Hum problems

[mrkmas]

Well it was my first time playing my new amp (VHT Special 6), and I am getting some hum from my MIA strat. I had the amp plugged into the same Belkin power strip as the LCD TV and cable box (both were off when I was playing). Whenever I touch the guitar strings the hum stops, but when I take my hand off the strings the hum starts up again. I don't remember this happening in the past, even when I used to play through my marshall stack at high gain but that was always in my basement with a furman between the amp and wall. I will have to trouble shoot on monday.

How likely is it that the amp is causing the problem right out of the box? I don't have any other amp to try in my house to make sure it isn't the amp. I would have to bring the guitar to a guitar store and try an amp to do this.

Could the absence of the Furman be causing this? I don't have a furman power conditioner anymore, but this was the unit I was using in the past http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PLPLUSC/

The first thing I will do is plug my LP into the amp and see if the hum continues. Assuming the hum is not present when I do this, that should limit the problem to the cable or guitar.

I will update on this when I have some more info and would appreciate some feedback. The hum is above and beyond the (in my opinion) standard single coil hum you hear.

 

[university81]

Well it was my first time playing my new amp (VHT Special 6), and I am getting some hum from my MIA strat. I had the amp plugged into the same Belkin power strip as the LCD TV and cable box (both were off when I was playing). Whenever I touch the guitar strings the hum stops, but when I take my hand off the strings the hum starts up again. I don't remember this happening in the past, even when I used to play through my marshall stack at high gain but that was always in my basement with a furman between the amp and wall. I will have to trouble shoot on monday.

How likely is it that the amp is causing the problem right out of the box? I don't have any other amp to try in my house to make sure it isn't the amp. I would have to bring the guitar to a guitar store and try an amp to do this.

Could the absence of the Furman be causing this? I don't have a furman power conditioner anymore, but this was the unit I was using in the past http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PLPLUSC/

The first thing I will do is plug my LP into the amp and see if the hum continues. Assuming the hum is not present when I do this, that should limit the problem to the cable or guitar.

I will update on this when I have some more info and would appreciate some feedback. The hum is above and beyond the (in my opinion) standard single coil hum you hear.

if it stops when you touch the guitar strings, maybe a grounding issue with your guitar?
does the guitar do the same thing on other amps?

although a bad ground would probably be a more buzzing like sound, but worth looking into

 

[mrkmas]

Well it was my first time playing my new amp (VHT Special 6), and I am getting some hum from my MIA strat. I had the amp plugged into the same Belkin power strip as the LCD TV and cable box (both were off when I was playing). Whenever I touch the guitar strings the hum stops, but when I take my hand off the strings the hum starts up again. I don't remember this happening in the past, even when I used to play through my marshall stack at high gain but that was always in my basement with a furman between the amp and wall. I will have to trouble shoot on monday.

How likely is it that the amp is causing the problem right out of the box? I don't have any other amp to try in my house to make sure it isn't the amp. I would have to bring the guitar to a guitar store and try an amp to do this.

Could the absence of the Furman be causing this? I don't have a furman power conditioner anymore, but this was the unit I was using in the past http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PLPLUSC/

The first thing I will do is plug my LP into the amp and see if the hum continues. Assuming the hum is not present when I do this, that should limit the problem to the cable or guitar.

I will update on this when I have some more info and would appreciate some feedback. The hum is above and beyond the (in my opinion) standard single coil hum you hear.

if it stops when you touch the guitar strings, maybe a grounding issue with your guitar?
does the guitar do the same thing on other amps?

although a bad ground would probably be a more buzzing like sound, but worth looking into

Thanks for the input. I only have 1 amp right now, it being the VHT. I tried my tele into the amp and the same issue occurred so its not the strat. I also tried plugging the amp into different outlets, one being the same outlet I used with my epiphone valve junior when I had it which didnt hum so I know the outlet is hooked up correctly and everything.......and the VHT still hums. This leaves me with either a bad cable or amp... I will update when I have more info.

