Noise Gate Pedals?

**jazzbow** · 10-19-2013, 05:41 PM

I'm really loving my new jazzed up Squier Tele with a Vintage Vibe CC rider thru my Ampeg GVT 15.

But the 60hrtz hum has me contorted and flipping just to find a buzz free seating position.

So I'm looking for a noise suppressor for the FX loop, trouble is I see these pedals ranging from little coin to big bucks.

So anyone with experience of these types of pedals?

**feet** · 10-20-2013, 05:04 AM

i remember the ISP Decimator being quite popular with the metal crowd back in the day. they have new models now that i know nothing about. but its a starting point for you.

Noise Gate Pedals?-isp-decimator-jpg

**Pukka-J** · 10-20-2013, 05:53 AM

When I got my Fender Baja tele a few years ago I too was put off by the 60 cycle hum and bought a Boss NS-2 noise suppressor. It made hardly any difference at all, but it did manage to suck all the life and dynamics out of my tone! I flipped it within a few days of acquisition.

What did help though was shielding the inside of the guitar. Plenty of how-to's on the web, really not hard to do. It behaves quite nicely now.

Noise Gate Pedals?-boss-ns-2-jpg

**Vladan** · 10-20-2013, 06:43 AM

So, iz it a buzz, or a hum? For buzz you can shield the guitar, but for hum, you' d have to check grounding. As a first try, plug all the gear into one same grounded socket, via qualty extension chord with ground wire.

**jazzbow** · 10-20-2013, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Pukka-J

What did help though was shielding the inside of the guitar. Plenty of how-to's on the web, really not hard to do.
It behaves quite nicely now.

Yep, you could say its shielded....

Noise Gate Pedals?-img_0331-640x478-jpg

I have even tried a dummy coil.

**jazzbow** · 10-20-2013, 08:05 AM

The original pickups are really quiet

but..

Noise Gate Pedals?-img_0342-640x478-jpg

The Vintage Vibe CC rider is a buzz bomb!
I've sent Mr Biltoft an email for advice but as of today still no reply.

**jazzbow** · 10-20-2013, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Pukka-J

When I got my Fender Baja tele a few years ago I too was put off by the 60 cycle hum and bought a Boss ns-2 noise suppressor. It made hardly any difference at all, but it did manage to suck all the life and dynamics out of my tone! I flipped it within a few days of acquisition.

Yep, I'm looking at the Boss NS 2.

What do you mean by sucking out the dynamics? Is that on the attack of the note, on the decay or just generally all over?

**jazzbow** · 10-20-2013, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Vladan

So, iz it a buzz, or a hum? For buzz you can shield the guitar, but for hum, you' d have to check grounding. As a first try, plug all the gear into one same grounded socket, via qualty extension chord with ground wire.

It is a loud hum from the CC Rider which disappears when both pickups are on.

The quality of tone from the CC Rider is outstanding and was originally in another guitar without any issues.

I have tried a number of things to no avail, the suppressor is the next route.

**jazzbow** · 10-20-2013, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by feet

i remember the isp decimator being quite popular with the metal crowd back in the day. they have new models now that i know nothing about. but its a starting point for you.

Yeah, seen this one but it is on the expensive side of the meter. Any experience of it??

**Vladan** · 10-20-2013, 09:40 AM

Try another guitar cable.
Do you have neon lights, or dimmers, or some strong external power supply in the room? Try switching everything off, completely everything, except the amp.

**Pukka-J** · 10-20-2013, 09:44 AM

Yours looks shielded all right

The main problem with the NS 2 was mainly with the decay as I remember. In the end it´s all trade offs though...

**Vladan** · 10-20-2013, 09:46 AM

to add, not only switch off, but unplug and disconnect.

**Franz 1997** · 10-21-2013, 08:42 AM

I had a phase of using CC pickups, & still love them tho' love the HB sound slightly more. I tried a noise gate pedal, but it was unusable in practice, as the pickup attack/ dynamics went along with the hum. It may well have been the Boss pedal. CC's are basically just big noise aerials as well as pickups, esp with 38 gauge wire.

