Keeping noise from Lights out of your amp....

TJBass · #1 07-01-2010, 11:22 AM

Played a gig recently and noticed that my new to me amp, Peavey Tmax head, was clicking and had a lot of white noise or static. I noticed it was plugged into the same outlet as the lights were so I moved to a new outlet, still did it.

Doesn't do it anywhere except when we use those specific lights. They are just flashing bulbs.

any idea?

jnuts1 · #2 07-01-2010, 11:32 AM

i have the same problem at any venue with a large light rig. & i have no idea what to do about it.

tony_clifton · #3 07-01-2010, 02:46 PM

Pink Floyd started using EMGs when their light show/lasers grew bigger, so I take it active pickups should solve the problem. Not what I would want but well yeah... it might work...

jnuts1 · #4 07-01-2010, 02:47 PM

i am using active pickups & it doesn't seem to make a difference from what i have noticed.

Bassmastertim · #5 07-01-2010, 02:55 PM

Go to musicans friend and get a hum-x, or if you can afford it, get an isolation transformer.

The noise you are hearing is probably noise imparted to the electrical system by the lights.

jnuts1 · #6 07-01-2010, 02:59 PM

thanks, i will take a look

BassmanPaul · #7 07-01-2010, 03:06 PM

Try a power bar with a line filter and see if that helps.

Paul

ryognbass · #8 07-01-2010, 03:08 PM

I get it not from the outlet but just from the EMF signals in the area in general. Fluorescent lights are a big no-no as far as agreeing with amps. the only thing to alleviate this kind of hum would be to eliminate any ground loops picking up interference, and wrap the amp in shielding foil

billfitzmaurice · #9 07-01-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Try a power bar with a line filter and see if that helps.

Paul

It might, but not much. The lamps are what need the filtering, as close to them as possible, otherwise the wiring to them becomes an antenna for RFI.

Quote:

I moved to a new outlet, still did it.

That outlet may still be on the same supply line as the other.

SurferJoe46 · #10 07-01-2010, 07:08 PM

Fluorescent lights should NOT be on that same circuit by electrical code.

Actually NO lighting and outlets are not to be on the same home run with each other. If this is a commercial enterprise, tell 'em about it - their insurance company would not like an accidental death lawsuit, I'm sure..

Fluorescent (ballasted) lights can have 80VAC return on the common leg if there's a problem in the transformer and that could be lethal.

Munjibunga · #11 07-01-2010, 08:47 PM

Tara Labs power cable.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #12 07-02-2010, 11:57 AM

Does the noise level change if you adjust the volume control(s) on your bass?

Bob Lee (QSC) · #13 07-02-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnuts1

i am using active pickups & it doesn't seem to make a difference from what i have noticed.

Active pickups still amplify whatever they pick up. Humbucking pickups, active or passive, pick up less hum and buzz.

jnuts1 · #14 07-02-2010, 01:23 PM

changing the volume doesn't do much unless it is completely off. but switching pickups does. i lose a lot of noise if i have equal blending between the bridge & neck pickup or if i am using just the neck pickup. the bridge pickup does it the worst.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #15 07-02-2010, 01:25 PM

So it's coming into your amp via your bass. The hum-x (bad idea, IMHO) and isolation transformer) or any other AC tricks won't help.

jnuts1 · #16 07-02-2010, 01:34 PM

it only does it at places with lighting rigs. when i play dive bars or a studio & such i never hear anything. that is why i thought it had to be something else. like the light rig s & i was using my bass to chage whatever i could to cancel out whatever was going on

redneck2wild · #17 07-02-2010, 03:08 PM

Are you using single coil pickups?

A Single Coil pickup tends to pickup noise from fluorescent light ballasts as well as other electromagnetic sources.

Blending 2 single coil pickups the same amount will usually cancel this type of noise.

Some people have had success with the Hum Debugger though I have not tried one:
http://www.ehx.com/products/hum-debugger

bruiser1964 · #18 07-02-2010, 03:13 PM

It's the lighting rig.. we used to use a cheap dimmer pack and that caused the problem on all our amps (pa included) if you are using dimmers turn the fades all the way up - so they don't dim just flash or move the controller box as far as you can from your amps / mains cables / wall warts.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #19 07-02-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruiser1964

It's the lighting rig.. we used to use a cheap dimmer pack and that caused the problem on all our amps (pa included) if you are using dimmers turn the fades all the way up - so they don't dim just flash or move the controller box as far as you can from your amps / mains cables / wall warts.

It's not coming into his amp, it's coming into his bass pickups.

bruiser1964 · #20 07-02-2010, 03:40 PM

? thought the OP said it was his amp? sorry Bob