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Geek Culture / buzzing noise on my guitar

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Three Score
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 01:16
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Now then I have a problem on my guitar, it makes a buzzing noise in the background, and everyone has just told me "yea all guitars do that" well I found a kindof cure for it(it has to do something with electronics) if i attach a wire with the metal touching any metal part of the guitar(including amp cable) and have the other end of the wire touching my bare foot then theirs no sound and when i rub the amp cord(like at the amp not the guitar) with the wire then you can hear it is extremely weird and well I was just wondering if anyone knows a more official way to fix it or even if someone knows why it makes that buzzing noise at all


btw
another wierd thing i found out is if i have the end of my amp cord(not plugged into anything) and put it next to my monitor it makes a buzzing noise as i move it toward it and away; electromagnetics??

I was Offset of Reality
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SirFire
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 01:23
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You amplifier is picking up EMF. The source of the EMF is everything around you, which is usually a 50hz or 60hz hum that is generated by mains current flowing through your walls and devices.

You can get rid of the noise by making sure that all the components in the guitar are properly grounded and shielded, and using a high-quality amp cord will help too. Check the wiring inside the guitar to make sure the ground lead and signal lead have not been swapped.

A very small capacitor inside the guitar connected from the signal lead to the ground lead can sometimes help too.

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Three Score
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 01:52
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I really don't know anything about the electronics of a guitar

thanks for the help though; I didn't really think the current would be strong enough to make emf that goes for like 20 feet, though the fact my room has the circuit breaker may be why its worse here than other places

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 03:44
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sirfire is quite correct. my bass does the same thing but its easier to get rid of on a bass by using the high and mid eq dials. Youll notice the hiss/buzz is louder when the gain is up and all the eqs are up as well. I need to replace my bass electronics anyway

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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 04:26
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on mine without distortion I can't hear it at all and yea high and mid are its ranges

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 05:06
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well like sirf said if you make sure the electronics are shielded and grounded, and the wall outlet is properly grounded you can get rid of most of it. Its also a by-product of amping vs. running direct. Maybe some sort of noise gate and/or a power conditioner would help. Also if your powered on a circuit that also has an appliance on it, like a fridge or an AC that wont help you at all

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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 05:20 Edited at: 6th Jun 2006 05:22
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does pc, external harddrive, tv, monitor, printer, and speakers count as a fridge(all into that actual plugin) lol

if I had it grounded then it would be enough anti-buzz for me I just wish i had something I could attach the wire to rather than my foot or other body part(its a short wire too)

edit:
how the crap do people play at concerts without major buzz, I know all that amp power would have to do something

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Uncle Sam
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 05:37
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It probably means on of three things:

1. You need new strings
2. The pegs aren't in tightly
3. What they said is the problem

Good luck.

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Saikoro
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 05:40
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It's not one or two, Sam read the thread haha. I never knew strings could cause constant speaker hum, lol.

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Three Score
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 05:51
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actually my strings are quite new(ernie ball super slinky's rock) and I'm sure my pegs are tight and 3 uhh yea i think its probably that one considering you have no idea hwat your talking about

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Phaelax
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 09:56
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Quote: " if i attach a wire with the metal touching any metal part of the guitar"

you mean ground it?

Quote: "ernie ball super slinky's rock"

I use slinkys as well. Ever tried Elixer's? I didn't care for them at all, but my friend really like them.

The quality of the pickups can make a difference too. My first guitar was a cheap Bentley and I swapped out the pickups with EMG Selects. There's some hum in it, but hardly any hum at all from my Carvin humbuckers; using same cable and amp.

I don't know if a tube amp versus a solid-state would make any difference, I'll check tomorrow. (I dont think the neighbors would be happy if I tested it at 3am)

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Tinkergirl
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 16:01
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I also use Slinky's The pink ones.

Anyway - despite being new to the guitar world, I've been around a guitarist of a technical disposition.

As is mentioned above, it sounds like you're picking up guff. When they say shielding and grounding, they mean open up the guitar (taking the scratchplate off, usually).

Inside there is a cavity with your pickup/s and a hole that leads down to your switches and eventually your socket. Now, some people use special copper foil to line that cavity (to shield it) but I've heard that aluminium foil works almost as well. Also, there should be a ground wire on your socket that connects to all your switches and your pickups - if there isn't then you're not grounded. Depending on how bad it is, all large pieces of metal on your guitar body should really be grounded (attached to the ground wire on the socket).

There are no doubt webpages with pictures on how to shield your guitar (the easier job) and how to ground it (the one that requires soldering or skillful electrical tape use).
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Posted: 6th Jun 2006 16:41
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if its not that expensive then why don't they make guitars with shielding and grounds?

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Uncle Sam
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 01:50
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Oops, sorry. Should of read it thoroughly.

My suggestions would work probably if the problem was the strings buzzing.

Quote: "its probably that one considering you have no idea hwat your talking about"


My my, hobbits are such hasty folk!

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Saikoro
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 02:18
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I cant stand slinkys... they have nowhere near the lastingness as D'addario strings. I've had Slinkys break repeatedly, but I've never had a D'addario string break on me once. D'addarios also seem to stay clean longer for me, and have a smoother feel, but thats probably just a preference than an actuality.

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tatts
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 03:14
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I use D'addario as well, usually 9 gauge and have been for over ten years, The sound clarity of the strings last a long while, but unfortunely for myself I often have had lots of high E strings snap on me. but still, strings are cheap enough too keep extra's around.

and yes sirfire is quite right about the grounding. and also if your into fx you could probably use a noise gate filter to further cut out any background noise.

