culprit. Also, remember never to use a longer cable than is necessary. I've seen some players use an eight foot cable when a three foot one will suffice! Winking

In addition, some stomp boxes have plastic housings, which equals poor shielding. That can cause problems too, especially if your stomps are near a power cord or transformer (as in setting them on top of the amp).

Michael Hummel · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I agree with Cowell -- it's clear that half of the posts here were written by folks that don't read from top to bottom.

I understand we're all trying to help, but I find it somewhat rude. Have some consideration for what other people have to say!

</soapbox>
Mike
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Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

You might want to try getting some ground lifts for the plugs, also.Along with other cables and try not to put your boxes close to the amp. Like what the other gentlemen have suggested. That should remedy the problem.
Tommy Shown
SFTBL

Jarold Carlton · From: Michigan, USA

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. My boxes are next to my volume pedal, about 9 feet from the amp. I will try to use a ground lift to determine if I have a ground-related problem, but I will never play without a ground. At least I will know which avenue to follow.

I ordered all new custom cables from Best-Tronics http://www.best-tronics.com/guitar-cable/guitar/oxygen-free.aspx and will see if this will remedy the problem. If not, I will swap boxes one at a time with someone who has the same boxes, and by that time I should have isolated the culprit. If that doesn’t solve the problem, I’m living in some new form of Bermuda Triangle.
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Emmons LeGrande II, GFI Ultra, Sho-Bud, BJS Bar, Hilton Pedal, Peavey Session 400's, Nashville 400, Martin, Ibanez

Robert Daniels · From: Chicago, Illinois, USA

I would double check that you had unplugged the 1-spot from the WALL as I got hum with it unplugged from the pedals. I was getting hum from mine with just the live dc line NEAR my pedals. Crappy supply IMHO.
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Emmons Student Model 3x4,Twin Reverb with JBL's, clams galore!

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