Old 11-26-2014, 04:49 PM   #1
OpIvy
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Default Guitar has started to buzz...

I'm suffering from the dreaded guitar buzz. There's always been a bit of buzzing but it was acceptable however in the last 3 or 4 days, it gotten much worse. Thing is... I haven't changed anything other than replacing my cpu cooler and 120mm fan so although I assumed it was from the pc, it's probably not. My guitar is a Hagstrom Deluxe with single coils/ humbuckers (but both pickups buzz) and I'm running through a Roland Quad Capture interface.

What I've tried is....
- turning away from the pc and moving away- the buzz comes and goes but it's always there and even if I stay in a position where it's not so bad, it quickly comes back louder. Same thing happens when I cover the pickups with my hand.

- tried another guitar and bass. Other guitar does it too, bass as well but much less.

- checked the guitar jack and it seems fine

- tried a different lead... no difference

- turned monitor, lights, fan, etc off but no change. No other electrical stuff is nearby.

It has me stumped as to why this problem suddenly became worse. Any other suggestions on what this may be or what to try?
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Old 11-26-2014, 05:02 PM   #2
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Does it stop buzzing if you touch the bridge?

If so, you know its the guitar not being grounded properly, most likely the wire from the bridge to ground.


If your bass has much less noise, it may be that it is grounded properly, or has active pups?
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Old 11-26-2014, 05:06 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aeolian View Post
Does it stop buzzing if you touch the bridge?

If so, you know its the guitar not being grounded properly, most likely the wire from the bridge to ground.


If your bass has much less noise, it may be that it is grounded properly, or has active pups?
It doesn't stop when touching the bridge. It's the same where the noise is momentarily reduced, but then swarms back in.
Bass has passive pickups. Like I said, it buzzes too, just quite a bit less.
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Old 11-26-2014, 05:14 PM   #4
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Maybe some connection is a bit lose in the input jack of the guitar?
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Old 11-26-2014, 05:36 PM   #5
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I did check but will again when I get home.

....and from what I understand, if the buzz is not eliminated when you put your hand on the strings/ pickups then it isn't a grounding issue with the guitar. Is that right?
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Old 11-26-2014, 07:55 PM   #6
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try another cord too

edit.. just realized that is probably what you meant with "tried another lead"

Last edited by thequietroom; 11-27-2014 at 02:05 AM.
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Old 11-26-2014, 08:52 PM   #7
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It probably is just that with the new presumably quieter fan you're hearing the noise more, but then again, could be higher levels of atmosphere radiation for some reason..a new mobile phone transmitter nearby or something?
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Old 11-26-2014, 09:11 PM   #8
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If you move around and it fades out/swells in it is likely electromagnetic hum. As in picking it up from some source up to an including the AC wiring in the wall. You could power down various devices in the room and or nearby rooms in case it is one of them and see if it gets better.

I have it in one of my walls (the AC) and my strat picks it up every time I'm even on that side of the room. FYI, I don't think shielding the guitar would fix this since the part of the pickup that picks up the string vibrations is the same one picking up the hum.
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Old 11-27-2014, 02:55 PM   #9
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Resolved!
I got home yesterday arvo, loaded my project..... no buzzing.
Then I realised perhaps it's the lights (which of course are only on at night)... I turned on the living room downlights and bang!... buzzing comes back.

It seems to be a dodgy light transformer, which is also making a low buzzing sound. Time to get the sparky in.
Thanks for the suggestions
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