Strat Hum =[ Help Please!

[thebagelman94]

Hey fellas,

So I'm running a 2001 Fender Mexican Strat through a 1994 Carvin 2x12 (Not sure of exact model, 100 watt all tube beast of an amp though xD) but whenever I play the damn thing (i.e. touch the strings, bridge, e.t.c.) I get this really loud annoying hum. Also if it means anything, it has a push pull tone knob which i think used to be for distortion (I know, right...?).

Help please!

Thanks,

Sal

[bluemood]

Sounds to me like some kind of ground issue...It should be the other way around when you put your hand on the stings like to mute with your fretting hand, it should have less hum but than again SC pickup hum sometimes if you just look at them LOL...Just my 2 cents.

[billkath]

Cut down the variables. First-I presume you've tried a different, short guitar cable? After you've done that--
1.Check it through a different amp-still a hum?
2.Check it through the Carvin amp and a different amp in another room.
3. check it through the Carvin amp and a different amp in a different house.

Once you've done those things you'll know if it's the guitar, the amp, your room or your house. THEN you can get help on whatever the problem is.

[Squint]

Check to see if you have a lamp or light that uses a dimmer switch on the same circuit as your amp. If you're in an apartment and the overhead lights are dimmer controlled, you should really get a Furman or some other power "cleaner". But if you can just unplug the offending lamp, try that.

I just bought my first Roland Micro Cube and I had to unplug a floor lamp that has a dimmer and it's fine now.

I am so impressed with this Micro Cube, I'm seriously thinking of getting an RS model with stereo and a footswitch input. But the switch only starts/stops the drum machine, so until Roland puts an EFX footswitch in, I may as well just hold on to the basic Micro Cube...

But WOW! What a great amp in such a small package!

[gpmedium]

Originally Posted by Squint

Check to see if you have a lamp or light that uses a dimmer switch on the same circuit as your amp. If you're in an apartment and the overhead lights are dimmer controlled, you should really get a Furman or some other power "cleaner". But if you can just unplug the offending lamp, try that.

Other sources of hum in single coil picks are flourescent lamps, including compact flourscent lamps and computer moniters. Flat screen moniters don't usually cause hum.

[amusiathread]

If all else fails and you're still left with noise, there are some gizmos you can buy to clean up the hum. But be wary.

I bought an EH Hum DeBugger to clean up my noisy P90's. It's great for removing the noise, but there is a small change in the tone, like a short reverb or a really quick subtle delay. Through the speakers, the effect is negligible, but I can tell the difference through headphones. I run a very simple rig, no effects or overdrives, so while the change in the tone is tolerable for my application, it may make a very big difference to you and your rig. Definitely worth looking into, but don't buy one if you can't return it.