Start Shielding

Thatbastarddon said:
Just about anything with a transformer in it can be a culprit...hence my mention of dimmer switches. Tube amp transformers and stuff throw out a ton of noise.
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In your experience, do you think moving the live amp heads to a different room would help? I've turned the phone off, and using a control surface for recording, allowing the monitor to be turned off?

The hum from the Strat is easy enough to tweak, but this is not typical pick up hum.

I'm trying every idea, get it the best I can then I'm moving forward.
 
steveb63 said:
In your experience, do you think moving the live amp heads to a different room would help? I've turned the phone off, and using a control surface for recording, allowing the monitor to be turned off?
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It wouldn’t hurt to move an amp that has large transformers further away from the electric guitar being recorded. Most of the time I’ve just sought out a playing position that yields the desired result...spin around...do a little dance...sit...stand...find where it gets quiet...find a way to make that place comfortable for the session. I’ve never had to take the amp head out of the room...but I’m in a 24X28ish foot space.
Maybe as simple as putting the amp head on the floor in a corner.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
It wouldn’t hurt to move an amp that has large transformers further away from the electric guitar being recorded. Most of the time I’ve just sought out a playing position that yields the desired result...spin around...do a little dance...sit...stand...find where it gets quiet...find a way to make that place comfortable for the session. I’ve never had to take the amp head out of the room...but I’m in a 24X28ish foot space.
Maybe as simple as putting the amp head on the floor in a corner.
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My only limitations when it comes to the moving around solution, I have to be close enough to start the track recording. I end up on a chair facing the monitor with my Marshalls about six to ten feet behind me.

It would be no huge issue to put them in a closet either this room or the neighboring bedroom.
 
Righton,

Thanks- much appreciated. I'm going to start tearing down and gathering cables.
Will report back as soon as migrated.

It's still a go for the Strat, due to the single coils. Hopefully this is a solution to the recording interference.

Thanks again for your time and knowledge.
 
steveb63 said:
In your experience, do you think moving the live amp heads to a different room would help? I've turned the phone off, and using a control surface for recording, allowing the monitor to be turned off?

The hum from the Strat is easy enough to tweak, but this is not typical pick up hum.

I'm trying every idea, get it the best I can then I'm moving forward.
Click to expand...

Isolating the amps in an adjoining space is done quite often. however, I don't think you will need it. One my DAW, with headphones on, I can hear a static noise when the mouse is moved, but this is not recorded...

The nosiest amplifier I have ever played through on a recording was a Dumble Overdrive Special. The studio keeps a large cardboard box covered in aluminum foil which covers it and drops the noise floor. There is a section of coarse mesh brass screen zip-tied into the top to which a large PC fan is attached. Corresponding coarse mesh screen is on the back to act as an air intake.

I find nothing especially unique or "stunning" about the boutique amps I have played, including Dumble, Gijka, Trainwrecks Carr's, Fryette and '65's to name the most notable. Many times the engineer will direct us to use a particular amp on a given recording and that's what we do.
 
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steveb63 said:
I WILL def be doing this to my Strat, because well...…. Leo Fender lol. Single coils.

So onward we go, will give everyone sitreps as needed.

P.S. @Mitch Pearrow SJMP do it, you'd have this project done and over with in no time.
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Just be aware, the effect of shielding a single coil guitar very possibly will be much less noticeable than a humbucker-based guitar.

The reason is that the “business end” of the electronics - the pickup - is external to the shielded compartment and still exposed to radiated interference. The shielding does shield the other electronics, i.e., the wiring, pots, and capacitors, but it can’t really fully shield the pickups.

I fully shielded my Stratocaster with copper tape, and I still get a hum. Again, this makes sense as the coil of the pickup is still exposed to the environment.

I’m not saying not to try the shielding. Just be aware that the results will very possibly be much less impressive - perhaps even disappointing.

In the thread started by @guitarweasel , If You Play A P-90 Or Another Single Coil Guitar..... he noted that he copper shielded his P-90 guitar and noticed no improvement, at all.
 
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smitty_p said:
Just be aware, the effect of shielding a single coil guitar very possibly will be much less noticeable than a humbucker-based guitar.

The reason is that the “business end” of the electronics - the pickup - is external to the shielded compartment and still exposed to radiated interference. The shielding does shield the other electronics, i.e., the wiring, pots, and capacitors, but it can’t really fully shield the pickups.

I fully shielded my Stratocaster with copper tape, and I still get a hum. Again, this makes sense as the coil of the pickup is still exposed to the environment.

I’m not saying not to try the shielding. Just be aware that the results will very possibly be much less impressive - perhaps even disappointing.

In the thread started by @guitarweasel , If You Play A P-90 Or Another Single Coil Guitar..... he noted that he copper shielded his P-90 guitar and noticed no improvement, at all.
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Single coil hum is inherent to the design. It will always be present and it is why hum cancelling and Lace Sensors are so popular.

Adrian shielded a P-90 which became almost silent. It's more about environmental factors than anything else and individual results will vary.

I found that I could drastically quieten Stratocaster's for people by adding a section of copper along the bottom of each pickup followed by a section in the top of the pickup's plastic cover.

I have also employed sections of copper tape running the length of the pickup's coil on both sides that do not quite touch each other.

With Stratocasters in general, the best you can hope for is to reduce the effects of external interference acting upon the instrument.

I am constantly shielding guitars for people.
 
smitty_p said:
The reason is that the “business end” of the electronics - the pickup - is external to the shielded compartment and still exposed to radiated interference. The shielding does shield the other electronics, i.e., the wiring, pots, and capacitors, but it can’t really fully shield the pickups.

I fully shielded my Stratocaster with copper tape, and I still get a hum. Again, this makes sense as the coil of the pickup is still exposed to the environment.
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:iagree:

In a more perfect world, the inside of the pickup cover would have to be shielded and grounded to the metal baseplate. The shielding cannot come in contact with the coil wires or the magnets and pole pieces.
 
syscokid said:
:iagree:

In a more perfect world, the inside of the pickup cover would have to be shielded and grounded to the metal baseplate. The shielding cannot come in contact with the coil wires or the magnets and pole pieces.
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I agree on the coil wires, but I don’t think it matters if the shielding contacts the magnet or pole pieces.

Think about a covered humbucking pickup. The bar magnet underneath the bobbins contacts the base plate, which is grounded. Plus, the cover (which is soldered to the base plate) often makes some contact with the adjustable pole pieces. Even in an uncovered pickup, the pole pieces thread into the keeper which is in contact with the grounded base plate.

Would be a fun thing to test!
 
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smitty_p said:
I agree on the coil wires, but I don’t think it matters if the shielding contacts the magnet or pole pieces.

Think about a covered humbucking pickup. The bar magnet underneath the bobbins contacts the base plate, which is grounded. Plus, the cover (which is soldered to the base plate) often makes some contact with the adjustable pole pieces. Even in an uncovered pickup, the pole pieces thread into the keeper which is in contact with the grounded base plate.

Would be a fun thing to test!
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I think you're right. My thinking is that if the pup was fully shielded, a big loss of high end would occur... Extra capacitance?

A couple good articles on shielding single coils by the Wacker. The single coil pup itself:
www.premierguitar.com

Mod Garage: How to Shield Single-Coil Pickups

Here’s the secret for reducing unwanted hum and noise without losing sparkle and highs.
www.premierguitar.com www.premierguitar.com

And then the single coil's cover:
www.premierguitar.com

Mod Garage: How to Shield Single-Coil Pickup Covers

Can you get benefits of shielding without sacrificing high-frequency shimmer? Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
www.premierguitar.com www.premierguitar.com
 
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