 

[guitarnie]

First of all, my guitar amp(s) are not seeing AC without quality conditioning.
Second my guitar amp(s) are not sharing a strip with any non guitar related electronics, especially a TV.
Have you tried tried unplugging everything on that circuit?(Usually more than one outlet)
Try in it another room?
Try a different cord?
Numerous variables here, especially with single coils.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

First of all, my guitar amp(s) are not seeing AC without quality conditioning.
Second my guitar amp(s) are not sharing a strip with any non guitar related electronics, especially a TV.
Have you tried tried unplugging everything on that circuit?(Usually more than one outlet)
Try in it another room?
Try a different cord?
Numerous variables here, especially with single coils.

Well hello Mister Fancy Pants.....

 

[mrkmas]

I narrowed it down to the amp. I swapped guitars and cables and the problem was still occurring. Just to be sure I unplugged everything from the wall except the amp and the hum was still there. I never had this problem in the past with single coils and a small tube amp in my room before so it seems like its the amp.

 

[steve_k]

I doubt it is the amp. The amp probably has very little filtering and are susceptible to a lot of things to cause a buzz. Like "guitarnie" said above, you cannot share a power strip with a TV and a lamp for an amp and expect much. At least use a dedicated socket or better yet some sort of power conditioner that has isolated outputs. Also, if there is track lighting, or lighting on a dimmer switch, or a ceiling fan on a rheostat in the room - all bets are off. Change rooms before you change amps! Almost anything motor driven in a residential wiring environment on the same circuit with a tube amp will cause ground loops to rear their ugly heads.

Steve

 

[mrkmas]

I tried it with everything else unplugged. I had an Epiphone valve junior in the past plugged in with no noise with the exact same setup, and with the vht there is noise.

 

[Marshall Law]

. I never had this problem in the past with single coils and a small tube amp in my room before so it seems like its the amp.

SC 60 cycle hum that is it

 

[guitarnie]

"Well hello Mister Fancy Pants....." What does that mean? A $200 (or less) conditioner is too "fancy" to protect and isolate an amp or $5000 worth of amps?
Awesome contribution to OP's issue.

First of all, my guitar amp(s) are not seeing AC without quality conditioning.
Second my guitar amp(s) are not sharing a strip with any non guitar related electronics, especially a TV.
Have you tried tried unplugging everything on that circuit?(Usually more than one outlet)
Try in it another room?
Try a different cord?
Numerous variables here, especially with single coils.

Well hello Mister Fancy Pants.....

 

[mrkmas]

I just have a hard time thinking an epi valve junior wouldnt hum and a VHT special 6 would. There is some strat hum, and then there is this sound layered on top of it. The hum is still there even with a LP w/ humbuckers.

 

[guitarnie]

Maybe try a temporary ground lift. (plug the power cord into a two prong extension cord)(or cut the ground off of a power plug) Not safe, but to rule out ground loop? Touch guitar with one hand only. Again not safe.

 

[mrkmas]

Maybe try a temporary ground lift. (plug the power cord into a two prong extension cord)(or cut the ground off of a power plug) Not safe, but to rule out ground loop? Touch guitar with one hand only. Again not safe.

def wont be trying that haha. had an old ampeg amp from 67/68 with the original 2 prong cord. I got blasted from that thing. hahah that was when I was just starting to play

 

[guitarnie]

Yea that will make you shy

 

[mrkmas]

Alright, so I got the replacement head, and it still does that hiss/hum until I touch it. It does it even on my humbucker guitar so it must be something going to the amp. Is it possible an anp can be overly sensetive to noise? I know an amp by nature is because it will amplify the noise but is it possible to have a very noise sensitive circuit?

I will try the different rooms of my house tonight, and if need be try out a power conditioner. The only place I can play is in my room so I hope a power conditioner would solve the problem.

I still find it weird that my Epiphone valve junior never did this, but I guess anything is possible.