AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

S

spudler

New member
I recently installed a 7 string set of the AHB-1 Blackouts in my Customized 2006 RG 7321 and I am getting alot of hum from my TV which is a problem as I use my tv sometimes to follow along with DVD's. Is there possibly something I did incorrect in installing them? I thought these were supposed to be superior in reducing hum from TV's, Florscent Lights etc.?
Any suggestions on what I should do to resolve this issue would be awesome.
I do have a SH-8 Invader in my 6 string and I get no hum at all when using that guitar with my TV on.
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

No input to provide, but I just posted a thread about buying a 7-string loaded with Blackouts. So aside from the hum issue, how do you like the actual tone of the Blackouts? Are they more like active EMGs, or more like Duncan's legacy passive pickups? Thanks.
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

Sorry I havbe not actually used the Emg's but I do know I love the tone and I found with just a little minor adjustment of my presets in my Digitech GNX4 (Using MFXSupermodels CD # 3 Rock and Metal) I love the way the guitar reacts and the tone it is like a totally complete different guitar, To me it actually sounds like i have a much broader range of frequencys from the low B to the High E coming through then I did with teh Passive PU's It came with, I was not at all happy with the Kinda muddy low B sound I had but now I love it. I am still suprised when I pick it up to play how much better it sounds and one thing kinda weird is it seems to me I actually can play better or at least I sound alot better when playing Trivium's songs as I have been learning some of their stuff with my 6 string using SH-8 Invader and with the 7 using Blackouts and I like the blackouts alot better then I do the Invader now.
I know I would in a sec purchase these again, I may even buy some for my 6 string if I can figure out what I can use in the S position that will work properly.
I am very Happy and Impressed with the sound and the little adjustment I had to do was so minor and its easily saveable in the setup I have so I know have presets for my 6 string and for my 7 string.
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

Did you disconnect the ground wire that runs to your bridge? That could be the problem. Actives don't need that ground, only passive pickups.
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

Oh no I did not I thought it was supposed to be there, Thanks you so much I will do that ASAP and see if that helps, Whats so weird is some days it is really low almost not noticable and some days it is bang right in your face, I wonder if my Sony 32" is about to go RIP, I think I should get a 26 or so LCD or LED so I can get HD and I can also run my Laptoop off of it which would really help when using Guitar Pro 6 and Toontrack S2.0 with Metal Foundry and Sonar X1.
Again thanks so much for the info about the Bridge Ground, I have no Idea why I did not notice that in the Wiring Diagrams.
Just out of curiosity why is it that actives need no ground but the passives do?
I wonder also if since I do not have that Ground to Bridge is that adds extra protection against some of the reports I have read about bad Club wiring adn guitarists being shocked silly and sometimes electrocuted?, Not that I would just plug in to a power setup without first using my plug tester to ensure all is good with it as I worked in a bar/club where I found some very freaky wiring and made sure it was fixed before my equipment got damaged or worse yet somone injured.
It was so funky if you shut a door next to the main office and breaker box to hard it would cause the power to go off and on in spots and you could hit the wall and it would come back on like the juke box on happy days.
 
Last edited:
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

Actually, I'm not sure this would be the solution to your problem. I just looked at the Blackouts wiring diagrams here on this site, and they show a ground wire running to the bridge. EMGs don't need this, so I was going of this. Sorry if its not a solution.
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

LOL Ya I was going to say I tried disconnecting it and it didn't change at all. What is weird is one diagram I looked at showed no Bridge ground wire and the other did show a ground wire. I imagine since it did not improve nor did it seem to cause any additional issues. I can either reconnect it or I can leave it disconnected unless somone knows having it disconnected could cause damage to either the PU's or Myself somehow.
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

You know whats even more annoying, The dogone TV is the only item that causes any Issues. I can have my CFL (Florescent energy effecient light) Bulbs on in my overhead Light which uses 2 and my Reading/Plant Light which uses 1 on, All my other electrical Items Like CS Power Amps, Oreck air cleaner thingy, DVD, etc. and not a peep out of the Pickups until I turn on TV. I have found a way to work around it so I can practice and follow along with my DVD's and my Rockhouse MOD Videos.
I think that will work out ok as I wouldn't need my TV on if I were recording and that is the only time it would be an issues I could not work around.
I was more concerned I had something wrong with either the PU's or the remaining electronics. I do plan on doing a complete sheilding job like I did on one of my previous guitars, I would of done that to begin with had I known this could be an issue.
I have some extra heavy duty aluminum tape (I believe it is about as thick as 4 layers or Reynolds wrap) and I found it does an extremely fantastic job of shielding my guitar and it is very conductive when placed on top of each other.
I will see if I can get the Brand Name and Part #'s in case anyone else needs some of this tape too.
 
Last edited:
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

OK check this out, Blew my mind. I have been getting this crazy hum from my TV only after I installed the AHB-1s 7 String set, I got no hum from the Passive PU's nor from my 6 string with a SH-8 Invader PU.
I found 2 cables in a house where the people moved and left alot of stuff behind so I wanted to test them and one is a Fender California cable that looks like it has a braided shield under the clearish plastic/rubber insulation and when I plugged that one in and tested it all of a sudden my guitar is quiet, dead nuts silent. I can do some PM stuff then stop and not a squeek, hum, Zip quiet as if the system was turned off.
I cannot figure out how a cable could be fine with passive PU's and with the AHB-1s it becomes a noise reciever and amp. SO my PU's are perfect and BTW they are freaking awesome how silent they are when I do a PM Stop and play riff I have never heardanything so awesome before.
I now have to figure out why or how the cord could do this and only when using teh active PU's
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

Ok so I have yet to figure out why my TV seems to still casue so much Hum in the Pickups but not in my SH-8 Invader Pickups.
I even tried adding some Aluminum Tape to my control Cavity Cover ( I used the aluminum tape on all PU Cavities, Trem Cavity, and the control cavity on my 6 String with the SH-8 Invader) Should I try and put some aluminum tape around each of the AHB-1 Blackouts? I only have a HH setup so I have a Bridge and Neck PU thats all, I just wasn't sure with active PU's if adding this tape to the actual PU would cause some undesireable results?
 
Re: AHB-1 Blackouts Hum Issues

It sounds like you have a bad ground.
If you did your swap yourself, you may want to consult a professional and just get your wires checked.

Otherwise, if the wiring is not the issue, you may want to look at your amp and effects pedals. Not for malfunctions specifically but how they're powered.

Perhaps look into a better surge protector for the amp.
If you have pedals running off an adapter, get a Morley regulated adapter which eliminates ground hum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top