I also tried dummy hum cancelling coils - and they work, but again affect the tone significantly.

I don't believe shielding makes much difference to the 50Hz hum from an amp or other sources, though it will cut out buzz somewhat.

I just found you had to put up with it, if you really like the sound. On gigs, not really an issue.

One thing that might be helpful though, or at least interesting; if you use a class D amp, the hum gets reduced to almost nothing. I'm just saying that in case you happen to have one knocking around.....

**Frank67** · 10-21-2013, 09:01 AM

I had a Boss NS-2 and hated it. I replaced it with a MXR Smart Gate M-135 - much better. Ultimately any noise gate will suck some tone. and it really depends on the source of the noise whether the gate will do anything useful or not. It also makes a difference whether you put it in front or in the effects loop of your amp etc.

**xuoham** · 10-21-2013, 09:57 AM

So far what worked best for me is when i plug directly into my PC and then use EQ plug ins:

By selecting and cutting (like -20dB) the 50 (or 60 depending on where you are) Hz frequency and all its multiples, along with the narrowest possible bandwidth i have a pretty efficient hum destroyer and if the bandwith is very narrow, ( like 50 Hz is effected but not 45Hz nor 55Hz ) i barely hear any difference in tone.

I wish there was a hum dedicated multi frequency equalizer pedal with just a 50/60 switch.
Unless it already exists it would sell a lot. It's not doable with a regular parametric EQ because there are many frequencies to cancel : 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 etc... and it needs to have the narrowest possible bandwidth.
The positive point is that ground hum is very specific and stable frequency wise, it is 50 Hz and not 51 Hz.

I tried once the inexpensive Behringer HD400 hum destroyer and it really did not work, though i'm sure it does a good job for cases like ground loop hum.

**jazzbow** · 10-21-2013, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Franz 1997

I had a phase of using CC pickups, & still love them tho' love the HB sound slightly more. I tried a noise gate pedal, but it was unusable in practice, as the pickup attack/ dynamics went along with the hum. It may well have been the Boss pedal. CC's are basically just big noise aerials as well as pickups, esp with 38 gauge wire.

I also tried dummy hum cancelling coils - and they work, but again affect the tone significantly.

I don't believe shielding makes much difference to the 50Hz hum from an amp or other sources, though it will cut out buzz somewhat.

I just found you had to put up with it, if you really like the sound.

You know, I kinda came to that conclusion earlier today. Thanks for the input.

If I sit to the left of the amp at a 45 degree angle with a 15' cable it's manageable for practice. I don't gig at the moment so no bother there anyways.

You say you used noise gate pedal which sucked dynamics, was that with roundwound strings or flats?
This Tele is going all flats tomorrow so any advice would do.

**jazzbow** · 10-21-2013, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by xuoham

So far what worked best for me is when i plug directly into my PC and then use EQ plug ins:

By selecting and cutting (like -20dB) the 50 (or 60 depending on where you are) Hz frequency and all its multiples, along with the narrowest possible bandwidth i have a pretty efficient hum destroyer and if the bandwith is very narrow, ( like 50 Hz is effected but not 45Hz nor 55Hz ) i barely hear any difference in tone.

I wish there was a hum dedicated multi frequency equalizer pedal with just a 50/60 switch.
Unless it already exists it would sell a lot. It's not doable with a regular parametric EQ because there are many frequencies to cancel : 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 etc... and it needs to have the narrowest possible bandwidth.
The positive point is that ground hum is very specific and stable frequency wise, it is 50 Hz and not 51 Hz.

I tried once the inexpensive Behringer HD400 hum destroyer and it really did not work, though i'm sure it does a good job for cases like ground loop hum.

Thanks for that info, I don't use PC's though.

I did read on the Tele forum of a guy who uses a pre~amp + dummy coil but that seems to much for my brain box at the moment.

