Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jun 16 2024 09:49 AM
Hi guys, I have this hum/ buzz problem im trying to solve and hoping someone could give me some advice.
I connect the Surfybear reverb to my Pignose amp, I'm getting this loud hum/ buzz as soon as I plug in the power to the Spring reverb. (Both units are sharing the same power strip)
So far, I have tried powering the Reverb unit with Harley Benton Powerplant Iso via the 12v 1A port. (very noisy - refer to videos below)
HarleyBenton Power supply
Here's a vid
I borrowed a Strymon Zuma power supply and set it to 12v 375mA to power the Surfybear. (A lot quieter)
Strymon Zuma
Here's a vid
I also tried powering the Reverb with the original adapter that comes with via an international converter/plug [Australia]. (very noisy)
Here's a vid
The interesting thing is that I have connected the Surfybear with my other bigger combo amps, using the same Harley Benton power supply... And it's very quiet/ no hum or buzz.
I have also tried plugging my guitar into a Redeye active Di and use the Through output to feed into the Reverb and Amp… it got rid of most hum and buzz.
So, I’m trying to track down to what is causing the hum and buzz.
Cheers! 
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AgentClaret
Joined: Jan 30, 2024
Posts: 132
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Posted on Jun 16 2024 10:42 AM
How close are the amp and Surfy Bear to each other?
When I first got my Surfy Bear I just set it on top of my amp and I got a lot of interference hum.
I doubt you're setting your SB on top of a little old Pignose but I thought I'd mention it.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11054
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Jun 16 2024 12:48 PM
Welcome Sodaonthebeat! Glad to have you here. I highly recommend you contact Surfy Industries customer support. They are excellent at responding and helping their customers.
service@surfyindustries.com
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4457
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jun 17 2024 12:33 AM
Hums and buzzes are frequently related to a circuit having two different paths to ground, and those paths not having identical resistance. This causes a small current to flow on the grounded side of the circuit, and this causes the buzz.
A while back, I tested a new pedal, by patching it in between my guitar and my pedalboard, and powered it with a good quality, single pedal power supply. The hum was overpowering. The pedal alone, on that power supply, was fine, and the pedalboard was fine, until I tied in that other pedal. It was simply a ground loop, such as I describe above. Had I powered that extra pedal from the board’s power supply, there wouldn’t have been a problem.
If you can find a single power supply with both 9 and 12 volts available and isolation between each device that is being powered, that would probably take care of the issue. I’ve settled on Cioks power supplies, but there are a number of good solutions out there.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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andare
Joined: Jul 11, 2018
Posts: 93
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Posted on Jun 21 2024 05:14 PM
The Pignose isn't grounded when you power it with a power strip. Try it with batteries and see if it still hums. Mine hums with an adapter, even without a Surfybear.
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jun 27 2024 06:58 AM
AgentClaret wrote:
How close are the amp and Surfy Bear to each other?
When I first got my Surfy Bear I just set it on top of my amp and I got a lot of interference hum.
I doubt you're setting your SB on top of a little old Pignose but I thought I'd mention it.
Hi AgentClaret, yeah i did the same thing too with a bigger amp. And realised the surfybear can't be too near to an amp. I have the Pignose quite far apart from the tank. They look real good together though... 
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jun 27 2024 07:00 AM
DannySnyder wrote:
Welcome Sodaonthebeat! Glad to have you here. I highly recommend you contact Surfy Industries customer support. They are excellent at responding and helping their customers.
service@surfyindustries.com
Hi Danny, yeah I've contacted them. Bjorn reckons could be isolation/ ground problem with the pignose. I'm still investigating.
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jun 27 2024 07:03 AM
synchro wrote:
Hums and buzzes are frequently related to a circuit having two different paths to ground, and those paths not having identical resistance. This causes a small current to flow on the grounded side of the circuit, and this causes the buzz.
A while back, I tested a new pedal, by patching it in between my guitar and my pedalboard, and powered it with a good quality, single pedal power supply. The hum was overpowering. The pedal alone, on that power supply, was fine, and the pedalboard was fine, until I tied in that other pedal. It was simply a ground loop, such as I describe above. Had I powered that extra pedal from the board’s power supply, there wouldn’t have been a problem.
If you can find a single power supply with both 9 and 12 volts available and isolation between each device that is being powered, that would probably take care of the issue. I’ve settled on Cioks power supplies, but there are a number of good solutions out there.
Hey Synchro, thanks for the breakdown. Yeah, I have tried all the different combinations. Powering all the pedals via same isolated power supply vs powering them separately.. all with same results. But only by powering with the Strymon Zuma, noise is reduced. 
