Hum in Humbuckers?

[lemonade93]

Hi, i play an Epiphone Les Paul Custom through a Carvin Legacy Steve Vai Amp running through a Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde Distortion Pedal.

I noticed that when i'm on distortion, there's a nasty hum to it ( think of it as a very smooth and non-volume changing fart ) and it isn't as silent as i was hoping it to be. Soooo...

Are Humbuckers supposed to hum minimally... or cancel off ALL hums...

Thanks :mrgreen:

 

[sufihakim]

when you're using distortion of course theres hum. you need to use a noise gate pedal like the boss noise suppressor

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I don't think hum is normal if you're using humbuckers. There is definitely feedback if you use heavy distortion, but there should not be hum with humbuckers, distortion or no.

I heard that tube amplifiers are more susceptible to feedback and hum, though. Perhaps make sure there are no electronic devices near the amplifier?

 

[Dongara]

I don't think hum is normal if you're using humbuckers. There is definitely feedback if you use heavy distortion, but there should not be hum with humbuckers, distortion or no.

I heard that tube amplifiers are more susceptible to feedback and hum, though. Perhaps make sure there are no electronic devices near the amplifier?

Humbuckers 'buck hum' or remove the effect of 60Hz hum from the mains power line from the signal going to the amp by sending the signal through two single coils. They will still make noise though as the wiring picks up noise. If you want the guitar to be completely noise free then you will need to shield the guitar and use a very good guitar cable.

Uncovered pickups will also make more noise than covered ones. The reason that players like Steve Lukather play EMG's is that they can play at any gain setting and get a noise free sound.

High gain amps and effects will also add to the noise level.

cheers.

 

[lemonade93]

Thanks guys It seems that there was a Fender Twin Reverb amp next to it, haha thanks .... so... better gutar cable?

 

[Dongara]

Just noticed in your first post that you mentioned that there was only a problem when you ran through distortion and not clean.

I'm not sure how noisy the J & H pedal is, but I would suggest better cables should at least improve the level of noise that's making it to the amp.

Best of luck.

 

[superpotato_30]

when you're using distortion of course theres hum. you need to use a noise gate pedal like the boss noise suppressor

hmm just to clarify a bit what sort of hum are u referring to.

If its buzzing when theres distortion thats normal as your amp's sound has been pushed to the level that it distorts ( breaks up ) hence the more gain u add the more distorted ur sound becomes hence the noiser the buzz.

This may be a grounding issue too. Is your equipment grounded? When you touch a metal part on ur guitar does it disappear?

 

[lemonade93]

no it doesn't, its all fine and dandy, its more like, feedback than hum... but theres a little bit of both, because i gigged with it, and the P.A guy told me that there was Feedback as well as a hum... Soooooo....

 

[Dongara]

no it doesn't, its all fine and dandy, its more like, feedback than hum... but theres a little bit of both, because i gigged with it, and the P.A guy told me that there was Feedback as well as a hum... Soooooo....

Good cables
Good preamp tubes (spiral filament - Sovtek 12AX7LPS or JJ12AX7S)
Face away from the amp!

and cross your fingers!