James Broonbreed Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 What is the best way to eradicate 50hz mains hum from amps? It's more pronounced when I have all my pedals connected, but it's still there when I plug straight into my amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colb Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 (edited) It can be caused by so many things that there's no real easy way of getting rid of it, checking for dodgy cables/connections is a good start - but if the problems being caused by the wiring in your house you'll struggle to get shot of it. Start by checking cables and trying the amps in different sockets around your house (both amps and any pedals powered from the same socket) to see if you can isolate where the problem is. Edited March 17, 2016 by colb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Broonbreed Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I've only tried the one socket since moving house but the problem's been pretty consistent in the last 3 flats I've stayed in. I'm thinking it could be the earthing of my guitars that's the problem... hopefully it's just a wiring issue that I can resolve cheaply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colb Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Shielding guitars can help, it's proper geeky fun as well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Broonbreed Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I think I saw a Blue Peter episode where they shielded a guitar. Katy whats her face slivered all over the shiny cavities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Mmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 38 minutes ago, James Broonbreed said: I think I saw a Blue Peter episode where they shielded a guitar. Katy whats her face slivered all over the shiny cavities. I would have slivered all over Katy Hill's shiny cavities in the 90s. Sorry. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Broonbreed Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Woah, I just got a massive pinger. Where's good to get copper tape from? I had a look yonks ago but only found some shit to prevent ants entering your garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Broonbreed Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Seemingly Google has some. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I could do with the ant stuff. Fucking ants man. My garden is like Glastonbury for ants in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabbage Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Some decent kitchen foil will do the same. Cover the inside of the scratch plate and earth the shield. Check your strings have a good earth connection also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Broonbreed Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Cheers. I'll get all this done once I'm back from work. This might be a stupid question, but if the worst came to the worst, would a noise supressor do any good - as it's also connected to the mains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyboy Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Dunno for sure, but yeah, I'd have thought a noise gate to be the simplest solution to this problem. There might be some unwanted side effects, though, depending on what your style is; like if you want ultra-sustain, once the note fade to a certain level (depending on the settings) it'll just cut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabbage Posted March 22, 2016 Report Share Posted March 22, 2016 Depending on the source of the hum a noise gate may not be effective. If the hum is introduced post noise gate you'll still have the same problem. Could be something as simple as interference from lights, fluorescent type lamps will often cause a buzz. Try turning off all the other electrical items in the room and see if anything has an effect. Bonus points if you wear a tin foil hat at the same time.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trikelops Posted June 2, 2016 Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 I had a problem for ages with one of my basses, nearer I stood to the amp, the worse it hummed. Turned out someone I loaned the guitar to ages ago had had it in bits and missed out the wee plastic washer thingy that stops the jack socket earthing against the steel plate it is mounted on. It has taken me ages to sort this but might be worth checking if your guitar has a similar set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whistle Tester Posted August 5, 2016 Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 Fluorescent light fittings, Fridges & Beer coolers, are the biggest contributors to mains borne noise / hum in domestic premises & Public houses / Etc. Never an easy fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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