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OC_Bassist

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Joined
Mar 15, 2010
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7
Location
SW Ohio
I play with a praise & worship band for a mobile church. I play a MM Stingray5 direct into the system through an Eden Navigator. We recently moved our location from a theater to a school where we hold services in the school gym. This is our second week in the gym.

We are getting a nasty hum in the system coming from my bass. The hum is in the house & the in ear monitors. Nothing has changed with our system or my rig since we moved from the theater and the hum wasn't present then.

With my pickup switch in the front and middle position the hum is major loud but when I move the selector to the back position the hum gets drastically quieter and almost goes away. I have also noticed that if I turn my body and bass 90 degrees from facing forward I can make the hum darn near go away but who wants to stand sideways facing away from the crowd? LOL!!:D
I also have an Ibanez BTB405 and the hum is loud through that bass.

My initial thought was the gym floresent lighting but it still hums with the lights out. Ant suggestions?
 

ivbenaplayin

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Mar 14, 2009
Messages
688
try a different xlr cable for your DI signal... curious that it happens with both of your basses, but maybe try a new battery in your bass too, strange things happen with low voltage...
 

OC_Bassist

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
7
Location
SW Ohio
try a different xlr cable for your DI signal... curious that it happens with both of your basses, but maybe try a new battery in your bass too, strange things happen with low voltage...
I'll check the battery in the MM but I know the battery is brand new in the Ibanez. Funny thing is when I stand sideways with either bass the noise goes away.
 

ivbenaplayin

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I'll check the battery in the MM but I know the battery is brand new in the Ibanez. Funny thing is when I stand sideways with either bass the noise goes away.

being that the noise is common with both basses, makes me think it's not an instrument issue... what do you have your amp plugged into for power?
 

ivbenaplayin

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Mar 14, 2009
Messages
688
I have the Navigator rack mounted and everything in the rack is powered off of a Furman power conditioner.

is the furman plugged into a wall outlet, or does your band use a power distro of some sort? I'd still have to guess ground issue... try unplugging your DI signal to the board and see if it still does it and go from there... good luck.
 

OC_Bassist

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
7
Location
SW Ohio
is the furman plugged into a wall outlet, or does your band use a power distro of some sort? I'd still have to guess ground issue... try unplugging your DI signal to the board and see if it still does it and go from there... good luck.
It is plugged into a power distro. on stage. I am going direct out of the Eden Navigator (no cab) so if I unplug the D.I. there's nothing to hear. Again...same set up that we've used for the last 2 years.

Just thought someone on here might know why the switch position on the MM would make a difference.
 
Last edited:

Rick Auricchio

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Jun 6, 2009
Messages
281
Location
Cambria, CA
There's a good possibility the bass is picking up radiated interference; it might not be on the power line at all.

Get a long cord and walk far from your amp. Does the noise improve?

It could be crappy wiring in the walls, or the main electrical meter and breakers, things like that. There is often lots of EMI around the main electrical panel. The venue could also have a bad ground at the main panel.
 

OC_Bassist

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
7
Location
SW Ohio
There's a good possibility the bass is picking up radiated interference; it might not be on the power line at all.

Get a long cord and walk far from your amp. Does the noise improve?

It could be crappy wiring in the walls, or the main electrical meter and breakers, things like that. There is often lots of EMI around the main electrical panel. The venue could also have a bad ground at the main panel.
Thanks for the info. That is also what I am expecting. Is there a reason it would only effect the bass and not the electric guitars?
 

OC_Bassist

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Mar 15, 2010
Messages
7
Location
SW Ohio
+1

This must work, I'm 99% sure! ;)
Already tried the ground lift...no fix. That was the first thing I thought of. I am convinced it is not a power issue due to the fact that if I stand in a different position the hum goes away and also the pickup switch placement making a difference. Probably some crappy wiring in an old building that just isn't going to play friendly with me.
 

redman24

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
5
Had this happen beofre

Moved equipment to an outside basketball court. It was a bad cable. Replaced and and now great. Just a suggestion. Try know good setups like the guitar cables. Isolate and separate your issue. Good luck.
 
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