Question Any EB Splitter Box users here?

[DaPatrooch]

I really want to use the piezo on my JP6 to its full potential. Until I can get an acoustic amp, I have a little Crate amp that the piezo sounds really good through. However, when I use two cables, one to my Mesa and the other to the Crate, I get bad ground hum.

The Ernie Ball Splitter Box is pretty ideal. It's cheap, small, and doesn't require a battery. Will it get rid of the ground hum? If not, I probably won't get it. Also, with a stereo cable, will a mono guitar like the Sub1 go through both amps? I'd only want it to go through the Mesa.

Thanks!

 

[ShaneV]

A splitter box will not get rid of ground hum, and a mono guitar will only deliver signal to the main amp (through the tip of the cable, not the sleeve connector) when used with the stereo plug and splitter box.

I don't use the EB box, but I have one I built myself that acts the same way, while also providing an A/B footswitch for the magnetic signal. I run the piezo signal from that into a small (phase 90 sized) Whirlwind DI box, then lift the ground and use an XLR cable to carry my piezo signal to whatever I'm plugging it into (PA, etc.)

 

[DaPatrooch]

Ok so I'll still have the ground hum then? This may be a dumb question, but what does a DI Box do? Does it get rid of the ground hum?

 

[ShaneV]

In the context that we're talking about, it takes your guitar signal, which starts as an unbalanced, 1/4" (regular guitar cable) signal and converts it to a balanced XLR (mic cable) signal. One side effect of this is that you can lift the ground on the XLR output, which eliminates the ground hum. So the short answer to your question would be yes.

 

[DaPatrooch]

Ok thanks, might do that then.

 

[mesavox]

I use the splitter box. I don't get any hum.

I'm confused as to the taking a 1/4 unbalanced and turning it into balanced. It's reverse. The EB splitter box takes a stereo balanced 1/4 cable and splits it into two unbalanced 1/4 signals.

The reason you'd want to use the box is to plug one cable into the bottom jack on your JP. Plug that TRS cable into the box, and one out of the box into your electric amp, and the other into either your acoustic amp or a mixer.

I don't know why you'd have hum in either setting. One of your cables might be bad, or one of your amps has a ground loop. It is slightly possible that there is something caddywomp in your preamp on the guitar, but I think you'd have already noticed that.

I love my EB splitter! There is a wiring diagram and pics of it here:

John Petrucci Forums - View Single Post - Update on stolen guitars, guitar center and LOTS of guitar rig & guitars pics thread!

 

[DaPatrooch]

I use the splitter box. I don't get any hum.

I'm confused as to the taking a 1/4 unbalanced and turning it into balanced. It's reverse. The EB splitter box takes a stereo balanced 1/4 cable and splits it into two unbalanced 1/4 signals.

The reason you'd want to use the box is to plug one cable into the bottom jack on your JP. Plug that TRS cable into the box, and one out of the box into your electric amp, and the other into either your acoustic amp or a mixer.

I don't know why you'd have hum in either setting. One of your cables might be bad, or one of your amps has a ground loop. It is slightly possible that there is something caddywomp in your preamp on the guitar, but I think you'd have already noticed that.

I love my EB splitter! There is a wiring diagram and pics of it here:

John Petrucci Forums - View Single Post - Update on stolen guitars, guitar center and LOTS of guitar rig & guitars pics thread!

Thanks!

I don't think it's a problem with the preamp because I only get hum when using two amps and both outputs. Now I'm thinking it's a problem with the Crate. I'll play around with other amps to see if I still get hum. By the way, sweet rig!

 

[ShaneV]

I'm confused as to the taking a 1/4 unbalanced and turning it into balanced. It's reverse. The EB splitter box takes a stereo balanced 1/4 cable and splits it into two unbalanced 1/4 signals.

What I'm talking about is unrelated to that. I'm talking about using a DI box on the piezo signal after it leaves the splitter box, and before it gets to the amp or mixer in order to let you lift the ground.

I don't know why you'd have hum in either setting. One of your cables might be bad, or one of your amps has a ground loop. It is slightly possible that there is something caddywomp in your preamp on the guitar, but I think you'd have already noticed that.

Nothing to do with the preamp or cables, just a regular old ground loop.

 

[mesavox]

Oh, one other reply to the OP.

The EB splitter will not send signal to both amps if you are playing your Sub. The sleeve of the stereo cable would have nothing to connect to inside the Sub's jack so nothing would travel through that wire. In that sense, it's lifting a ground. So no worries there.

What I'm talking about is unrelated to that. I'm talking about using a DI box on the piezo signal after it leaves the splitter box, and before it gets to the amp or mixer in order to let you lift the ground.

I thought you were saying that was why he had hum... I got confused in there somewhere.

Nothing to do with the preamp or cables, just a regular old ground loop.

My question is, why would he have hum when using two cables? I've never had it when I've used two cables. Is it something in the grounding of the house or the amp chassis? Since the cables don't seem to be the problem (splitter box won't get rid of the hum) why would a ground lift on a DI fix it? That's why I thought I'd check the cable going to the piezo fed amp first. I'm not saying you're wrong, I just don't understand how it works that lifting ground out of a cable means it has nothing to do with the cable. I'm not very savvy on such things by any means. lol

 

[beej]

This all depends on the amp(s), but when you have multiple paths to ground you often get a ground loop.

With a stereo cable, both the tip and ring connectors use the ground from the sleeve, they share it. The splitter box then connects that same ground connection to both amplifiers (it splits it). Plus both amps are connected to earth ground via their power cables. So there are now multiple paths to ground, however there will be a slight voltage difference between them. The result is the hum you hear from the amp(s).

There are a few ways around this. As mentioned, a good DI is the best way to fix it. Inside the DI there's a transformer which electrically isolates the signal from the input to the output, so the connection from ground is actually broken, breaking the ground loop. There are a few other clever solutions as well, but often that's your best bet.

 

[bkrumme]

+1 for the DI. Get a good one. I prefer the options from Radial. Either the ProDI or JDI are good choices.

 

[DaPatrooch]

Thanks for all the replies. It seems like I also need a DI Box. Any suggestions on low-priced ones that still get the job done? I don't need anything fancy, just something to get rid of the ground hum.

 

[Lou]

Whilwind IMP - I've had mine forever.

Buy Whirlwind IMP 2 Standard Direct Box | Direct Boxes | Musician's Friend

 

[DaPatrooch]

Whilwind IMP - I've had mine forever.

Buy Whirlwind IMP 2 Standard Direct Box | Direct Boxes | Musician's Friend

Thanks! That might be exactly what I need. Just one question, does it require a power source? I don't have any outlets left on my Pedal Power.

 

[Lou]

No power needed.

 

[ShaneV]

Whilwind IMP - I've had mine forever.

Buy Whirlwind IMP 2 Standard Direct Box | Direct Boxes | Musician's Friend

That's the one I use. I got mine on eBay for 25 dollars.

 

[bkrumme]

Whirlwind makes good stuff. That seems like a hell of a deal.

 

[DaPatrooch]

I looked at the Radial ones too, they seem to be great, but still have too many features for what I actually need. The Whirlwind looks perfect for me, thanks for the suggestions!