Portable, reliable rig that doesn't run on house electricity.

[sonojono]

Well along the threads I've made where I have tried to figure out a solution to a problem, I have learned that:
- people get easily upset
- its difficult to execute on all the possible suggestions
- it takes a long time
- ive become a hobby tinkerer/electrician

You also have to take into account that majority of users on here are 50+ Old retired musicians with the “get off my lawn” attitude. So while their approach may come off borderline creepy, they’re at least helpful (in some ways) when it comes to certain situations like this one.

 

[gln1955]

Not really a very good simile at all. More accurate would be "my car doesn't run properly on the only gas I can get".

Not at all. She can get better gas, but it will take some effort. Why do people put a band-aid on something rather than fix the underlying problem?

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Does your computer audio buzz?

Computer audio isn’t always a reliable test as it’s usually designed to work without ground… my Mac power cable is 2-core, same for the powered speakers and even my Akai audio interface.

 

[groooooove]

As I'm not a member of Instagram or any other Social Networking platform, I wonder if you'd consider posting the information which lies at the end of that link.? Thanks.

i did not post any link - i think you mean my post signature? it's just my personal instagram... feel free to click it.. you don't need to be signed up to watch some cool videos of bass stuff

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Not at all. She can get better gas, but it will take some effort. Why do people put a band-aid on something rather than fix the underlying problem?

Because it’s not possible for the OP to fix it, as has been repeated at least fifteen million times. Ok twice. But I think that message is clear.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Not dismissive, but I went with my bass to a tech and the ground is fine. Dude literally went thru everything with a multimeter and everything is fine. No buzz anywhere except here at home.
How many times do I have to write it for you to finally read what I'm writing to you.

I went a technician (3 of them, in fact)
Checked everything with a multimeter.
Everything is grounded and shielded.

My new bass is fine, too.

That will be all from me.

I think you may be interpreting this as me poo-pooing your instruments and I’m not. I have the exact issue with some of my instruments given similar conditions.

Your bass is only “grounded” when plugged in. If the noise stops when you touch the strings or knobs as you mentioned earlier, the bass is reaching ground through your body. There is no “ground” through your wiring. You can test the ground through the amp, but it requires a multimeter. The “ground” issue isn’t with your instrument, it’s with your wiring. In instances like that, I like being physically separated from the power with a wireless.

The shielding needs a path to ground to work. If there is no path to ground through your amp, there is no shielding. When you touch the strings, you now provide a path to ground via your body and the shielding again works. I’ve been in places where we plug into a power strip and there is buzzing until the guitar player touches his strings and then the buzzing in my bass stops. Similar with me touching my strings and the guitar stops buzzing. Now I usually run a wireless and I’m not part of the circuit.

 

[R Briere]

i did not post any link - i think you mean my post signature? it's just my personal instagram... feel free to click it.. you don't need to be signed up to watch some cool videos of bass stuff

The problem with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc., is that all of them use Cookies ....and we're not talking Oreos or Chocolate Chip...or my Personal All-Time Favorite: "Thin Mints" ..... sold by the Girl Scouts of America ! Their Cookies, once buried in YOUR Oven, track every key stroke you make. They visit the sites you visit to see what you enjoy......they track your friends, etc. On top of that, many who post to "Social Media" sites are NOT who or what they claim to be. For those reasons and many more, I avoid ALL of them like the Plague.

 

[sloppy_phil]

@Katoosie I'm sure you must absolutely love how many folks here are taking time out of their day to mansplain grounding to you! I think one more, and you've reached boomer bingo.

Hopefully the landlady sees some sense regarding the house, and that your PJ amp gets you the buzz-free bass time you are craving. I'm certainly curious to hear how both situations develop

Also, didn't chime in on the NBD thread, but congrats on the new Spector. Looks like a fun li'l beast!

 

[groooooove]

The problem with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc., is that all of them use Cookies ....and we're not talking Oreos or Chocolate Chip...or my Personal All-Time Favorite: "Thin Mints" ..... sold by the Girl Scouts of America ! Their Cookies, once buried in YOUR Oven, track every key stroke you make. They visit the sites you visit to see what you enjoy......they track your friends, etc. On top of that, many who post to "Social Media" sites are NOT who or what they claim to be. For those reasons and many more, I avoid ALL of them like the Plague.

we've gone off topic, BUT,

a friend of mine who works in the technology business (more or less specifically this field) said it's really no more than they want to be able to sell advertising that is really specific to you, therefore more valuable. they don't actually care what you like or who you talk to, they care what you are most likely to buy.

*if* this bothers you, if you use a VPN nobody will ever know anything you do

I had express VPN for a while... works great... but at the end of the day I no longer care what ads I get. i'd rather an add for scotts bass lessons (not gonna sign up anyway) than for products that mean less than nothing to me.

as far as I know all websites, including talkbass use the same technology.

not going to continue this here since it's off topic but that's the off topic fun for the day, folks.

