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Rattle and Less Hum

There's a lot of 60 Hz hum in my acoustic/electric dulcitar. The amp runs on a battery, so there's no wall-wart leakage, at least not directly.

Besides wearing a wrist-mount grounding strap that connects across the brass bolt that contacts the strings and running a pigtail lead to the negative (outside) of the 1/4" jack, what are my options?

I am building an acoustic/electric chugger with a mini-humbucker, and wonder if I should just ground the strings to the black (negative) lead and prepare to wear a wrist strap while playing?

I am using what is supposedly 97% shield braided cable between the CBG and my battery powered amp. And yes, I have read the "Pin One Problem" essays online.

Thanks

Gordon

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 31, 2016 at 7:49am

If your using a mini-humbucker, there shouldn't be any 60 cycle hum. That is inherent to single coil pickups.

All guitars with pickups should have a ground wire to the strings either at the bridge or the stop tail piece.

If you have another git or can borrow one, plug it into your amp to see if the noise is still there, change cords etc.

Fluorescent lights or electrical wiring and dimmer switches in a room can be a problem with RF noises being picked up through the amp. Try a different room or outside to see if the problem still exists.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Cooper on May 31, 2016 at 7:54am

No FL lights in the house or dimmers anywhere. There's a hum without plugging in anything. Minor but annoying. Shall have second box (with mini humbucker) to try with cord shortly.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on May 31, 2016 at 7:52pm

If you have the hum without anything plugged in(not even a cord), then it's probably the amp or at least part of the problem.

Permalink Reply by Denis U on June 1, 2016 at 12:13am

Dimmers might explain a similar problem that I have. If the dimmer switch is off so there's no power to the lights, will I still get a hum?

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 1, 2016 at 5:32am

Not really sure about that. You would think not, but whether it can still influence or not isn't known to me.

Permalink Reply by Denis U on June 1, 2016 at 6:08am

Not a clue what was causing it. but I switched off all the sockets (outlets) in the room and silence prevailed. Lights were off, but there was still power to the dimmer switch.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 1, 2016 at 6:10am

Well now we know. Glad you got it sorted out Denis.

Permalink Reply by Denis U on June 1, 2016 at 8:40pm

That's a great idea, Wayfinder. Which of these do you recommend:

The Gold

or the silver?

I'd hate to get the wrong one and look foolish!

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 1, 2016 at 8:47pm

Get both just to be sure, change colors to reflect your mood. Pun intended.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 2, 2016 at 6:20am

Get one that covers you, your git while playing it and your amp.

Maybe one big enough to cover your house.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Cooper on August 3, 2016 at 1:51pm

Dear Wayfinder et al:

90% of the hum disappeared when I went to a cloth covered cable from Monoprice that is 20 ga. wire with a 96% braided copper shield. Monoprice is my "go to" for exotic or standard cables. Their prices are very low compared to big box stores, specialty shops, etc. and CNET uses Monoprice as their exclusive provider for their in-house electronics. I have no financial interest in them, but am a very happy customer. Wish I'd thought of this earlier!

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on August 3, 2016 at 7:34pm

Shielded Cable is what you have and the shielding is what cuts out that hum. Shielded wiring for the inside of the guitar is expensive and you can use RCA cables that are used on DVD/VCR/stereos for that.