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Post subject: amp question - Frontman 15W
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:11 pm
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I use a little Fender Frontman 15W practice amp, and it has a very audible buzz on my Strat's 1-3-5 pickup settings. It's quiet on the 2 and 4 positions. The amp doesn't buzz at all when my Epiphone SG (with humbuckers) is plugged in. Is this the famous "60-cycle hum" I've heard so much about, or is it just because I'm using a cheaper amp? I plugged into my nephew's Line 6 amp a few days ago, a significantly larger, more expensive amp, and there was no buzz that I could hear.


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Post subject: Re: amp question - Frontman 15W
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:31 pm
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jperrun wrote:
Is this the famous "60-cycle hum" I've heard so much about


It's a distinct possibility.

You might try using a high-quality shielded cable and see if that cures the symptom. It may help to suppress surious RF noise in much the same manner that Art Bell's tin foil hat keeps the "men in black" from reading his mind.

:mrgreen:

HTH

Arjay

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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:38 pm
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Thanks. I'm currently using the cable Fender included with my Amcn Standard Strat, which seems pretty good quality (to me, at least). I also have a Peavey cable that shows the same symptoms. I just noticed that if I stand here as opposed to there, sometimes the buzz stops, kind of like what my radio occasionally does. Not really sure what that means.


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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:53 pm
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Some components within a guitar amp -- especially in the pre-amp stage -- can mimic the detector circuit in a superheterodyne radio receiver. And notably, traditional single-coil pickups under certain circumstances are known to behave precisely like an antenna. It's possible that your guitar itself needs the "tin foil hat". You might try installing a full aluminum shield beneath the pickguard (Fender P/N 0019699000) and/or shielding the body's control cavity and pickup routs with copper tape or shielding paint.

HTH

Arjay

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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:04 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Some components within a guitar amp -- especially in the pre-amp stage -- can mimic the detector circuit in a superheterodyne radio receiver. And notably, traditional single-coil pickups under certain circumstances are known to behave precisely like an antenna. It's possible that your guitar itself needs the "tin foil hat". You might try installing a full aluminum shield beneath the pickguard (Fender P/N 0019699000) and/or shielding the body's control cavity and pickup routs with copper tape or shielding paint.

HTH

Arjay


Interesting. Would that sort of modification void the warranty?


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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:07 am
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I wouldn't think so but to be on the safe side you might contact Fender's Consumer Relations department.

Arjay

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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:50 am
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I agree, I'd try a better cord. you don't have to go crazy. I use George L's and have no hum or noise problems at all. Make sure you're not around fluorescent lights, computer monitors or even cell phones. You could even try a different room. Just a question, is the Frontman your only amp and does it buzz with other amps?

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