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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Hum when I split pedal 2 amps

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I'm plugging my Strat into an El Capistan then splitting left & right outputs of El Cap between:

1) Surfy Bear to Fender Deluxe
2) Fender Jr.

I'm picking up significant hum that I don't get when I just plug into El Cap-Bear-Deluxe out of left output. Any suggestions on how I can get the stereo effect of the El Capistan without the hum? Maybe it's the cables? Probably something obvious. Input appreciated.

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
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Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

Last edited: Jul 11, 2021 14:17:01

I've been running two amps out of my El Cap since I bought it and have never had this problem. Is everything plugged into the same wall outlet?

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

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Last edited: Jul 11, 2021 15:20:54

Ah, this sounds like a ground loop issue. This is a common issue when running a signal to 2 amps. There are many, many sources on the internet which go into great detail about this. Try a google search of "ground loop 2 amps". I hope this will help.

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

All amps and pedalboards need to be on the same power strip in the same outlet. Elimninate the obvious culprits first...


'65 Fender Tremolux, '74 Princeton; '80 Princeton Reverb
Dr. Z MAZ 18 Jr. + 1x12 Cab
Various Telecasters and noise-making pedals
Farfisa Compact Duo

Thanks all. Great info.
1 try one outlet, one strip,
2 research ground loop 2 amps

Will do!!

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
Agent Octopus-Spotify
Christmas on the Beach - NEW SINGLE Dec 2023!!
Reverb Galaxy - Angle of Attack CD - BANDCAMP

Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

I use two amps and getting multiple HumX hum eliminators helped a lot! It still hums a little tho, but not that horrible 60-cycle hum. More like the usual single coil hum, more like 120-cycle? Can you tell if your hum is 60-cycle or 120-cycle?

Weird story - I got a cheap passive high pass box, and when it’s upside down on the ground, almost all noise goes away. If it accidentally rights itself, the hum returns. I don’t get that at all, wish I were smarter.

Dan

Daniel Deathtide

Thanks, did the one outlet but still getting low end hum. Didn't have time to try various configurations or plugging in to different outlets. That may need to wait until Thursday.

Then I plugged into just one amp and noted I'm getting hum from my Fender pickups. It goes away in position 2.

Death - Not sure how I can easily check if it's 60 or 120 cycles. Is there something I can pick up on Amazon or the hardware store?

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
Agent Octopus-Spotify
Christmas on the Beach - NEW SINGLE Dec 2023!!
Reverb Galaxy - Angle of Attack CD - BANDCAMP

Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

Bb below piano's 2nd to lowest C, sounds like 60hz.

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
Agent Octopus-Spotify
Christmas on the Beach - NEW SINGLE Dec 2023!!
Reverb Galaxy - Angle of Attack CD - BANDCAMP

Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

Easiest way to check between 60hz and 120 hz is unplug from the amp, turn it on and then increase the volume. I think it's the filter caps that stay at the same hum volume vs. ground issues (or may have it backwards).


'65 Fender Tremolux, '74 Princeton; '80 Princeton Reverb
Dr. Z MAZ 18 Jr. + 1x12 Cab
Various Telecasters and noise-making pedals
Farfisa Compact Duo

If it’s a low hum it’s probably a 60-cycle hum from a ground loop. Try a HumX eliminator? Ground loops are tough to beat without isolating transformers.

That’s super weird that it’s only when both are plugged in tho! I mean, if each have no ground loop by themselves, they shouldn’t when they’re connected.

Hey have you tried splitting the signal with a different pedal? I wonder if the pedal is making a ground loop somehow? I have several ways of splitting the guitar signal and two seem to behave identically. One is a Boss LS-2 selector pedal (I just use it to split), and a stereo trem pedal. I also have a Lehle splitter but that thing adds so much noise I can’t use it!

Daniel Deathtide

Last edited: Jul 12, 2021 19:41:31

Whenever you run into two amps, there is a good chance that you will have some hum. Basically, the path to ground has to be precisely the same for both amps, and that can happen, but don’t count on it. There are ABY boxes that can take care of this problem, and that’s probably going to be the solution. The HumX eliminators Death Tide mention are probably a good path, although I don’t know the product.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Thanks all! I think I'll take the ABY path for now and slowly work on identifying the culprit as I record more and have time to goof with it.

Means a lot that everyone jumped in to give suggestions. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Best and Blessed,
Art

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
Agent Octopus-Spotify
Christmas on the Beach - NEW SINGLE Dec 2023!!
Reverb Galaxy - Angle of Attack CD - BANDCAMP

Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

Hey that Radial Bigshot ABY pedal is large, but looks like it uses a transformer, which is great for breaking ground loops. The pedal works passively, but the LED lights need the 9 volts. It also has a phase switch which I could use when using two channels on the same amp. They're pretty cheap at around $100. Might solve everything! I’m about to get one for the phase switch...

Dan

Daniel Deathtide

The OP mentioned about doing the split right from the stereo outs from an effects pedal which is the reason I did not suggest an ABY switcher. I use the Radial ABY Twin city switcher and the ground lift and polarity switcher are useful to me. A great little solution box. https://www.radialeng.com/product/twin-city

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Last edited: Jul 13, 2021 09:04:38

Yeah, originally I was hoping it was a plug and play fix. So I've changed course for now. Thanks for the confirmation ot the ABY Radial.

This is what I'm starting with, around $169

image

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
Agent Octopus-Spotify
Christmas on the Beach - NEW SINGLE Dec 2023!!
Reverb Galaxy - Angle of Attack CD - BANDCAMP

Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

Last edited: Jul 13, 2021 09:14:22

I’ll be interested to hear how it does for you. It looks like a good unit.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

If you're not happy with the Radial, try a grounding adapter on one of the amps. They're cheap and look like this:

image

Last edited: Aug 05, 2021 23:12:00

I found out why my reverb unit hums.

It doesn't know the words.

(As Clarry would say, "I'm here all week" ) Very Happy

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

da-ron wrote:

I found out why my reverb unit hums.

It doesn't know the words.

(As Clarry would say, "I'm here all week" ) Very Happy

Ba boom! (Slight laughter from Nags Head Pier crowd)...

Surfcat

2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel
The Journey Home - Agent Octopus (Our SG101 Comp download)

From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023
Agent Octopus-Spotify
Christmas on the Beach - NEW SINGLE Dec 2023!!
Reverb Galaxy - Angle of Attack CD - BANDCAMP

Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...

OaklandA wrote:

If you're not happy with the Radial, try a grounding adapter on one of the amps. They're cheap and look like this:

image

Do not use these. Get a Hum-X that does this the right way. Removing the ground is stupid and potentially dangerous. Yes the Hum-X is more expensive but you're not going to potentially get shocked.


'65 Fender Tremolux, '74 Princeton; '80 Princeton Reverb
Dr. Z MAZ 18 Jr. + 1x12 Cab
Various Telecasters and noise-making pedals
Farfisa Compact Duo

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