Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 20, 2015 at 12:36am

Not an unreasonable approach Wayfinder.

I should be able  to jumper from the pickup to the amp thus bypassing the pot, jack and solder joints. If the "hum" is gone, I can add back one component at a time. until it comes back.

I'll give it a go this morning.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 20, 2015 at 4:06am

Okay, add this to my twilight-zone guitar.

I plug the audio cord into the guitar and amp as before and get the hum as before. I then pick up the cable that has been running from the amp which is on a shelf about a foot off the floor and placed the bulk of the cord on my work bench. Shizammmmm...No hum!

Odd, me-thinks, so I lift the cord and toss it back on the concrete floor. PooooF......The hum ins back.

Back on the bench, volume to full blast. Damn!, no hum......

At this point I don't know if my floor is possessed or the bench is blessed, or maybe, just maybe, the 10' audio cord is cheap and not well shielded and sucking in signals from beyond the floor.

I ordered a double-shielded cable just to see if there is actually a difference.

I'll still do the jumper past the pot and jack just to confirm that they are not somehow in the mix.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 20, 2015 at 6:16am

So I says to myself: "Self, it's the cable stupid."

After digging around in various boxes and drawers, I finally come across an audio cable I bought at Radio soon after the announcement of their demise. It is one of those that has the little loops in it like an old telephone cord. I never cared for it because the loops tended to get tangled up. Anyway, I looked at the diameter of the cable and it looked noticeably thicker than my plain-Jane cable.

I plugged in the guitar and amp using the cable I had been using. Tossed the cord on the floor (their is a thin rug) and confirmed that I had a good hum going (no comments please).

I then switched to the Radio Shack cord and "Presto-Chango.......the hum is gone (even with the cord on the floor). Switched back and the hum is back.

So, it appears that the cord I had been using is in fact poorly shielded and picking up signals from the concrete floor or outer space.

Just for kicks & giggles, I did jumper from the pickup wires straight to the jack. Did this with the old cable and volume up. No clicks or change in the amp output, so the jumpers offered no less resistance than going through the pot.

Frustrating, but a good learning experience. And just think how much better my other guitars will sound with a decent cord.

Thanks to everyone for the help and suggestions. Good group.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on March 19, 2015 at 2:23pm

Is it hum ir is it buzz? They sound quite different to each other, one is buzzy and the other oddly humlike...

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 20, 2015 at 12:32am

Well, it's not that that irritating 60 Hz buzz, but a little higher pitch. So, I guess it would be a hum. I'll post an mp3 of it.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 19, 2015 at 3:42pm

I'd say play it with the wire down your pants. If it works don't fix it... : ) 

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on March 19, 2015 at 4:05pm

does that constitute getting a hummer?

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 20, 2015 at 12:30am

Okay, Daryl.

You win the quick response prize hands down. Very good..................

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 20, 2015 at 5:54am

Check to ensure you have strictly used star grounding to a single point.  No double-backs or chains.  No loops.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 20, 2015 at 6:19am

Thanks  Eric.

I always ground everything to the back of the pot which I pre-tin so connections are easy.

I think the thicker cable is doing the trick.

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Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on March 21, 2015 at 12:28pm

I would suggest you temporarily move the git/amp to a different enviornment.  See if the hum is caused by something in the house or room.  You said that you turned off the lights.  However light dimmers can be a noise source, as can flourescent lights.  Even possibly from another room.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 21, 2015 at 12:54pm

Thanks Gary.

I'll give it a try in the music room in the house. Nice areas with no fluorescent lights.

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