Pickups to eliminate hum?

F

Filipe Marquez

New member
Hello there, this is not only about pickups, but i wanted to ask: What can i do to get rid of noise?

I live in an apartment with real bad wiring (i believe), and i love passive pickups, but i've been thinking about getting some actives 'cause i read they get rid of noise? But if so, is it all the noise, or just some? Also i'm pretty sure the noise comes from the guitar, since when it's not plugged, there's none in the PODxt (which i use as a sound card).

Also, i read there are people who use that Fuhrman power conditioner, and i've been thinking of getting something like that, but i don't know if that eliminates noise?

Either way, kinda newbie questions, but i wanted to know about what your experiences with actives and power conditioners (if they eliminate hum that is), for what i read in the ads about actives isn't very specific about how silent they are.

Thanks!
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

It is difficult to answer you question without first identifying the precise type of noises, hum and other interference that you are experiencing. Sound clips would help.

Active guitar pickups are no guarantee of eliminating certain forms of unwanted signal. The power conditioner might help. Good quality, well-maintained instrument cables will definitely help.

One reason why disconnecting your guitar from the POD XT eliminates the hum is because the POD is probably applying a noise gate to the signal chain. With no input, it is impossible to determine which element in the chain is the source of the interference.
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

what pups are you using? what amp?
how close are you to radiated interference (ie computer)?
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Funkfingers said:
It is difficult to answer you question without first identifying the precise type of noises, hum and other interference that you are experiencing. Sound clips would help.

Active guitar pickups are no guarantee of eliminating certain forms of unwanted signal. The power conditioner might help. Good quality, well-maintained instrument cables will definitely help.

One reason why disconnecting your guitar from the POD XT eliminates the hum is because the POD is probably applying a noise gate to the signal chain. With no input, it is impossible to determine which element in the chain is the source of the interference.
Click to expand...

Hm, indeed. I turned off the gate when a distortion amp was on, and there came the noise. But with the clean amp it was normal. I'm gonna record a clip then and post it online for you to check. x)

gibson175 said:
what pups are you using? what amp?
how close are you to radiated interference (ie computer)?
Click to expand...

I'm using DiMarzio Evolutions. But the thing is, even the single-coils in my old house didn't make annoying noises when the gate was on. And it's like, there are certain times of the day that the noise is on, and then it gets quieter, and other times that it completely disappears, like out of nothing. I know for sure the volume pot on my humbucker guitar is ****ed up and i have to change it, but even in the single-coil guitar, i can only play in the middle-bridge or middle-neck position, cause it's a freaking horrible noise.

Another thing is that i CANNOT play my valve amp, because it pickups up an incredibly loud radio station. It even picks it up when i plug the Metal Zone in the pod. I had even someone doing the copper sheet shielding (don't know if it's how it says in english) inside the amp and it got better, but it's still horrible enough to play.
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

depending on the wiring on the apartment the reinforcement bar could be used to create a ground shield, it depends on if they even touch fisical earth or just concrete, and since you say your amp picks up a radio station i gotta assume that the ground terminal on the wall socket is unused, or that there could be no ground at all on the circuit, or better yet the socket internally is one of those 2 conductors no ground old ones.

there are some fixings for that radio interference, some are easy some are hell, if the ground on socket isn't connected or is inexistant you could wire it to the distribution box (most of the times those boxes are metallic, if it is plastic then the fixings will not be easy) this will work as long as the distribution box makes contact with fisical earth wich happens most of the times, is the distribution doesn't makes contact with fisical earth you can wire the socket to a metallic door/window frame and call it done as oftenly they're soldered to the structure reinforcement bars, crappy case scenario nor the dist box, nor door/window frame nor reinf bars are conected to a fisical earth, the most they have is concrete, the installation of a connection to a fisical earth will be needed, either a copper bar or sheet/plate buried at least 1m on not so dry earth must be installed and wired to the structure and wall sockets ground.

or you could scratch that and cover your apartment on aluminum foil, wire it to the ground terminal on the wall socket and enjoy a homemade faraday cage.

out of that i cannot think other solutions....... i need to sleep......
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Well, if the hum is nothing to do with the pickups, then nothing pickup-wise will help.

You can shield the cavities, but if the hum isn't from RF then that won't do anything either.

If the power in the house is suspect and the cause, then only sorting that out will help.
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Facing the guitar towards a computer or amp or TV will cause hum.

Crossing unshielded or uninsulated signal cables (guitar cable) across a power cable (for the computer, the POD, etc) will cause hum.

