HHHHIIIISSSSSSSSSS.....

[lilBB]

ive got hissing in my setup....and i dont know what, if anything to do about it.

approached it first from the guitar end. my tech (and every other guitarist i know) says that its invariable that your strat will hiss, especially in the 1, 3, and 5 positions (im assuming the single coil positions).

ive got some pretty decent cables, low end monster, and a couple mogami golds...

recently put together a pedal board, so now the hissing is even more pronounced.... dunlop crybaby -> boss compressor/sustainer -> blues driver bd2 -> boss super shifter..   all of these are powered by and run back through the pedalboard SKB PS - 45.

if all pedals are activated...sounds like ive got rattlesnakes hidden in the rig, lol.

ive got gray ground adaptors on my pedalboard cord and the amp cord.

what in the heck is the problem. i can only think that the connector cables for the pedals are the cause...but im not about to buy Monster 6" connectors. cant be the only solution.

do i just live with it?????

[funkStrat_97]

ive got gray ground adaptors on my pedalboard cord and the amp cord.

There it is.  Even a single coil Strat (S/S/S) shouldn't make THAT much noise unless you're using tons of gain.  Even if you use mediocre quality cables, you shouldn't be getting excessive huming or buzzing.

[lilBB]

There it is.  Even a single coil Strat (S/S/S) shouldn't make THAT much noise unless you're using tons of gain.  Even if you use mediocre quality cables, you shouldn't be getting excessive huming or buzzing.

so are you saying its the adaptors? i thought they should help with that and not cause it??

[funkStrat_97]

Your amp should be connected to ground.  Those three-pronged adaptors make it possible to connect a three pronged cord to a two prong outlet, but unless you attach it to earth, it wont be properly grounded.  Have you tried playing at antoher locatin with a proper 3-pronged outlet or has anyone else had similar porblems with their rig?

[GuitarPlaya2000]

If you're connecting your f/x & guitar to the front of the amp, try using your f/x loop in the back of the amp and just only plug the guitar in the front. That will (sometimes) drastically reduce the hiss. It worked for me. Good luck!

[jlynnb1]

If you're connecting your f/x & guitar to the front of the amp, try using your f/x loop in the back of the amp and just only plug the guitar in the front. That will (sometimes) drastically reduce the hiss. It worked for me. Good luck!

drive pedals rarely sound good in fx loop.

sounds like it's a ground thing...although that's usually more of a buzz/hum than it is a hiss.

[lilBB]

Your amp should be connected to ground.  Those three-pronged adaptors make it possible to connect a three pronged cord to a two prong outlet, but unless you attach it to earth, it wont be properly grounded.  Have you tried playing at antoher locatin with a proper 3-pronged outlet or has anyone else had similar porblems with their rig?

TRUE. yeah, ive noticed that at the main place we play, its bad, but he's got a lot of lighting and intertangled cords, etc. and at my apartment its very noticeable. ive got em plugged into a surge protector. sounds like i should go right into the wall...

If you're connecting your f/x & guitar to the front of the amp, try using your f/x loop in the back of the amp and just only plug the guitar in the front. That will (sometimes) drastically reduce the hiss. It worked for me. Good luck!

man great suggestion. i do have an fx loop input in the back of the amp, but never thought to put it to use. will definitely try it.

drive pedals rarely sound good in fx loop.

sounds like it's a ground thing...although that's usually more of a buzz/hum than it is a hiss.

and you're right jlynn, it is more of a buzz hum dealio. and the pedals are magnifying it when used in different combinations. i will try all suggestions until I find at least a slightly quieter set up.

[gtrdave]

There's a reason that they're called "humBUCKERS"... 

1. your Strat with single coils is basically an antenna covered in wood. Short of installing hum-canceling pickups in place of your true singles, you can do a few things to lessen the noise that's inherent to the guitar:
a. shield the pickup cavities with foil tape. I used the copper stuff from Stewart MacDonald that has a conductive adhesive.
b. use a high quality wax potted pickup. Nothing says 'noise maker' like a bunch of exposed wire wrapped around metal poles...
c. be sure that the Strat is properly grounded including a wire to the trem spring claw.

2. If your amp has an effects loop then you should run some of the effects through it but as was previously said, not the gain/overdrive/distortion pedals as they tend to generate more noise than any others and will defeat the purpose of the effects loop. Time-based effects (delay/chorus/reverb/flange) should go through the loop. od/dist pedals can go in the guitar-amp chain.

3. Be sure that the power supply that you're using to power the pedals is regulated at the proper voltage. Some wall-wart type supplies that say they put out 9vdc actually will output 13vdc or higher, way above the 5 to 10% tollerance of the voltage regulator inside the pedal, and will cause excess noise in the circuit.

