Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

[MikeRocker]

I picked one of these up at the NAMM show, and finally plugged it in. The pedal is super simple - on/off button and Strong/Normal switch. I tested it with my homemade Tele with Antiquity 1s (those are true single coils, in case anyone doesn't know) into a Fender Hot Rod Deville - WOW! It does what it claims, it kills the hum. I tried it on all three channels, clean, overdrive, and more drive, and I held the guitar right in front of the amp to get a lot of hum, then hit the On button - the hum was gone. I was even able to keep it on Normal, I didn't have to switch it to Strong. On the More Drive channel, it seemed to take a couple of seconds to almost analyze the hum...it kind of reduced it in steps 'til it was gone. This happened very quickly, and when I switched away from the channel and back it didn't do it again. I didn't get a chance to crank it up super loud, but at a modest volume it worked perfectly...nothing leads me to believe that it would work any less well at louder volume. One of the EH guys said that when engaged the pedal modifies the tone just a little, not in a bad way, it just cuts a couple of frequencies a little bit, but I couldn't really hear any significant difference when it was engaged. The only downside that I can see is that it uses an included 7.5V adaptor, and the manual warns not to plug it in with any other adaptor. It kind of sucks that I can't plug it into my Pedal Power 2.

I'll plug it in again at a louder volume and play it for longer, but at this point it gets two big thumbs up from me. :bigok: This could really be something magic for us single coil lovers - I'm really impressed with this sucker!

 

[stonabus]

Re: Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

thats pretty sweet.
i think most of the "only use our adapter" crap is .... crap. i have been using different adapters on my eh pedals and my boss pedals for years. they work fine. (im actually going into my skb pedal board pwer strip)

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

My only concern about that is that because it uses 7.5V, the typical 9V may fry it or otherwise hurt it. It would be great if it could use another power source, but I don't want to be the first to try it!

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

Yep, you're right about that Joe, it is 7.5V AC. That makes sense about how it works too. I'll crank it up in the next couple of days, hopefully tomorrow.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

Hope it works out for you Mike, I ordered mine when it first came out and found out they were all being recalled due to overwhelming negative feedback.

Listen and make judgements for yourself (these are at decently loud volumes):
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=220363&songID=4747422

The pedal clearly makes the signal very digital sounding and there are disharmonics on higher notes. It's something I never noticed right away (because I tried it at lower volumes), but at higher volumes it became very noticeable. While engaged, the pedal does kill a lot of noise, but there is also a "crackling" sound that jumps out at you at higher volumes (it's present at lower volumes, just more difficult to discern).

I hope EH has learned their lesson to not try to pawn off a poor product on folks before it's ironed out. I just hope they've fixed them for your sake Mike, I don't want to see a forum bro lose money on a flawed product.

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

Well I cranked it up a little today, I'm going to have to wait 'til next time I'm in a rehearsal space to really let it rip for a long time, but I didn't hear any weird disharmonics or artifacts. On the highest gain setting, there is a little crackling going on when the guitar is not being played, but it's much, much less objectionable to me than the screaming hum of single coils through heavy distortion. My impression is still that it works really well. Like I say, I'll have to turn it up and play longer to get a full assessment (without irritating the neighbors).

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Electro-Harmonix Hum Debugger quick review

Chris, what local stores stock one? Does GC have one? I might bring one into that soundproof room they have and let 'er rip.

Not entirely sure to be honest. I bought mine online from Tunnelvision Music I believe (they were good guys and honored the refund). If I were to take a guess, G Guitars in New Haven probably carries it.

If EH did re-do this pedal, it'd definitely be interesting to hear. I was beyond disappointed with the original release of it, but maybe EH tweaked it for the better... I guess playing it in person is the only way to know for sure.