Page 1 of 1
What Makes My Epiphone Hum ??
Posted: 8 May 2003 2:49 am
by Loren Larson
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
Posted: 8 May 2003 11:57 am
by Smiley Roberts
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.
------------------
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre></font>
Posted: 10 May 2003 2:42 pm
by Jim Bob Sedgwick
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.
Posted: 10 May 2003 3:22 pm
by Ernie Renn
Any hum that goes away when you touch it, is a grounding problem. By touching it, you are supplying the ground. Good luck!
------------------
My best,
Ernie
The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com
Posted: 10 May 2003 5:58 pm
by Donny Hinson
(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).
Posted: 6 Jun 2003 2:19 pm
by Loren Larson
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.