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Peavey problem

guygorilla

guygorilla

Apr 11, 2017
113
124
#1
posted this elsewhere, but I'll try here for a quicker response..I have the Peavey Max 112 and while I love it for its sound, I have one problem..seems like half the clubs I play in, the damn thing hums when the soundman uses the XLR out...I took it to my repairman, he said there is nothing wrong with the amp, it has something to do with whether the soundboard ground is matched to the amp's ground impedance (or something)..anyone else have this problem?..and is there a simple solution? (right now we just bypass the XLR out and use a DI box, which makes the built in feature kinda useless)
 
#5
yes, there is a ground lift switch on the amp, but turning this on/off doesnt seem to change the hum...my repairman pointed out there is a ground built into the XLR output, and said something to the effect that if the board doesnt also have this/match this one, a hum will ensue
 
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#6
No boards have a ground lift switch on the input, that doesn't factor into anything.

Pin 1 on the XLR out is connected to the bass amp's ground through the ground lift switch.
 
#8
With some "inexpensive" off-shore cables, they can be incorrectly wired with the shell connected to pin 1. If this is the case, it's possible for the ground lift function not to work in this case.
 
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#10
guygorilla said:
so basically it comes down to certain clubs with a soundguy blaming my amp when it's actually him and his lousy cheap cables?...seems to make sense, as in other clubs we have no problem.
Click to expand...
Possibly, could also be a problem with the power wiring or a combination of things.
 
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#13
they're playing through Fender amps and I seem to recall 9 times out of 10 they get their amps miked, or they're using a 1/4 inch cable to a DI box (pre-amp), which is what I end up using...I could understand if my amp did it at every club, but it doesnt, so that tells me it's not the amp
 
#14
A local player that frequents a venue that seems to exude hum swears by an electroharmonix "humDebugger". Everyone I talk to always says it's just the venue and has nothing to do with the gear that's used. He was the first one that was able to clean it up using the pedal.

HumDebugger-xlarge.jpg
 
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#15
You could make a ground lift adapter by just making a short xlr cable with the ground (pin one) disconnected. But the ground lift on the amp should be working. Could just be the venue power. Make sure your pedals if you use them are using the same circuit as your amp
 
#17
guygorilla said:
posted this elsewhere, but I'll try here for a quicker response..I have the Peavey Max 112 and while I love it for its sound, I have one problem..seems like half the clubs I play in, the damn thing hums when the soundman uses the XLR out...I took it to my repairman, he said there is nothing wrong with the amp, it has something to do with whether the soundboard ground is matched to the amp's ground impedance (or something)..anyone else have this problem?..and is there a simple solution? (right now we just bypass the XLR out and use a DI box, which makes the built in feature kinda useless)
Click to expand...
Make sure your FOH in on the same power or leg as the stage. Or just use an external di (thats the best way) Any bass player that gigs should have a good external di box in there gig bag anyways. Better safe than sorry .
 
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