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Hum only occurs in live setting

b-bottom

b-bottom

Dec 18, 2006
832
312
Knoxville TN
superactionrock.com
#1
I think that I know the answer to this, but I figured I'd run it by everyone anyway.

So in certain live settings my rig hums. But at practice and a few other places it doesn't.

I run a fuzz pedal and I have my gain cranked to about 3-4 o'clock. I also play with the SB2 which has super hot pups.

I know for a fact that it's not my cables. I'm guessing that it's the fuzz pedal. But if that is the case...then why does it not hum at every venue and practice?
 
#2
Something in your setup is picking up ambient electric fields, and some places they are stronger than others. Overdrive/distortion pedals are especially prone to this because of the high internal gain they use to create the distortion. Does the hum go away or diminish when you turn off the fuzzbox?

In live venues there are neon signs, big refrigeration units, fluorescent fixtures, etc. that emanate 60Hz more than what you are likely to encounter at home.
 
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#3
And to add to Gordon's response... many venues have crappy power and run fridges/chillers, microwaves, cookers, and other such devices on the same circuit(s) the band will be plugged into. Work with the venue management to determine the source and try to use another power source if they can't move the offender..
 
#9
Most likely it's not getting in through the power, though, but through the air. A humbucker pickup or a pair of single coils where one is RWRP might help, but you just may have to resign yourself to either live with the noise or forego the use of the fuzzbox.
 
#11
DiabolusInMusic said:
How is the fuzzbox getting power?
Click to expand...
Whether from a battery or power supply, it probably doesn't make much difference. The utility company has a set of medium voltage power distribution lines running up the side of my property right next to my studio, and there is a strong 60Hz EM field the emanates from those lines. Distortion units with the gain turned way up howl like banshees from that field, especially if they are fed from single coil pickups. There's nothing I can do about it, not that I haven't tried.
 
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#12
Last week I played at an open mic and used my MB800/CN212 rig. I got it all set up, turned it on, and BZZZZZZZZZZ! So I changed outlets. No bueno. So I brought in my backup amp, MB Fusion 800. Same thing. Then I noticed the neon sign on the back wall of the stage. Once I moved away from that and turned at the right angle, the buzz went away. Sometimes it's just environmental factors.
 
#13
Munjibunga said:
Last week I played at an open mic and used my MB800/CN212 rig. I got it all set up, turned it on, and BZZZZZZZZZZ! So I changed outlets. No bueno. So I brought in my backup amp, MB Fusion 800. Same thing. Then I noticed the neon sign on the back wall of the stage. Once I moved away from that and turned at the right angle, the buzz went away. Sometimes it's just environmental factors.
Click to expand...
Yes, and I'm pretty sure that's what the OP is experiencing. His fuzzbox is very sensitive to AC electric fields, and clubs are notorious for having lots of ambient EM noise.
 
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#14
I've been wondering a similar thing. I've got a jazz bass that the single coil hum is near nonexistent in some rooms and almost unbearable in others. Any gizmos that can help? Like a power strip with specific qualities? I don't plan on getting a noise gate pedal or anything like that.
 

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