**jazzbow** · 10-21-2013, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by FrankLearns

I had a Boss NS-2 and hated it. I replaced it with a MXR Smart Gate M-135 - much better. Ultimately any noise gate will suck some tone. and it really depends on the source of the noise whether the gate will do anything useful or not. It also makes a difference whether you put it in front or in the effects loop of your amp etc.

Ok, suppressor through FX loop on a valve amp with flatwound strings, will this work?

**jazzbow** · 10-21-2013, 05:21 PM

Here's a quick look at the wiring I did....

Noise Gate Pedals?-img_0332-640x478-jpg

It's a Bill Lawrence 5 way switch mod.

Before I switch to flats I'm going to try a .022 cap in series on the ground from the input.

Fingers crossed.....

**Bill Eisele** · 06-11-2020, 03:35 PM

I’m wondering if anyone on the forum has experience using a noise gate pedal with single coil pickups. I installed a KA six pole single coil floating pickup on one of my archtop guitars and really like the tone. I was expecting the single coil noise to be present but thought it would be nice to eliminate it to the extent possible. So, I ordered an EHX Silencer noise gate pedal and set it up to gate the noise from the pickup as well as from some boost and character pedals, including the Nocturne Brain Jr. Barnyard. What I’m finding out is that it tends to shut the signal down too soon especially when playing chord melody ballads where you might linger on a chord or note. And this even happens when the release knob on the pedal is set for the longest time before the gate shuts down the signal.

Attachment 73947

I’m assuming this is just the nature of these pedals and one from another maker will basically have the same limitation. If anyone has experience with these types of pedals I would appreciate hearing from them. And, I found out that EHX also makes something called the Hum Debugger for eliminating single coil noise. I would also appreciate hearing from anyone who has used this pedal. Thanks!

Attachment 73946

**Mecena** · 06-11-2020, 03:48 PM

I'm more on noiseless single coil side guy, so I never use real single coil ....

But from what I have heard over the years, ISP Decimator should be best noise gate pedal ....

But that stuff is expencive so .....

And for sure noise gates are tone changers so .....

**pcjazz** · 06-11-2020, 03:51 PM

The hum debugger is what you want. I regularly use it with single coil pickups and the JB pedal. In the normal switch position it cuts the hum without affecting the sound in any other way. The extended switch position does mess with the sound a bit, but I have not encountered a need for it so far — I always use a filtered power bar on gigs so that may also help.

**Bill Eisele** · 06-11-2020, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Mecena

I'm more on noiseless single coil side guy, so I never use real single coil ....

But from what I have heard over the years, ISP Decimator should be best noise gate pedal ....

But that stuff is expencive so .....

And for sure noise gates are tone changers so .....

I just looked up the ISP Decimator and it does have good reviews, but is probably the most expensive pedal in its category. And, because it basically uses the same gate circuit technology as the Silencer, I will have the same problem. I’m wondering if these gate circuits are best for more rapid playing styles where tone quality isn’t as important (e.g., speed metal

). Thanks for your input!

**Bill Eisele** · 06-11-2020, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by pcjazz

The hum debugger is what you want. I regularly use it with single coil pickups and the JB pedal. In the normal switch position it cuts the hum without affecting the sound in any other way. The extended switch position does mess with the sound a bit, but I have not encountered a need for it so far — I always use a filtered power bar on gigs so that may also help.

Yes, I am now looking into the hum debugger pedal. I’m glad to hear that you’re having good success with it for the single coil pickups and the JB. Exactly my situation. And I do use a filtered power bar. Sweetwater has the hum debugger on back order but they are looking into when they will have them back in stock. Thanks!

**Bill Eisele** · 06-11-2020, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by pcjazz

The hum debugger is what you want. I regularly use it with single coil pickups and the JB pedal. In the normal switch position it cuts the hum without affecting the sound in any other way. The extended switch position does mess with the sound a bit, but I have not encountered a need for it so far — I always use a filtered power bar on gigs so that may also help.

So, I’m going to return the Silencer and order the Hum Debugger. Where do you have the Hum Debugger located in your pedalboard chain? I was thinking of locating it after the JB but before any delay or reverb pedals. Does that make sense?