Distortion pedals and amps will pick up radio signals unless you shield the inside of the case against it.
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Bad electric wiring will give you all kinds of issues. If possible , have an electrician come out and fix any grounding issues your apartment has. It has to pass code in your area anyway so i would have a conversation with your land lord to have it all checked out.
Next using a Furman is a excellent idea. Get one with Voltage stabilization and regulation. If the wiring can't be fixed, try to ground the Furman to a water pipe so someway to get a earth ground. This is where most if not all noise comes from.
Next is your cable system. Your cable system might not be grounded properly. Get that checked as well.
Also do not plug into any circuit that any motors are on. They add noise to the circuit like you wouldn't believe.

Now I know you said your using a Pod XT? Is that your only amp? I'm assuming thats all your using so a Noise gate either way is always a good idea. Use it properly so you don't get to much tone suck out. It will also greatly help noise.
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Thanks for your answers guys. I'll read more into them and check some nomenclatures since there's a bunch of stuff i didn't understand, lol. But yeah, what AlexR said makes much sense, if the problem isn't in the pickups, nothing pickup wise will help. Either way i connected the amp yesterday since a long time not plugging it, and the noise got really reduced, so i really don't know what the problem is (my cables are all top notch too), but i guess two things are certain: getting an electrician to check stuff, and buying the Furman. Those can't go wrong, lol.

And Mantis, no, i have a Laney LC30II too, with a Mesa CabClone since i can't play it loudly, but believe it or not, as far as it comes to the Metal Zone on the Clean Channel tone, or the amp tone for what matters, through the CabClone, i prefer the PODxt like a million times more, lol. :P Of course the amp through the physical speaker is awesome, but if the XT were as sucky as people say, i think the amp would've already sounded much better, lol.

Either way what you said bout Pod's noise gate is really true, it's like 30% or more of the tone gets sucked by it, so i guess a noise gate is something to get. Only i wanted the Decimator, but they are like 8 times more expensive in Brazil than they are in the US, so i guess i'll just end up with a custom made one. :/

But thanks for your help all in all, always good to post questions here! :)

(EDIT: Oh, and i just remembered, that someone said that the speaker cable might catch on interferences, but i already got the best cable there is in Brazil for it (same as Andreas Kisser uses), and i heard they are all unshielded or something? So i don't know what i could do about that?)
 
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Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Maybe try some room treatment?

Room-wrapped-in-aluminum-foil-9.jpg





(not being serious.)
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

@dominus Hheauehauehaue I thought you were gonna suggest to play with the amps speaker. Which by the way i wanted to ask you: - Has anyone of you ever had a successful room treatment in your apartments that allowed you to play well, with enough volume? And also, what headphones do you use for mixing/mastering? I have a AKG K44 and a K141Studio, but i find the cheaper one like a million times better?
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Silly but necessary question. Is your apartment close to a radio transmitter - legitimate or otherwise? (Taxi firms, pirate radio stations et cetera.)
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

@funkfingers I actually don't know how close it is too close. But there is one major am/fm radio 4 blocks away. But the one that picked didn't seem to be that one, so i don't know. :/ Also yesterday i found it weird that the amp picked up MUCH less interference, like what it seemed it could be solved with a simple noise gate. The thing is though, i also don't know if it has some issue inside or with the valves or what, because the POD on the power amp sounded HORRIBLE.

It's not like it was non-playable though, but it still sounded really bad, like all mushy and stuff, and the Closed Back cabinet sim in the cabclone always added lots of fizz to the sound. Only playable cab is the open-back cab sim. =/
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Hello Felipe - I was wondering if you bought the Furman? I was told a power conditioner could help me with some noise issues that I am having with my bedroom amp. I have read mixed reviews about power conditioners. From what I can gather they tend to be used on rack mounted systems for studio work or playing with a band on stage. Like you, my need is in my home. It would be great to get the scoop from someone in a similar situation.
 
Re: Pickups to eliminate hum?

Little Jerry said:
Hello Felipe - I was wondering if you bought the Furman? I was told a power conditioner could help me with some noise issues that I am having with my bedroom amp. I have read mixed reviews about power conditioners. From what I can gather they tend to be used on rack mounted systems for studio work or playing with a band on stage. Like you, my need is in my home. It would be great to get the scoop from someone in a similar situation.
Click to expand...

Hey dude! Indeed i haven't, lol. Furman recommended me these two power conditioners: "PL-PLUS CE Power Conditioner or a P-1400 AR E Voltage Regulator", but the P-1400 is incredibly expensive. The other would be the one i would get (it is MUCH less expensive), but i got many priorities first. Either way i'll try what Warner said, and what i think others said too, i'll just try a noise gate, or perhaps moving to another place since i don't own here. Cheers!

warner-211 said:
You could always try a noise gate? idk just a sugesstion
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Yeah, the problem though is even when the noise gate is on, the electricity goes crazy at times. It isn't a constant problem, it just appears at sometimes of the day. Either way i'll try one on the valve amp, perhaps it will become playable like the pod. Cheers!
 
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