Tittle says it all, whenI am facing my amp I get a slight hum but turn away and it goes away. Is this normal and other than not turning towed the amp is there any fix?
Thanks
Dano
Thanks
Dano
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Hum when facing amp none when facing away?
- Thread starter Dano59
- Start date
It's your pickups, in your bass, doesn't mean anything is wrong with your rig. Doesn't mean anything is "wrong" with your pickups either. Just electrical interference. Just to be safe, maybe check the electrical outlet you're plugged in to. If your amp has a ground lift switch try flipping it to another position. Otherwise, don't worry about it.
This happens a lot if you have two single coils and they're not set to the exact same volume.
Thanks guys, kinda what I thught but better to check.
I will try the ground lift next time.
Thanks again
Dano
I will try the ground lift next time.
Thanks again
Dano
Rick Auricchio
Registered Bass Offender
If your amp has a three-prong power plug, there is no ground to change.
The ground-lift switch on the DI output is only for the DI.
The ground-lift switch on the DI output is only for the DI.
All you are experiencing is the line frequency from the power transformer in your amp being magnetically induced into your pickups. All magnetic pickups will do this to some extent. Single coils, as posted, are the worst. Just stand a little further away from your amp.
Paul
Paul
Thanks fot the info guys. I only notice it in my music room when sitting accross form the amp practicing.
Thanks
Dano
Thanks
Dano
Usually a bass with single coil pickups need to have BOTH in the full on position to avoid the hum. I like the option to vary pickup settings, and consequently replaced my pickups with multicoil wrappings.
It's a good idea to listen to the bass through earphones before recording just in case one position hums more than the other. Bummer to hear that hum after you've recording a cool take!
It's a good idea to listen to the bass through earphones before recording just in case one position hums more than the other. Bummer to hear that hum after you've recording a cool take!
I noticed tonight that when I turn to changed a song on the computer that I pick up the hum from the monitor.
These Nordstand Big Splits are supposed to be hum canceling, am I expecting too much? I picked up a little hum when facing the amp with the stock pups but seam to get a bit more with these.
I use EMG active humbucking pickups in all my basses. If I get too close to my amp I get the induced hum. About two feet away all is quiet.
Paul
Paul
Humbuckers are quieter, yes but you still have magnetic fields going on at your pickups, the parts in your amp/other gear and at the speakers so there still can be some interference when set up close together, like sitting at a desk with all your stuff right there. Good point also Paul about checking this as far as where you're sitting/what direction you're facing so as not to screw up a good take.
As far as hearing it from across the room facing your amp, it's likely that your pickups are pretty close to on axis with your amp/speaker. Shifting your sitting position left or right a little bit should produce a change in the noise. Sitting sideways or away from it should produce pretty much silence provided there are no other problems going on.
Sometimes this can also be made worse by flourescent or neon lights or some old light fixture or lamp that isn't grounded (2-prong plug) that isn't in the best shape, maybe frayed wires or rusty/loose stuff or a bad ground in your bass.
Mostly though, if your stuffs in good shape, don't worry about it. Just face some direction where it doesn't happen.
Mostly though, if your stuffs in good shape, don't worry about it. Just face some direction where it doesn't happen.
Sorry Fdeck but toroids are not immune, although I agree the stray magnetic fields are much reduced. All my amps use toroids.
Paul
Paul
Good to know. I had always assumed that the stray fields were negligible. Next time I get my Backline 600 head out, I will test it next to my MB150E combo, which uses a conventional tranny.
Ok, I was wondering why I never heard anything at all at church when I am sitting directly in front of my !assman 60 comboM I aim it at me as a monitor and never hear any hum.
See WILL33's reply from above - "Sometimes this can also be made worse by flourescent or neon lights or some old light fixture or lamp that isn't grounded (2-prong plug) that isn't in the best shape, maybe frayed wires or rusty/loose stuff or a bad ground in your bass.
Mostly though, if your stuffs in good shape, don't worry about it. Just face some direction where it doesn't happen. "
This is probly the culprit. I know in my den where my gear etc is, the flouro's add noise, & when I switch on an old lamp(without a earth pin on it's power plug) it get's worse/more.
I actually tested this just a cuppla days ago-had amp on & switched light on/off & noted the extra noise from it when on!!
Well I moved things around in my music room and the amp is now plugged in accross the room and almost all the hum is gone as well as the strange noises I was getting from the amp. Ran an extention cord back to original outlet and hum came back.
Much happier now.
Dano
Much happier now.
Dano