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jun 27 2024 07:05 AM
andare wrote:
The Pignose isn't grounded when you power it with a power strip. Try it with batteries and see if it still hums. Mine hums with an adapter, even without a Surfybear.
Hi Andare, I have not tried with batteries yet. I will give that a shot. Are you using the official pignose adapter? The one that came with mine isn't the official ones. Cheers!
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DrippyReverbTremolo
Joined: Mar 11, 2023
Posts: 149
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Posted on Jun 29 2024 10:15 AM
Have you tried the SB with another amp? You need to rule out the variables.
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jun 30 2024 11:37 AM
DrippyReverbTremolo wrote:
Have you tried the SB with another amp? You need to rule out the variables.
Hey! yeah I have tried with my bigger combo amps. No noise with the SB. Seems like the Pignose could be the culprit.
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JeffH
Joined: Apr 17, 2010
Posts: 97
PA
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Posted on Jul 01 2024 05:57 AM
Are you using a guitar cable to connect, not a speaker cable? Speaker cable is not shielded.
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jul 04 2024 07:27 AM
JeffH wrote:
Are you using a guitar cable to connect, not a speaker cable? Speaker cable is not shielded.
Hi JeffH, yeah I'm using guitar cables.
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FreddyC
Joined: Jul 11, 2024
Posts: 4
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Posted on Jul 11 2024 09:17 AM
Any updates on this thread? I'm having the same issue: SurfyBear into a Pignose. Get an over-powering buzz. I checked all cables and voltage on the power supplies.
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jul 12 2024 02:57 PM
FreddyC wrote:
Any updates on this thread? I'm having the same issue: SurfyBear into a Pignose. Get an over-powering buzz. I checked all cables and voltage on the power supplies.
Hey FreddyC! So I've posted on tdpri's pignose owners club forum as well, seems like people are saying that the issue might be grounding from the Pignose. One thing I tried that got rid of majority of hum was using my Little Labs redeye DI box with the Surfybear into Pignose via the Thru output. But I didn't use the 'earth lift' function.
I'm still trying to find a way to get rid of it with just guitar -> Reverb -> Pignose.
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FreddyC
Joined: Jul 11, 2024
Posts: 4
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Posted on Jul 22 2024 07:19 PM
Thanks! I'll try a DI Box as well as research different milliamps on the power supply.
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FreddyC
Joined: Jul 11, 2024
Posts: 4
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Posted on Jul 22 2024 08:38 PM
After reading up a bit more it seems most likely a ground loop issue. Oddly, after using the shortest output cable I could find from the SB to the Pignose (4" cable) and twisting the two power cables together a few times this issue is nearly gone. The Pignose sits on the Surfybear. A DI with a ground lift will definitely do the rest. Hope this helps.
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FreddyC
Joined: Jul 11, 2024
Posts: 4
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Posted on Jul 22 2024 08:39 PM
Sodaonthebeat wrote:
FreddyC wrote:
Any updates on this thread? I'm having the same issue: SurfyBear into a Pignose. Get an over-powering buzz. I checked all cables and voltage on the power supplies.
Hey FreddyC! So I've posted on tdpri's pignose owners club forum as well, seems like people are saying that the issue might be grounding from the Pignose. One thing I tried that got rid of majority of hum was using my Little Labs redeye DI box with the Surfybear into Pignose via the Thru output. But I didn't use the 'earth lift' function.
I'm still trying to find a way to get rid of it with just guitar -> Reverb -> Pignose.
After reading up a bit more it seems most likely a ground loop issue. Oddly, after using the shortest output cable I could find from the SB to the Pignose (4" cable) and twisting the two power cables together a few times this issue is nearly gone. The Pignose sits on the Surfybear. A DI with a ground lift will definitely do the rest. Hope this helps.
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Sodaonthebeat
Joined: Jun 16, 2024
Posts: 9
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Posted on Jul 28 2024 03:07 AM
FreddyC wrote:
After reading up a bit more it seems most likely a ground loop issue. Oddly, after using the shortest output cable I could find from the SB to the Pignose (4" cable) and twisting the two power cables together a few times this issue is nearly gone. The Pignose sits on the Surfybear. A DI with a ground lift will definitely do the rest. Hope this helps.
Hey! That's very interesting! I'll definitely give that a go.
Is the noise in a manageable level for you now?
Cheers!
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Brky87
Joined: Sep 14, 2023
Posts: 14
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Posted on Nov 28 2024 03:24 PM
Connect the pignose to another amp. (from preamp out to input) this way the hum goes. Just make sure the amp is plugged in.
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