 

[BBQisgood]

I'm sure you must absolutely love how many folks here are taking time out of their day to mansplain grounding to you!

Pretty sure some folks are worried about substandard wiring and an unfair deal and unsafe environment for a fellow Talkbass human being.

 

[sloppy_phil]

Pretty sure some folks are worried about substandard wiring and an unfair deal and unsafe environment for a fellow Talkbass human being.

Some indeed are! Several others are certainly not

 

[MultiScaleMale]

@Katoosie I'm sure you must absolutely love how many folks here are taking time out of their day to mansplain grounding to you! I think one more, and you've reached boomer bingo.

It took me a long time to realize what was happening with the buzzing that stopped when you touch the strings. Maybe we should have separate male/female sections on TB to avoid the appearance of mansplaining? I think you're looking for discrimination where it doesn't exist, but "boomer bingo"? Ironic.

 

[R Briere]

Pretty sure some folks are worried about substandard wiring and an unfair deal and unsafe environment for a fellow Talkbass human being.

As @Katoosie has explained herself pretty clearly, I applaud your reply. When it comes to Electricity, one can never know TOO much. If you Google .... Musicians who have been Electrocuted .... you'll be in for a surprise. One guy walking up to the mic while holding his bass, touching said mic.....and being tossed 50 feet into the audience. Others have been killed from Faulty wiring or grounding..... I, myself, have a LOUSY wiring job cuz my landlord is a bit..."thrifty". My VERY expensive home theater suffers from constant hum and 4" lines running up and down the screen of my Pioneer Elite Monitor..... all due to faulty wiring.

BUT.....the Real Reason I toss in my 2 Cents was in part explained above..... "man-splain".

 

[gln1955]

Because it’s not possible for the OP to fix it, as has been repeated at least fifteen million times. Ok twice. But I think that message is clear.

That's simply not true. Living is a house without questionable wiring would seem to be a priority for most people.

 

[R Briere]

You also have to take into account that majority of users on here are 50+ Old retired musicians with the “get off my lawn” attitude. So while their approach may come off borderline creepy, they’re at least helpful (in some ways) when it comes to certain situations like this one.

Now THAT is Funny! ........and if you'd kindly Move back five feet so as not to be on my lawn, I'd appreciate it. LOL ....... A fun fact for you. When I was 25 I knew EVERYTHING about Everything......at 45 I knew even MORE!!! Then things begin to happen. You look down while showering and the drain is Clogged with something! OMG... It's MY HAIR!!!! Holy Crap!!!!! As the Years go by you suddenly make a discovery.....You've become your own Father. Trust me.....it's NOT Fun. Will it happen to you? Yup! I guarantee it!! And if you could move back just a tiny bit more.... You're crushing 6 blades of my Lawn...and I just spent an hour trimming them on my hands and knees....with Scissors! LOLOL

PS: There's actually no such thing as a "Retired Musician".......I began Playing in the mid 60's......We played 2 to 5 nights a week and made a TON of money doing so. There were no "Open Mics" or "Playing for the Contents of a Tip Jar" or the Ever Popular "You're not getting paid...but just think of the Exposure you'll be getting".... It was a GREAT time to be in Music. I went on to work with major league bands and had the time of my life......There's much to Learn from Geezers.....but Testosterone makes that process difficult.

 

[Rabidhamster]

Computer audio isn’t always a reliable test as it’s usually designed to work without ground… my Mac power cable is 2-core, same for the powered speakers and even my Akai audio interface.

It's not an electricity test, if it doesn't buzz it can be used.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

That's simply not true. Living is a house without questionable wiring would seem to be a priority for most people.

You are incorrect. Read the thread.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

It's not an electricity test, if it doesn't buzz it can be used.

An electrical appliance that is designed to function without a ground not buzzing will not indicate that is safe to use an electrical appliance that is designed to be grounded. Not a valid test, and it most certainly is an electricity test. Electricity is the heart of the issue.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

As this thread has nosedived deep into troll territory I'm out...

 

[Rabidhamster]

An electrical appliance that is designed to function without a ground not buzzing will not indicate that is safe to use an electrical appliance that is designed to be grounded. Not a valid test, and it most certainly is an electricity test. Electricity is the heart of the issue.

I'm not sure who you're arguing with but you've missed my point by a mile. Again I was not addressing any real or imagined electricity safety issue, nor making any troubleshooting suggestions, simply directing a qualifying question - TO OP - about another possible workaround. OP has responded, I have made my alternate suggestion, OP has already made a purchase which was not my suggestion which will hopefully meet their needs. Everyone is going to be ok, or they won't. I hope you have a wonderful day!