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Post new topic Need Help with amp noise!
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Author Topic:  Need Help with amp noise!
Scott Moon


From:
Canyon Lake, TX
Post  Posted 12 Feb 2001 7:42 pm    
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Being a somewhat "beginner" to the steel, I have not experienced the problem I had on a gig last Sat. I am a fiddle player who has been a Steel student for a while and finnally got a "steel" gig a few months ago. The problem I was having is I was getting this terrible buzz or hum when I gave it "the gas". DOn't know if it was the lights, wiring or what. We tried several different outlets and never got rid of it. My question is...Is there something inexspensive I can carry around in my bag to plug into,if I ever have this problem again, that will eliminate the hum or buzz.

Thanks!
Scott
74Emmons D-10
Nashville 1000
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HWHYoYo

 

From:
West Sunbury, PA
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 12:45 am    
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Have you had the problem at different places?
The wiring in older buildings is not always up to standards.
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Herb Steiner

 

From:
Spicewood TX 78669
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 1:01 am    
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Sheriff, one thing that always takes a good buzz away from me is a glass of milk or a heavy meal.

And my amp tech tells me amps that hum generally do so because they don't know the lyrics

But seriously, you might be experiencing the hum that comes from single-coil pickups on your guitar in old buildings with less than up-to-date wiring



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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 1:16 am    
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A long term solution would be to replace your pickup with a humbucking pickup. The George L pickups are the best I know of for rejecting hum.
Some people think that the humbucking pickups don't sound as good. Only you can be the judge. If you have a bad problem with hum everywhere you go, then you probably should replace it.


A short term solution is to turn your guitar around most of a circle while listening to the hum. Usually there is a direction you can face that is much better than the others. Of course you may not like the view.
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 3:19 am    
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Are you using any external devices, e.g. delay, etc? Depending on the type you could be getting a ground loop hum. Also check your cords and make sure they are all good, and good quality cords with metal covers, not the molded plastic type, which can be a source of hum.
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Danny Hullihen


From:
Harrison, Michigan
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 4:11 am    
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Scott: If you like the sound of single coil pickups, you can get a single coil - hum cancelling pickup from Bill Lawrence called an L-610. As with all Lawrence pickups, this one is also totally noiseless.

Try putting a ground lift plug on the end of the power cord coming out of your amp.

[This message was edited by Danny Hullihen on 13 February 2001 at 04:14 AM.]

[This message was edited by Danny Hullihen on 13 February 2001 at 04:15 AM.]

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Rick Johnson


From:
Wheelwright, Ky USA
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 5:01 am    
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Scott,
As previously posted. Does it do anywhere
else? Flourescant ballast in any circuit
of the room can be a problem.
Lets eliminate as many things as we can.
I'm sure people can help.
Rick

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Rick Johnson
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Scott Moon


From:
Canyon Lake, TX
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 3:35 pm    
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Thanks Guys! I didn't even think about the single coil pickups being the problem. I am the only one in the group who uses an amp. Everybody else goes direct so I put my amp up close to me off to the side tilted at an angle. I probably could have moved it behind me and gotten rid of most of it. The hall was old and there was not any flouresent lighting but several cieling fans with reostat switches. I did try a ground lift plug but it didn't help. Changing the pickups may be something I want to look into also, but this was the first time I have had this problem. I really appreciate all the helpful information! I knew my fellow forumites would come through with some answers!

BTW Herb....after I read your post...I thought I heard a drum roll!!! A million comedians out of work!!!

Thanks Again
Scott
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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 5:42 pm    
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Quote:
If you like the sound of single coil pickups, you can get a single coil - hum cancelling pickup from Bill Lawrence called an L-610. As with all Lawrence pickups, this one is also totally noiseless.


The Lawrence pickups do reject noise (hum) a lot better than a regular old single coil pickup but they are definitely not noiseless. If you need the best hum rejection I suggest George L (I like model E-66). But if you can tolerate a little hum now and then, try a Lawrence pickup. I think the Lawrence pickups sound better.
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Blake Hawkins


From:
Florida
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 6:21 pm    
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Scott, I think you've solved your own problem.
If the amp is within a couple of feet of the pickup end of the guitar, you will get hum coupled from the magnetic field of the power transformer.
You mentioned moving the amp.
That will probably eleminate the problem.


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gary darr

 

From:
Somewhere out in Texas
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2001 8:46 pm    
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This may not apply but one time I had a hum out of my session 500,it turn out to be the tranformer for my RP-5 guitar effects processor was laying on top of my cable going to my steel amp. Hummmmmmmm

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[This message was edited by gary darr on 13 February 2001 at 08:47 PM.]

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Scott Moon


From:
Canyon Lake, TX
Post  Posted 14 Feb 2001 4:06 pm    
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Again...Thanks folks I really appreciate all the help and advice. If I ever have the problem again I'll know what to try before throwing the amp across the dance floor!

Scott
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