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 03:30
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D'addario all the way for me too
9's on the electric guitar
exl170's nickle wound, soft guage, long scale on the electric Bass

fookers last forever and stay bright and clean

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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 03:34
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Quote: "My suggestions would work probably if the problem was the strings buzzing."

not quite I'm a drop-d kinda guy so I always got buzz


I've had my slinky 9 gauge's for about 5 months and they still sound well to me and haven't had a string break on me, and I accidentally knocked the small E off the bridge(next to the headstock) and how it didn't break is beyond me

Quote: "have had lots of high E strings snap on me"

do you mean the high pitched E string or the E string on the top of the neck(low pitched)

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Phaelax
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 06:37
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Quote: "D'addario all the way for me too"

thats my choice for acoustic.

Quote: "do you mean the high pitched E string or the E string on the top of the neck(low pitched)"

he said high E, as in the 1st string.

Quote: "There are no doubt webpages with pictures on how to shield your guitar "

For all my guitar project needs, I go to:
http://projectguitar.com/

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Mattman
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 07:14
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Would you reconmend for someone who hasn't taken any electronics courses (or anything past a 6th grade shop class) to change their own pickups or have the local shop do it.

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Saikoro
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 07:34
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Its about as easy as replacing a part on a computer, just know how to use a soldering iron if you need to. And make sure you get the right pickups for the right positions a mate of mine blew $70 on a pickup he couldnt fit in his guitar because it was a humbucker and he had a strat his loss my gain in that case. But dont make the same mistake unless you're planning on sending it my way

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 19:41
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I use a computer keyboard!

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French gui
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 20:50
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One day I've heard (at a very low volume) a radio station from my amp. How is it possible?

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SirFire
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 21:23 Edited at: 7th Jun 2006 21:29
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Short version: magic

Long version: somehow your amp managed to electrically resonate at a matching or harmonic frequency similar to the frequency the station transmits on. The result is the modulation (sound from station) gets picked up and amplified by your amp.

There's no telling the specific factors that caused it to happen, semi trucks parked at different points nearby reflecting the waves just right to converge on your amp, your neighbor watering his lawn while at the same time a flock of ducks flew overhead, your guitar cord was coiled just right, you opened the refrigerator door while the microwave was running and the washing machine was on spin cycle.

I've had this happen quite a few times, just moving the wires around usually makes it go away. Over here in the US, CB radios used by truckers that are waaaay over the legal power limit are the usual culprits of radio signals coming over amplifiers and scrambling televisions.

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Mnemonix
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 22:07
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About picking up radio stations, I have had a similar thing happen when wiring up my headphones to my pc through my crappy desktop speakers and putting all the volume controls on max. I picked up rock FM or something

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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 22:21
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you do know pickups are just tiny microphones(very sensitive but very short range)

like try putting your speaker playing some music right upto the strings and everyhing....yes now go buy me some cookies...yes thats it put them in my mouth...no not you mr sprinkles!

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 7th Jun 2006 23:50
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Quote: "you do know pickups are just tiny microphones(very sensitive but very short range)"


true, this is how the starting vocals of the song "Dead And Bloated" on the Stone Temple Pilots album Core where recorded. Scott knelt next to a guitar that was cranked up and yelled into the pickups "I am - smellin like a rose - that somebody gave me - on my birthday deathbed.... I a'am - ..."

I saw that on a documentary of them. Right before that Dean said to Scott "Ready, Filini?" (sp) LOL

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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 00:01
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thats amazing!, so was it like on distortion or something too I always wondered what that would sound like

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 00:14 Edited at: 8th Jun 2006 00:15
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not sure if the distortion was an effect that was engaged on the guitar circuit during the recording, or if its just tinny and distorted due to the fact he's screaming into a pickup

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jrowe
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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 01:45 Edited at: 8th Jun 2006 01:48
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Quote: ""you do know pickups are just tiny microphones(very sensitive but very short range)""


Not true actually. Pick ups without strings will not detect sound, as they work by detecting variations in the field of a magnet. Thes variations are caused by the string virbrations. They work on the same sort of principal but they're not the same thing, as the strings replace the diaphram.

If you removed the strings/replaced them with plastic strings, you'd get no sound as there's nothing with signific magnetic permeability to cause flux linkage.

The reason you'll get sound is your voice will cause the stings to vibrate and THIS will be detected by the pickups.

Acoustic guitar pickups are microphones though.

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 02:14
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actually that is a more accurate description of how a pickup acts as a mic - forgot about that.



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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 02:15
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wow i guess that makes since i guess but i didn't think strings would vibrate at the exact freq. and such. but it makes since that touching them with something non-iron(not all metals are magnetic) doesn't make that noise ytou get when you touch a mic

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Phaelax
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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 07:30
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Quote: "blew $70 on a pickup he couldnt fit in his guitar because it was a humbucker and he had a strat "

lol, how could someone mix that up?

Quote: "One day I've heard (at a very low volume) a radio station from my amp"

mine used to pick up traffic control. (i lived near an airport)

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Saikoro
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Posted: 8th Jun 2006 07:37
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Quote: "lol, how could someone mix that up?"

Someone showed him a humbucker that would be crunchy and distorted and I guess he'd rather have fuzz than tone so being the :tard he is he went and picked it up without thinking from a pawn shop (stupid, stupid man) and was left with it. He gave it to me, so I sold it off and made some nice pocket change =)

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