Need help with hum!

[sumgai]

Peter,

Outlet testing (with a $10 RadioShack or HomeDepot special) is always a good idea, regardless of any issues with your guitar.

I'm not convinced that this is the root of your problems, but it will put to rest any safety concerns you might have (thanks to your in-the-know buddy). If you do find faults, make him come straighten them out, that's only fair. ;D


sumgai

[slideguy123]

Thanks, sumgai -- I've been going around the house testing every outlet, have a bunch more to go (good thing it's only a townhouse). Of course, it may be an issue affecting the entire row of houses, but at least I can eliminate the outlets as a cause.

THe first thing I did (early in the process) was test the outlets in the basement, which came up as fine. I wanted to rule them out before tearing into the steel yet another time.

Peter

[sumgai]

Peter,

Well, having safe outlets is of prime importance, even over tone!

But just because they were wired correctly doen't mean that there couldn't be a problem in the house wiring itself. Observe.....

Architects, and electrical contractors specifically, have no knowlege of, nor are they required to have any knowledge of, electromagnetic phenomena. To them, if the electricity can't get out of the wires and hurt someone, then the job was done right. Sigh. Nice sentiment guys, but quite a bit off the mark.

It's possible to run the wires of a standard residential service (your house's incoming power (anywhere in the world)) in such a way as to create magnetic loops. Said loops will enjoy radiating 60Hz hum (50Hz where applicable), and they will waste a small amount of wattage (milliWatthours) creating heat within that loop. This is what you may be fighting against.

Is there a cure? Yes, but it's worse than the ill..... move. Unless you gut the place down to the shell, you can't re-position any wiring, so you're stuck with what you've got.

This is why we say "go try it somewhere else". The chances of two venues having the exact same problem are mighty slim. Although, I'm sure many non-beginners here can attest to the seeming fact that every bar they've ever been in has had wiring problems that caused hum. ;D

All I can say at this point is 'good luck compradre'.


sumgai

[slideguy123]

Thanks, sumgai -- this is what I get for seeking tone over silence...

Peter