Strings shocking my forearm

[benm73]

I need help figuring out why my guitar strings are giving me a small, uncomfortable shock. Its just a low, constant current. I can't feel it with my fingers or palm, but when the more sensitive skin of my forearm touches the strings, I really feel it.

It only happens when I am using my Pod xt, or my Vox Tonelab, and recording with my Boss BR-1600 digital recorder. So the signal is guitar-Pod Xt- Boss BR-1600. I have an Epi Les paul with stock pickups.

It doesnt happen when I plug directly into my amp.
It doesnt happen when I plug directly into the BR-1600.

I only have one outlet in my basement and it powers all my gear. The basement is unfinished and has concrete floors. I dont know if that has anything to do with it.

I dont know what I need to do. I am pretty sure its not the Pod, or Tonelab because it happens with both. it probably not the guitar because it doesnt happen when it plugged directly to an amp.

If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Ben

[D2o]

Hi benm73, and WELCOME! to GN2

It could be anything, but it sounds like an issue with the receptacle or a power tap or converter that you may plug your other devices into ... or something along those lines.

Do you use any other electrical component when you are using the other devices ... a power tap, an extension cord, or a cheater to make a two prong outlet into a three prong outlet, or an AC power converter for your xt or tonelab, or something else?

Let us know exactly what your setup is and it may help to isolate it.

D2o

[newey]

Benm-

Hello and Welcome!

I don't know how you managed to duplicate your poll into this thread in addition to your other one. I can't edit your post to that extent, so if you can delete that off here please do so.

Also, I'm leaving this post in place here as it does seem that your POD is part of the problem, so there is a relationship to "Effects units", sort of. Might have been better elsewhere but no biggie.

As far as your shocking problem goes:

I only have one outlet in my basement and it powers all my gear. The basement is unfinished and has concrete floors. I dont know if that has anything to do with it.

My suspicions would be directed at that outlet, as D2o's were. Try your same setup (git-Pod-recorder) elsewhere in the house if you can. Does the problem go away?

Perchance, are you in bare or stockinged feet on that concrete floor when this occurs?

[benm73]

Thanks for responding guys. I am new to forums so I dont know all the protocol for posting or what I am doing.

But I tried the whole setup upstairs in my house and the problem went away. It must have something to do with the outlet in my basement.

Thanks,
Ben

[newey]

Benm-

Glad you solved the problem. You should definitely have an electrician take a look at that outlet, it could be dangerous.

Please stick around, we're not sticklers for protocol and you'll get the hang of it soon enough anyway.

[D2o]

Oct 9, 2008 2:03:25 GMT -5 benm73 said:

Thanks for responding guys. I am new to forums so I dont know all the protocol for posting or what I am doing.

But I tried the whole setup upstairs in my house and the problem went away. It must have something to do with the outlet in my basement.

Thanks,
Ben

Ben,

Newey is correct, we're mainly pretty loosy-goosy with protocol around here. But not when it comes to dispensing opinions on potential electrical hazards - you should get your outlet checked out by a qualified electrician, pronto.

By the way, I was intrigued by the name of your location so I Googled it ...

Wow! The "centre" of town is pretty well ... defined ... eh?

Dead smack in the middle of where "Center" Street meets "Main" Street ... and then everything else is a numeric 100, 200, 300, etc. with a coordinate direction attached - S200E, N200W, etc.

It actually makes great sense, but I sure don't see this kind of layout very often.

Cool! It reminds me of some little town in Hazzard County or something ... say, do you know Bo and Luke Duke?

Looking forward to seeing you around the forum!

D2o

[rbkxiiowe]

Wow. The town planners definitely played too much Sim City 2000.

And yeah, definitely get that socket looked at.

[jwj4856]

Get the socket checked for sure. I too had a small problem in my shop when I first put all my stuff out there, it also has concrete floors, all my electric plugs and such were grounded correctly and everything so what i did was get some rubber mats and put on the floor under all my equipment and soem for me to stand on also, now I have no problems at all in there.