Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Alex87 Feb 4 2009, 07:42 PM

Hi guys.

I hope someone here can help me out of my situation and I hope none of you ever will have to face this problem!
Recently i purchased a Laney LT-5 amp (super fantastic amp btw). And I've been playing with it for a couple of weeks, great sound, nothing to complain about..Now I'm in a new apartment and here I get a buzz EVERY single time i turn the volume on the amp up or on the guitar. This buzz dissapears when I touch the guitars string (what is it called, soiled connection? lol. sorry i don't know the word for it). But the fact is I cannot touch the strings on the guitar 100% of the time, it's just not right.. And the past 2 weeks have brought me nothing but anger and its been leading to no playing at all, because it's so NOT cool to have a constant buzz that is louder than your playing.
I tried almost everything. Moving the amp away from other electric devices, it's not the single coil pickups either, becuase it's the Fender Lace Gold (silenced ones) inserted. I even tried switching power cable to the amp, from 2 socket to 3 socket and I had a feeling this could be the issue but it isn't??!!!
If anyone have a suggestion or tried this I would appriciate any kind of help. I'm even willing to go out playing in the rain if you say it "could" help.. I'm desperate. My playing has stopped completely due to this issue...

Thanks in advance,

Alex

Posted by: Matt23 Feb 4 2009, 07:45 PM

Have you tried different istrument cables?

Posted by: Alex87 Feb 4 2009, 07:49 PM

Yep. 3 different ones to be precise. And I never had any kind of trouble with them. Used them earlier in this week, plugged in another amp in a rehearsel room so no problems about the cables, unfortunatly that's not it.
And neither is it the guitar, I tried 2 different ones aswell.

Thanks tho

Posted by: MickeM Feb 4 2009, 07:52 PM

Dress your entire room in tinfoil...

If it's not the pickups it's the socket that's dirty. As far as I know there's not a lot to do about that But I hope someone can tip you on a device that will kill the buzz.

An electrician would say it's a phase problem and you should just turn the plug 180 degrees and plug it in. You can always try that (if the plug has two pins) but I doubt it...

Posted by: fatb0t Feb 4 2009, 07:53 PM

Maybe when you moved to the new apartment a tube got knocked around in your Laney amp? Check the tubes...

Posted by: Alex87 Feb 4 2009, 07:59 PM

Haha I'll stick with the tinfoil idea

Seriously, I hope it isn't the socket. It was changed about 2 months ago to a "switchcraft" socket, which I was told was one of the best you could get and most expensive..

About the electrician thing I have a friend who's an electrician.. I can call him and hear if he thinks it's something he could do, with my luck i'd properbly get electricity shock even if the plugs not in

Thanks for the advice MickeM



Will do right away. Thanks!

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Feb 4 2009, 08:05 PM

It's sure a ground problem. The electrical system is not properly installed to the ground.
If you have an electrician as a friend give him a call and he'll tell you what to do.
Sometimes that buzz could dissapear in other part of the house (maybe not in the same room but...)

Posted by: sted Feb 4 2009, 08:12 PM

It sounds like you are acting as an earth conductor when you touch the strings, irritating for sure, but if you ever have an electrical fault as you are touching the strings the current could pass through your body as it seeks an earth path and you will have a "shocking" time to say the least. I would seriously get an electrician to check out your place!

Posted by: Boson Feb 4 2009, 08:30 PM

I agree with the Earthing theory. Sounds like 50Hx mains hum.

First thing to do would be to check that the Earth wire in the amp cable is properly connected in the plug.
Also open up the amp (check that this won't invalidade your guarantee first!). Inside the amp the earth wire should be connected to any metal chasis that is there or to the shielding. JUst make sure it hasn't come loose.

If inone of this helps then you should have an electrician check the Earthing and bonding in your appartment.

Posted by: Alex87 Feb 4 2009, 08:39 PM

Thanks for all the great advices. I just tried messing around with the tube, and it could have been the issue. After moving it a little bit (it was a bit twisted before) and turning up the amp it seems to have helped (I also called my electrician friend, this was his suggestion aswell). BUT, even tho it works now I will have to try it with a few hours intervals to make SURE this is the issue. Other then that I will try out more of these "shocking good" ideas

Thanks for all the help guys, you may have saved my life

Cheers

Posted by: fatb0t Feb 4 2009, 08:40 PM

Glad we could help ya

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 5 2009, 01:11 AM

Possibly the tube got twisted during transportation then mate. I'm glad you resolved the issue.

PS if you have any more issues about this, I would advise to check the electrical wiring in the place, and possibly get a power conditioner for the amp, like Furman.

Posted by: Alex87 Feb 5 2009, 02:15 PM

Thanks Ivan. I will try this because the problem was not really fixed I guess it was just a coincidence it worked one time only, after adjusting the tube. The issue got back today.

Posted by: jdriver Feb 6 2009, 10:55 PM

Just out of curiousity, do you have a laptop computer and a/c power supply nearby? This will definitely cause that problem.

Posted by: jer Feb 6 2009, 11:06 PM

I'd bet its a grounding issue with the apartment.

At most hardware stores you can get an outlet tester. They run about $4 (us)

Get one and test your outlets. Ten bucks says the outlet isnt grounded properly.

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/homemaintenance/electrical/outlettest.php

Posted by: MickeM Feb 6 2009, 11:07 PM

What you could do, probably won't solve the problem but I get a tiny tiny hunch since it worked last time to were messing with the tubes.
For the pins to have good contact, and your LT5 has EL84 with kind of think legs that are not firm as the ones on EL34 and 6L6GC which could mean the pins contact area is limited.
I spray electric spray and jack the tube in and out a couple of times. That cleans the socket the tube sits in and contact improves.
I do this everytime I change tubes, too keep things clean. I'm not convinced it will help your case but maybe worth a try atleast

Posted by: Fran Feb 6 2009, 11:47 PM

That happnned to me with my old laptop. I thought it was something wrong either with my amp or guitar, but it was the laptop's power supply.

Try plugging your amp in different rooms, just to check it in different places, see if it makes that same noise everywhere. If it doesn't it's not the amp.

Posted by: Jeff Feb 6 2009, 11:55 PM

Get a tester for your outlets. They're cheap at the hardware store, a couple of bucks. Just plug it in the wall and it will tell you instantly if you have a ground problem. From what you have described, it's almost a guarantee. If anything, bring your amp to a friend or neighbors house and see if you have the same problem.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 7 2009, 12:02 AM

This is a great advice. Buy some Contact spray and spray around the pins a bit to clean up the amp. Be SURE to leave the amp for some time to clear from charge, and when it's off the socket turned it on and keep it on amplify it a bit so that the charge goes to the speaker!

Posted by: slash48 Feb 19 2009, 02:58 AM

As Matt 23 stated, maybe it's your cables. Try Monster or Planet Wave cables, just don't get your cables from Target haha. When I first started out I got these realy cheap cables and they shocked the heck out of me.