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Topic: Amp buzzzz |
Brett Lanier
From:
Madison, TN
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Posted 7 Feb 2014 4:33 pm |
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Last night I was getting some buzz through my amp, more than usual. Very well could have been the sound and light system in the club, I'm not sure what the cause was.
Anyway, I had a harmonica mic going into the first channel of my amp, steel in 2nd channel - and I noticed that when I turned the vol knob up on the harp mic, even just a little, the amp buzz went away almost completely. I then tried unplugging the harp mic and there was still buzz... My solution for the night was to set the mic on my winter hat atop of the amp, and have it on just a little (canceling out the buzz and hopefully not picking up too much unwanted noise being in the knit hat).
Would someone be so kind as to enlighten me to what was going on there? Also, is there a more practical way to achieve the same thing if I'm getting more than usual amp buzz at a gig? |
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Richard Tague
From:
Cowden, Illinois, USA
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 3:21 am
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| Poor wiring in clubs are the most common causes for buzz. Did you try lifting the ground on your amp? |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 6:21 am
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Hi Brett,
You didn't name your amp or describe your setup, but Ill stick my neck out regardless. Assume the buzz was "in the air" and your steel and mic wires were both picking up the buzz. Your amp may have a phase difference between the input circuits. In that case, when you turned up the mic, you created a situation where the buzz in each channel was equal, but out of phase, cancelling out the buzz. Turning either channel down would bring back the buzz. . . if this is really the case.
Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024 |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 7:57 am
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Beat me to it Craig!
Most fender amplifiers have their two channels wired out of phase
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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Jerry Jones
From:
Franklin, Tenn.
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 8:50 am
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Craig, I don't know how your Li'l Izzy is made, but could it be built as a differential buffer with a second reversed phase input.... maybe for a dummy coil. Of course EMG does this but with both coils being active.
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Jerry Jones |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 9:31 am
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Hi Jerry,
Thank you for your post and interesting question. While I'm sure the circuit could be expanded to include phase cancellation, it would require a larger case.
I'll have to do a search and see if the name Big Izzy is available. LOL
Thanks Jerry.
Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024 |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Madison, TN
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 9:43 am
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Thanks Craig. That makes a lot of sense. This little trick saved me. The buzz coming back through the system during sound check was pretty unbearable, and it did kind of sound like lighting buzz (higher pitched than the slight buzz my amp makes on its own).
My setup was an Emmons double neck with single coils, passive vol pedal with a tuner out, small pedal board powered by 1spot with earth drive, el cap, wet reverb, and a Standel custom xv amp with a 2 prong cable. |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 10:21 am
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Brett,
You have listed some good equipment there, but with the two-wire Standel and all of the other wiring, it might be acting like an antenna. . . picking up all the noise it can find.
Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024 |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 8 Feb 2014 11:33 am
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Brett, are you using a daisy chain with that 1 Spot, or just a single pedal? I had noise issues until I was informed of the need for either individual power supplies, or a unit with isolated outlets (I have 2 by CIOKS, and they're great).
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Madison, TN
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Posted 9 Feb 2014 11:29 am
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| Craig Baker wrote: |
| with the two-wire Standel and all of the other wiring, it might be acting like an antenna. . . picking up all the noise it can find |
Hmm, three fx pedals doesn't seem like too extravagant a setup... Should I get a grounded cable put on the Standel? Might have to consider going back to humbuckers. |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Feb 2014 11:34 am
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I'm not an expert in such matters, Brett - someone else can chime in on the amp, but I'd definitely get a grounded plug properly installed - but even with 3 pedals, you might be adding noise. Try using a cord to each pedal, or borrow a Voodoo Labs (or similar) power supply to see if there's a difference, but then try it with a grounded amp.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 9 Feb 2014 8:01 pm
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What Craig Baker (and others) have said, you had a reverse-phase pair of inputs, thus when both were open the noise was cancelled through common-mode rejection (the way balanced inputs eliminate noise). The real source of the noise experienced at the gig would be lighting and other electrics in the venue, most likely lighting dimmers, neon signs, wall warts or perhaps large air handler motors...
This is not a problem you will fix by messing with your gear, so don't go getting crazy over it... |
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Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 5:51 am
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What Dave and Craig say.
Nonetheless, I still believe you'd be well served by getting that plug fixed and by using either individual power supplies, or one with all isolated outlets.
_________________
1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2014 5:03 pm
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| I've only run into two rooms whereby a standing wave makes a single coil pickup useless. They do exist though and when you find one you learn the value of a dual coil. |
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