Got some unwanted buzzin'

[jrmy]

It's not a big deal, but I noticed it more than usual last time I plugged in (new amp, more sensitive to the the trebs, I dunno)... and for the first time considered getting some kind of noise gate for the end o' my chain. Or a proper isolated multi-out power source. Or both.

What are peeps opinions on these options? Anyone using one or both? Worth it? Do most noise gates cut down on wanted noise (ie higher fuzz frequencies) even on lower settings? Thoughts?

[fuzzmax]

It's not a big deal, but I noticed it more than usual last time I plugged in (new amp, more sensitive to the the trebs, I dunno)... and for the first time considered getting some kind of noise gate for the end o' my chain. Or a proper isolated multi-out power source. Or both.

What are peeps opinions on these options? Anyone using one or both? Worth it? Do most noise gates cut down on wanted noise (ie higher fuzz frequencies) even on lower settings? Thoughts?

I got the boss noise suppressor and i never tried anything else so i don't know about the other ones on the market but i would say that the unwanting noise or humming isn't quite stopped with the noise supp. The device is more operational for the unwanted guitar sound (when it wants to start to feedback) or when you strum the strings very low. I heard that some people put the noise suppresor at the beginning of their chain. Any thoughts??

[jrmy]

Hmmm... interesting. I wonder if a power conditioner would help, too. I always assumed they were a load of hooey, but maybe I'm wrong there.

[sylnau]

It could be a ground loop, test your electrical outlet.
If you have a carpet, it could be static.

[jrmy]

Yeah, we tested the outlets. There was definitely a bad one, though maybe this one's bad too. No carpet in the band room - it's all laminated flooring over cement.

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

first and most important question - was the buzz/hum with pedals on or off?

sounds annoying, but try this:
switch all of your pedals to bypass.
unplug power from all of your true bypass pedals. still humming? try isolating the offending pedal, if any.
reconnect your pedals' power - in lieu of an isolated supply, place all digital pedals on one supply, all analog on another. still humming?
new amp? is the hum/buzz there if you roll off the volume on your bass?

so many questions!

[jrmy]

first and most important question - was the buzz/hum with pedals on or off?

sounds annoying, but try this:
switch all of your pedals to bypass.
unplug power from all of your true bypass pedals. still humming? try isolating the offending pedal, if any.
reconnect your pedals' power - in lieu of an isolated supply, place all digital pedals on one supply, all analog on another. still humming?
new amp? is the hum/buzz there if you roll off the volume on your bass?

so many questions!

I know, I know! Crazytown!

I have indeed searched for single offending pedals, and didn't find anyone who was worse than anyone else. It seems to be two things: my bass is a bit buzzy as it is, and then the buzz increases when I add my board. So it's twofold, not just the pedals. That's a good idea about putting all of the digital pedals on one supply (although I have only one digi pedal right now, my POG2). I will have to check and see how much buzz goes away when I roll back my bass volume.

It's been quite a while since I had my bass looked over professionally. Maybe I should take it in for a little lovin'... see if the techy guys I know can reduce the buzz that's native to the bass...

[hatshirt]

yeah man i've been dealing witht the same thing. the wiring in my house is shittily grounded so i've been thinkin about one of these.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tripplite-Isoba ... vi-content

[sylnau]

yeah man i've been dealing witht the same thing. the wiring in my house is shittily grounded so i've been thinkin about one of these.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tripplite-Isoba ... vi-content

I'm using a Furman SS-6B.

[Derelict78]

Are you talking about string buzz? might just need a setup.

[jrmy]

Are you talking about string buzz? might just need a setup.

Nope, not string buzz. Just straight up electrical-type buzz. Though, like I mentioned above, a setup is certainly not out of the question. It's certainly due.

[hatshirt]

shit yeah, i'm likin the specs and the price of the Furman. thanks!

yeah man i've been dealing witht the same thing. the wiring in my house is shittily grounded so i've been thinkin about one of these.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tripplite-Isoba ... vi-content

I'm using a Furman SS-6B.

[Schlatte]

do you use a longer/different cable with your new amp? I ask because a friend of mine recently upgraded from a little combo amp to a crazy 500 Watt stack and needed a longer cable for it... that's where the hum kicked in.

[jrmy]

do you use a longer/different cable with your new amp? I ask because a friend of mine recently upgraded from a little combo amp to a crazy 500 Watt stack and needed a longer cable for it... that's where the hum kicked in.

You know, it's an interesting thing - I don't use a longer instrument cable, but the speaker cable that came with it is like 20 feet long, no joke. I would switch it out for another, but this head has Speakon outs (or whatever they call 'em - those big connectors with the blue collars), so I have to use a Speakon/quarter incher, and this is all that the store had. I may have to chop that sucker down. That would probably help with part of it. But still - there's definitely a pedalboard issue in this particular buzz-hunt.

SO MANY BUZZ SOURCES... that's it, man. I finally do give up. I'm gonna do it. Gonna learn the tuba.






Not really gonna learn the tuba.

[Narwhal-Industries]

I know one-spots can be pretty noisy, especially when they are powering multiple pedals. If you have a isolated supply for your pedals and a power conditioner with line filtering. You should have no problems with noise even with single coil pickups.