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Post subject: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:00 pm
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Hey guys, I just moved and it seems like my amps are humming a lot more than at my old place. I'm assuming all the outlets are grounded since the house was built in the 60's, and my outlet tester is in a box I can't find right now. The hum is happening in different rooms in the house so it's not one outlet.

Any ideas? Does anybody use a power filter or anything like that they can recommend?


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:32 pm
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Don't assume anything -- find your phase tester and check each outlet for correct polarity and ground.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 4:47 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Don't assume anything -- find your phase tester and check each outlet for correct polarity and ground.

Arjay


+1
It is the first thing to do.

With moving you may damage the amp / tube ?


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:11 am
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I found the outlet tester and they're wired correctly. I tried 2 amps in different rooms and they both are humming with single coils and humbuckers.


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:47 am
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s3mamill wrote:
I found the outlet tester and they're wired correctly. I tried 2 amps in different rooms and they both are humming with single coils and humbuckers.


1- Amp don't humming before moving.
2- Nothing is new (with amp and guitar) except new home.
Right ?

Report.

If your amp did not hum in the previous house, (are you sure?) that necessarily means that it comes from the new house and / or its environment which could have magnetic fields.
Are there factories around, power plants, electric trains ?

Did amp hum with nothing plug in, no guitar no effect , nothing ?


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:57 am
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s3mamill wrote:
I found the outlet tester and they're wired correctly. I tried 2 amps in different rooms and they both are humming with single coils and humbuckers.


If that be the case then you might try a power conditioner (Furman makes several).

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 4:43 pm
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s3mamill wrote:
I found the outlet tester and they're wired correctly. I tried 2 amps in different rooms and they both are humming with single coils and humbuckers.

Seriously? I bought a house in 1980, built in 1966. Not a single 3-prong outlet to be found. Spent a shitload of money to remedy.

I might question your tester.

Better yet, how about providing some details?

2 amps? Vintage? Have they been retrofitted with 3 prong power cords?

No Fender schematic indicates a ground to a power connection prior to 1970. That should at least tell you that prior to 1970, house outlets might be questionable.

Just because your tester indicates everything is ok, I would say it may not be able to distinguish the difference between a neutral and a ground.
JMO,


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 5:05 pm
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Thanks for the input guys. Its a 1959 tweed champ with no 3 prong plug and a modern Dr Z amp with one. I guess I could pull an outlet and see if its really grounded. Or try more of my amps and see how they sound!


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 5:29 pm
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All amps must have 3 prong power cable, 2 prong amp is very dangerous and can hurt you.
Ask amp teck to put 3 prong.


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:30 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
All amps must have 3 prong power cable, 2 prong amp is very dangerous and can hurt you.
Ask amp teck to put 3 prong.

Simply changing to a 3 prong cable doesn't grant you a "magical" reprieve.


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:38 pm
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Sometimes a quick visual inspection of your meter/electrical feed will be all you need. Some houses the ground strap is easily identifiable other times you may need a certified electrician to do an inspection. Do you have any ground interrupt circuits in the house, usually in the kitchen? Do they function correctly when tested? Try your amps through one of them to see if it improves the hum level. If it does, you probably need a whole house ground or at least wherever you want to plug in at.


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 9:28 pm
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vinyl wrote:
Simply changing to a 3 prong cable doesn't grant you a "magical" reprieve.

Correct.

And as Eric (above) has mentioned, the home's entire electrical system must be grounded at the load center. Inspect the box or hire a professional to do it. If any discrepancy is discovered, notify your electric company and insist that they bring their service into compliance with local wiring codes.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 2:33 am
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vinyl wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
All amps must have 3 prong power cable, 2 prong amp is very dangerous and can hurt you.
Ask amp teck to put 3 prong.

Simply changing to a 3 prong cable doesn't grant you a "magical" reprieve.


It’s always good to remember when the opportunity arises.

It may only save you from dangerous electrical shock.
2 prong amp may have it's chassis side ( face plate) at 120 volt.

Always check fuse on old amps, previous owner(s) may put a too powerful fuse and amp may not be protected ; In case of power tubes issue, ( or other issues ) power transformer may blow.


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 8:34 am
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Last resort (if power issues can't be resolved):

Buy a high quality UPS (uninterruptible power supply). Do your homework - there is more than one type. You would need a UPS that isolates you entirely from the house wiring by only providing power to your amp via batteries.

It's an expensive solution, but if you have a home recording studio, it can be justified. For practice? Maybe not worth it. Either way, you want to get your house electric looked at in case it is unsafe.


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Post subject: Re: amp hum solutions
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 9:15 am
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ghost_of_strings,

I am not an expert in UPS but I believe that a ground is essential.
A amp connected to a UPS must still have a functional ground on the house side.

And the fact of operating on batteries does not eliminate the need for ground.
You could also be right, you probably know a lot about UPS


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