Hum only occurs in live setting

bbottom · March 19, 2015, 06:32:34 PM

I think that I know the answer to this, but I figured I'd run it by everyone anyway.

So in certain live settings my rig hums. But at practice and a few other places it doesn't.

I run a fuzz pedal and I have my gain cranked to about 3-4 o'clock. I also play with the SB2 which has super hot pups.

I know for a fact that it's not my cables. I'm guessing that it's the fuzz pedal. But if that is the case...then why does it not hum at every venue and practice?

justJon · March 19, 2015, 06:48:21 PM

Things that spring to mind...Fluorescent lighting/other electrical devices bleeding into your loop; polarity/grounding/lack thereof in certain venues...But what do I know? I'm a drummer!

agent of change · March 19, 2015, 08:56:26 PM

Quote from: justJon on March 19, 2015, 06:48:21 PM
polarity/grounding/lack thereof in certain venues

I'm a drummer too... but this frequently happens to the bassist, who has two amps and two cabs, and has to figure out each time which outlets to use.

spookstrickland · March 19, 2015, 10:50:15 PM

Are you using a battery or power supply? if you're using a power supply try it with a battery. If the hum goes away then you need better filtering in your pedal. I just did this to my big muff, now it's dead quite. If not you might want to try some Ferrite Beads on the input wire to block incoming RF or other types of junk.

neighbor664 · March 19, 2015, 10:50:33 PM

Do you run your pedals AC or DC? If AC, are your pedals and amp plugged in to the same circuit in the room? Live sometimes each on different circuits?

neighbor664 · March 19, 2015, 10:52:16 PM

Whoa Spook! Get out of my head.

spookstrickland · March 20, 2015, 02:10:53 AM

Quote from: neighbor664 on March 19, 2015, 10:52:16 PM
Whoa Spook! Get out of my head.

Great minds think a like

Submarine · March 20, 2015, 09:23:48 AM

What everyone else said plus another tip: get a couple of ground lifts ( see picture ). But make sure to be careful when touching a mic - you may get zapped.

In a perfect world lights would be on different electrical service than audio and Backline. Many clubs especially smaller clubs don't do this so you often get interference from dimmers and fluorescents.

mortlock · March 22, 2015, 01:24:33 AM

Mr. Foxen · March 22, 2015, 12:46:37 PM

Sort out the shielding in the guitar, its for hummy places, not everywhere, cautionary.

spookstrickland · March 22, 2015, 04:16:17 PM

Quote from: Mr. Foxen on March 22, 2015, 12:46:37 PM
Sort out the shielding in the guitar, its for hummy places, not everywhere, cautionary.

Good idea, bring another guitar or barrow one at the gig that hums and plug it into your rig, does it still hum? was it humming through the other guys gear? good way to track things down and rule stuff out.