Volume pot hum question

[JazzNote]

On several of my guitars i get additional hum if the volume is set between positions 5 - 8 on the guitar's volume knob. This hum vanishes gradually when raised towards loudest position, disappearing altogether when set to loudest. The same happens when i run the signal through a preamp, but then the hum is even louder. Is there any remedy for that, apart from leaving it fully open? (I like to set the volume to 7 or 8, so as to have some reserve in case i need to raise it during the course of a tune)

[denitronik]

No that is not normal. I suspect you have a grounding problem either inside the guitar or maybe a bad cable.
What happens when you set the volume to 1 or 2 does the hum disappear ?

[John A.]

That’s pretty weird. I’d suspect a bad pot if it were only one guitar, but with it happening on several that’s a bit more mysterious. What guitars does I happen with, and what guitars does it NOT happen with? Maybe start from there and try to suss out the differences that might explain this?

[JazzNote]

No that is not normal. I suspect you have a grounding problem either inside the guitar or maybe a bad cable.
What happens when you set the volume to 1 or 2 does the hum disappear ?

Below 5 it also gradually disappears, but i guess because of the decrease in volume it's just not audible anymore.

[JazzNote]

That’s pretty weird. I’d suspect a bad pot if it were only one guitar, but with it happening on several that’s a bit more mysterious. What guitars does I happen with, and what guitars does it NOT happen with? Maybe start from there and try to suss out the differences that might explain this?

So far i think i got this on all my guitars, some more, some less, but there are quite a few to check ;-)

[sgosnell]

Is it the same in different rooms? Electromagnetic interference is a possibility, from all sorts of things - routers, computers, LED/fluorescent lights, TVs, what have you.

[John A.]

So far i think i got this on all my guitars, some more, some less, but there are quite a few to check ;-)

Sounds like there must be something funky going on with whatever else is in your signal chain (cables, amps, effects, etc.), or grounding or EMI in the room, not something with your guitars. It's almost impossible for someone else to troubleshoot that via forum messages, though. I think you're going to have basically disconnect everything, and re-connect one by one, switching combinations of components, and trying all this stuff out in other rooms to see if you can find the culprit. Or move. that might take less time and cause less frustration

[vinnyv1k]

I get the same thing when my refrigerator is running in my house.
Also when it’s raining and the power lines are wet.
Good old Mr.60hz Hum.

[JazzNote]

I get the same thing when my refrigerator is running in my house.
Also when it’s raining and the power lines are wet.
Good old Mr.60hz Hum.

50hz here then .... will check if this is the case. I thought something like this could be the it
.....

[JazzNote]

Sounds like there must be something funky going on with whatever else is in your signal chain (cables, amps, effects, etc.), or grounding or EMI in the room, not something with your guitars. It's almost impossible for someone else to troubleshoot that via forum messages, though. I think you're going to have basically disconnect everything, and re-connect one by one, switching combinations of components, and trying all this stuff out in other rooms to see if you can find the culprit. Or move. that might take less time and cause less frustration

John, as it's not a loud hum and i believe someone else might just "overhear" it, but once sensitized to it i can't overhear it anymore. I "cleaned" the electricity of the room by installing a filter some years ago. Will try a few more things like changing cable (for recording i connect direct into the amp) but most probably vinnie is right and it's just generated 50/60hz.

[Spook410]

You can sometimes get rid of hum with a ground lift.