What Makes My Epiphone Hum ??

Loren Larson · Post by **Loren Larson** » 8 May 2003 2:49 am

I have a 1942 Epiphone Electra lap steel I am having a problem with. Before I start taking it apart to see if I can fix it I thought I would request some input.

The guitar has had very distict hum since I got it. This goes away completely if I rest my hand on the PU cover or any other metal piece. As a separate, possibly unrelated symptom, the volume this guitar puts out is low compared to my other lap steels (maybe 20%).

What kind of things should I look for - bad pots, loose wires, etc. - that might produce this hum.How can I test for these?

THANKS

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 8 May 2003 11:57 am

Loren,
It hums 'cause,(are ya ready for this one?)
IT DON'T KNOW THE WORDS!! (sorry,just could't pass up that opportunity)

Seriously,if putting your hand on a metal part stops the "hum",you may have a loose ground connection inside the guitar.

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
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Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 10 May 2003 2:42 pm

Maybe Johnny Cash made this instrument?

Sorry, I couldn't resist either? Seriously,

Smiley is right on the money for the most likely reason for the hum. Good luck with your search for the problem.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 10 May 2003 3:22 pm

Any hum that goes away when you touch it, is a grounding problem. By touching it, you are supplying the ground. Good luck!

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 10 May 2003 5:58 pm

(Does the amp have a 3-prong power cord?)

The easiest way to see if the problem is in the pickup is to hook up the pickup directly to the amplifier (bypassing the wiring, volume control, and jack). If it still exihibits the same problem when you do this, the pickup is bad (assuming the amp works normally with other guitars).

Loren Larson · Post by **Loren Larson** » 6 Jun 2003 2:19 pm

Thanks for all the replies...

I solved this one. I got around to opening the back of this guitar today, ready to check for loose wires, etc. When I flipped it over I found that the hum was much less noticable (???). This was very strange. I checked to make sure that wires were not moving when I flipped it.

In a flash of uncharactoristic brilance, I switched off the flourescent light in my music room - and bit-a-be bit-a-bum, the hum went away

I should have thought of this before - the PU was picking up signal from the light. By touching the metal parts, I was grounding that signal.