Ground buzz..goes away only when i turn away from amp

AvonL3 · #1 05-10-2011, 04:40 PM

Ibanez SR 305 DX 5-string. Loud buzz when I turn up my highs. It does not stop when I touch the strings but will stop if i turn a different angle from the amp. Any advice?

tk421 · #2 05-10-2011, 05:02 PM

loose ground wire inside somewhere? maybe shielding has issues?

Bennet Pullen · #3 05-10-2011, 05:05 PM

That sounds like typical interference from other electronics. Usually dual-coil pickups eliminate that but maybe you have a shielding problem? There are a bunch of tutorials out there for shielding your pickup and pre-amp routes that might help with this.

Are you sure it has to do with your position with your amp? Try aiming your amp a different way and then see if it does the same thing. It could be from another source. I find computer monitors especially bad.

Either that or just stand different and don't turn up your highs?

jlerner · #4 05-10-2011, 05:23 PM

I've had this happen too, for sure, where if I turn JUST right, the buzz goes away. So, you're not going crazy. I was once told to use a power-conditioner, so I bought one for ~$20, and it didn't help. I'm sure Bennet Pullen is right, about interference.

Rick Auricchio · #5 05-10-2011, 11:29 PM

If you're close enough to the amp, shielding won't help.

Usually the problem is magnetic interference from the amp's transformer. You can't shield the magnetic pickups from that.

dbhokie · #6 05-11-2011, 08:27 AM

I had the same issue at one time with one of my heads, I took the case off re-soldered the connections (as I was removing the solder, the ground was not well connected) and then for good measure put a much better plug on the end of the wire. Took care of my issues.

Pilgrim · #7 05-11-2011, 11:32 AM

Solution: move away from the amp.

lethargytartare · #8 05-11-2011, 03:30 PM

Agree that it sounds like basic noise. That said, improved shielding can help, sometimes a lot, but it's not a guarantee that it can stop EVERYTHING -- as was noted, monitors, fluorescent lights, etc. are really hard on the noise front. I follow the guidelines over at GuitarNuts(tm) - Guitar & Amp Wiring, Hum & Noise Reduction, and Forums and have never been disappointed.