#881630 - 09/20/00 02:29 PM
Amp Hum at Gigs / Dimmers
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Leftybass@aol.com
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Registered: 09/20/00
Posts: 2
Loc: Willow Grove,PA,UNITED STATES
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I need some help. Occasionally I do a gig where they use dimmers (it's usually a
private gig at a catering hall that uses dimmers on the same line that the band uses for electricity). Is there any device that I can purchase to fix this annoying problem. I
find myself compensating by rolling of all the highs on my bass. Talk about mud. I am
playing a Fender Jazz w/Seymour Duncans (one stacked, the other single coil) through a Super Redhead (SWR).
Thanks,
Mark
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#881631 - 09/20/00 02:45 PM
Re: Amp Hum at Gigs / Dimmers
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alanschmitz@hotmail.com_dup1
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Registered: 09/06/00
Posts: 0
Loc: La Mesa,CA,UNITED STATES
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Ooooo I hate this problem!!!!
I travel with LONG extention cords. When I run into this problem, I go searching for clean power.
Even worse than dimmers are neon lights by the stage. Ouch!!!! They can manage to make a quiet rig hum like the dickens and owners hate to turn them off!!! There was one coffee house in San Diego that I refused to book shows because of the "Stage Neon."
You didn't mention if the rest of the band is suffering with the same problem. If you are the only one, try to sheild your rig otherwise... EXTENSION CORDS HO!!!
Jeff
[This message has been edited by alanschmitz@hotmail.com (edited 09-20-2000).]
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#881632 - 09/21/00 01:22 PM
Re: Amp Hum at Gigs / Dimmers
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breakway@bellatlantic.net
Senior Member
Registered: 06/25/00
Posts: 40
Loc: ,NJ,UNITED STATES
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Mark,
I really sympathize with your plight. I spent many a gig in younger days chasing hums and buzzes. First, does the amp buzz when you unplug the instrument? If so, it is indeed being created in the amp itself by the noise spikes generated by cheap dimmers. Many dimmers are not loaded properly--a 1Kw dimmer with only 100 watts of load on it makes more noise than if it had a full 1Kw on it. Options are, as Alan said, find another outlet on a different breaker. It may be on a different service or phase of AC. Next, try a power line filter or regulator, such as Juice Goose, or the Equi-Tech balanced power devices. Also, check the line voltage with a meter and verify that you have at least 110 volts. Some amplifiers, especially transistor amps, do not like low line voltage-maybe the venue has too much load on your outlet, and the voltage is being pulled down.
Now, if the amp is quiet until you plug in, then you are the victim of the insidious radiated noise, or EMI.(electro-magnetic interference) Does the noise change as you alter the angle and position of the pickups? Hold the strings, and with the gain and EQ flat (or boosted-you want to hear it)walk around and use the axe as a "divining rod" to find which places are noisier than others, and you may find a place on stage that is quieter. Single coil pickups are the worst for picking up radiated fields. Dual coils phase-cancel induced noise to a great degree. Lastly, did you remove the chrome pickup shield over the treble pickup? It's there for a reason-to shield the single-coil from noise, but everybody hates them and takes them off to look cool. Good Luck!
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