guitar ground hum caused by studio monitors

baskervils · 19th December 2011

I've looked through a few threads but haven't found a solution that works.

My guitar is causing a ground hum when played in proximity to my studio monitors. If I record 10ft away, the problem goes away. I can do this, but it's slightly inconvenient.

I tried:

1) Using a wire on my bridge connected to my body to ground the guitar (a gearslut tip), but it didn't work.

2) A hum eliminator pedal. Ebtech. It reduced the hum, but when plugged directly into the guitar, it also sapped tone.

Anything else I should try?

kafka · 19th December 2011

I seriously doubt it's your monitors causing the hum. It might be something near your monitors, but I can't imagine it being the monitors themselves. Move them to another part of the room to verify.

mellow · 20th December 2011

If it's proximity induced, then there is nothing you can do except move away. What kind of monitors are they? Are they active?

Most decent studio monitors have some shielding on the coil magnets.

baskervils · 20th December 2011

The monitors are actually old KEF 103.2s. It may also be the guitar pickups. I've played bass, Tele and a Les in front of them with no problem. For some reason, this guitar gets the hum going, unless I am 10+ ft. away. Weird?

19th December 2011	#1
baskervils Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,162 Thread Starter 2 Reviews written	guitar ground hum caused by studio monitors I've looked through a few threads but haven't found a solution that works. My guitar is causing a ground hum when played in proximity to my studio monitors. If I record 10ft away, the problem goes away. I can do this, but it's slightly inconvenient. I tried: 1) Using a wire on my bridge connected to my body to ground the guitar (a gearslut tip), but it didn't work. 2) A hum eliminator pedal. Ebtech. It reduced the hum, but when plugged directly into the guitar, it also sapped tone. Anything else I should try?

19th December 2011	#2
kafka Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,267	I seriously doubt it's your monitors causing the hum. It might be something near your monitors, but I can't imagine it being the monitors themselves. Move them to another part of the room to verify. __________________ - It looks just like a Telefunken U47 - with leather. You'll love it ... - Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny. - It doesn't make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
STUDIO MONITORS QUESTION!	MikeyBFromP.C.	So much gear, so little time!	2	23rd February 2012 08:20 PM
can you use a transformer to get rid of guitar ground hum?	aksion	Geekslutz forum	6	9th September 2009 04:33 PM
Tips & Techniques:Electric Guitar Ground Hum	Jules	Tips & Techniques	0	18th February 2008 10:56 PM
Car amplifier into studio monitors?	captainwam	So much gear, so little time!	8	5th February 2007 08:00 PM

20th December 2011	#3
mellow Gear Head Joined: Jun 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 62	If it's proximity induced, then there is nothing you can do except move away. What kind of monitors are they? Are they active? Most decent studio monitors have some shielding on the coil magnets.