Author Topic: Buzz Buzz Buzz (Read 344 times)

dean_m · « **on:** August 14, 2003, 09:30:36 AM »

And it's not in my head either...
well not right now anyhow.
Maybe Mica or someone can answer this for me. I've been on the road for the last couple of weeks, (explains the lack of posts from me) anywhoo, I've been noticing a pretty annoying buzz coming from my Orion. It does have Elan electronics. When I turn the filter all the way up, I'm getting a pretty loud hum. I do have the cylinder installed correctly with the p/u wires running through it. It gets really bad when I'm on a lit stage too. Is there anything else that I might be missing? BTW, my Elan which was also with me, didn't have this problem!?!?
I'm confused!!!
Any help is much appreciated.

Peace,
Dino(bptfo/tafkad)brother Paul the buzzing one!!!

elzie · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2003, 10:17:37 AM »

Hey Dino!

Just the basic things from the top of my head, and not my hair or lack thereof.

Battery/power
Loose wire/bad connection
Shielding problem
Output jack

This is where I would start.....

The Other Paul

palembic · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2003, 11:45:24 PM »

Well, you're on a lit stage!
Your bass piucks up the interference of the dimmers. I guess this changes from bass t bass.
Maybe you have to move out to the side --a little more ...a little more ... again ...again ...
OK guys he's off the stage
LOL

Paul the bad one

BTW: how is the tour going? Coming to EU

dean_m · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2003, 07:26:24 AM »

Hey Paul(s),

Thank you for the help. I will start to do some diagnostics now that I'm home.

Paul the Bad One - I'm back home with the family and I promise I will answer your email when I sit at the desk tonight. We just got back from a mini-vacation this weekend.

Peace,
Dino

mattheus · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2003, 08:46:16 AM »

Hey, that's a familiar problem. I've had that too. But then I got a small package from Mica (Our guardian angel), which solved the problem. The cylinder (Ferrite bead) helped me. Perhaps you didn't run the wires through the way they should? Otherwise, I would think of a shielding problem. Man, that can be stressfull. I hope you can solve it.
Good luck,

Mattheus
(Ps. also touring in Holland???)

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2003, 04:07:30 PM »

It seems from your description you might have a problem with one of the pickups humcancelling. Is it the same in both pickups? Is the annoying sound directional?

dean_m · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2003, 07:25:57 AM »

Hi Mica.
Yeah, I tried everything regarding the controls. No matter where I panned, the buzz was pretty consistent. And it wasn't directional either. My signal path was out of the Orion into a Countryman DI, out of the DI into a Boss tuner, out of the tuner into an Ampeg Porta Bass Rig. The XLR from the DI went straight to the house.
Let me ask this. Does a humcancelling pickup only cancel hum when needed. In other words, if my power supply in certain rooms is clean, I'm not going to hear the buzz correct? Could this be why I don't hear it in my studio?
I'm gonna do some more fiddling at home when I have a few minutes this weekend. See if I can't duplicate it at home. I'll keep you up to date!!!

Thanks for all your help!!!

Dino

valvil · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2003, 04:05:36 PM »

Dino,

I have had problems with dirty power for over 10 years ( ever since I moved into this house). At my house power fluctuates quite a bit and I do get some buzzing from my instruments from time to time ( mostly my archtop guitars, which do have humbuckers). This does not happen in places where I know the power's good. So in my case I know there's nothing wrong with my instruments. If bad power is what is happening in your case, I'd suggest a power regulator (not a power conditioner) from Furman.

Valentino

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2003, 06:17:57 PM »

Power problems?? In the US? Affecting large areas of the country??

Never happen!!!!!

OK--better go buy that Furman now.....

dean_m · « **Reply #9 on:** August 20, 2003, 07:20:33 AM »

No Kidding Huh!?!?

Well folks, here's what I've come up with. I just unpacked my gear last night. The first thing I went to was my Orion. I plugged into the amp in my house, then my recording set up, then I went out to the garage and duplicated my set up that I was using. ABSOLUTELY NO BUZZ!!!
ARRRGGGGHHH!!!! The only noise that I did get was the interference from my dog's invisible fence around the yard. That I expected! The thing that baffles me is that my Elan had no problems at all. Very strange. Maybe my Orion was homesick. I will consider looking into a power regulator though. I'm assuming a regulator keeps you at 120v where a conditioner justs cleans the power at any voltage. Is this correct Valentino?
Thank You for everyone's input on this too!!! I'll keep playing around with different set-ups too to see if I can duplicate the buzz. Hopefully I won't be able to!!!

Peace,
Dino

valvil · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2003, 02:08:35 PM »

Essentially that's correct Dino; a Furman regulator will take power anywhere from 97 to 141 and convert it to a steady 120.. Furman has a few models available, a single rack rated at 15 amp of output that weighs 12 pounds, or larger models rated at 20 and 30 amps respectively, which take up 2 rackspaces and weigh in around 35 pounds. Here's the link if you want to look at more detailed info. http://www.furmansound.com/pro/reg/

Costwise ( for a new one, but these are not easy to come by used) I think you may be looking at around the mid three hundreds on up, but I'm not sure.

Valentino