4. Do NOT use those ground lift plugs. Doing so can cause you serious injury or even death if your circuit fails and your body becomes the path of least resistance to ground.
Seriously, people have died from either using those ground lifts or by pulling off the ground pin on a three prong Edison plug.

5. Once you get your system all connected properly, try turning on each pedal one-by-one and adjusting them to where you'd prefer them to be. Try to recognize which one is generating the bulk of the noise and then try to adjust it out via eq and level adjustment.
Remember to get out in front of your amp a bit to listen to the sound so that you know what others are hearing.

[JayP5150]

Yeah, you never really want to put a gain-increasing device in the loop.

I agree with all the above, but also check the distance of the power supply on your board to your wah.

I had a horrible hum that I couldn't find until I moved my p/s away from my morley. Now it's stone silent.

Certain effects pick up that magnetic field worse than others.

Also, see if your amp has a ground polarity switch. Might be as simple as flipping that dude the other way.

But, as said above, ditch those ground adapters if at all possible, and if not, at least actually anchor the little tab with the screw on the wall plate.

[Abe]

I agree with GTRDAVE's list also and would like to add the following:
1. Try various AC locations on a secondary building circuit switch.
2. If you are playing with a tube amp, have the tubes checked.
3. Take the pedal board out of the loop and test for HISSS.
4. Test your pedal board inline without the effects installed. (if hisss, replace/fix the pedal boad)
5. Manually add and test effects one at a time until you start to hear Hissing.

I use a BOSS BCB-60 pedal board with the following setup:
Boss Chromatic Tuner>dunlop crybaby>AC-Booster>RC-Booster>Metal Zone>Digital Delay>Chorus Ensemble...and no Hissing.

Did you consult with a tech at any of the local Memphis guitar shops? (Guitar Center, Martin Music, Yarbroughs Music, etc.)

Take you time troubleshooting, good luck and keep us updated.

[Gibby]

I know I'm changing the subject but BB, what happened to your PODXT? 

[lilBB]

thanks for all the suggestions guys. i really am going to take my time and figure this thing out..

I know I'm changing the subject but BB, what happened to your PODXT? 

never had one?? i dont think i ever said anything about one... i know dave or jlynn have one, but not I kind sir.

[gtrdave]

thanks for all the suggestions guys. i really am going to take my time and figure this thing out..

never had one?? i dont think i ever said anything about one... i know dave or jlynn have one, but not I kind sir.

Nah, I've got a Spider II and a Pocket POD but no XT.

[melrhyne]

Try "Noiseless" Pickups! Fender makes them. They come on some American Deluxe Strats, or used to(sp). They really do sound great, and retain that single coil sound.

[gtrdave]

Try "Noiseless" Pickups! Fender makes them. They come on some American Deluxe Strats, or used to(sp). They really do sound great, and retain that single coil sound.

But they may do little to reduce hiss if that hiss is being generated by the pedals and amp and not the pickups.

[melrhyne]

Dave, you are 200% right, my brother!!! Non-discreet pedals, amps and CABLES, are noise centers! I think this may be the best argument for buying truly the BEST gear you can afford. Guitars are sooo organic, and analog, that you need your signal flow to be strong and CLEAN. I never thought I could justify paying $35-50 bucks for a cable, or $200 and up for a pedal, but once you're in a playing situation, where the only thing heard in between the quiet, is YOUR hum and noise, then you have to take stock, and start cleaning up. That said, the Noiseless pickups, are a good place to start on your single-coil based axe 

[jlynnb1]

it's honestly usually a matter of getting good power to pedals. even cheap pedals will perform ok if they are getting good juice.

[lilBB]

it's honestly usually a matter of getting good power to pedals. even cheap pedals will perform ok if they are getting good juice.

ive got all the pedals being powered by the SKB PS 45 pedalboard, which has all the claims to providing great power, but i dont know. maybe i should try batteries or something.

i still have a hard time gripping that strats will invariably buzz/hum, etc. ive got a humbucker that does minimize it when in the 2 n 4 positions (hum/single simultaneously), which is cool at church, but in a live gig setting sometimes that diminishes the sound. i often like to be all the way in the bridge or all the way in the neck position....where the noise is worst, so i stay away from em, but then what's the point of havin em???

tonight we've got a show, and i should find out if its just strat buzz because im NOT using it. gonna pull out the Ibanez AS73 semi-hollow and put her to the test. never used her live with this band, but they all were diggin it in rehearsal. we do a couple songs by Tony Toni Tone and Breezin' by Benson where she really stands out. we'll see how it goes on the other ones.

[buddy_guise]

"i still have a hard time gripping that strats will invariably buzz/hum, etc."

     When I started looking for a strat... the salesman said something similar to me.  He said," Ah, yes.  That classic fender hum."  Yeah right.  You don't have to settle for the hum.  I ended up buying a clapton with the fender noiseless pickups and I have to be honest.  I hated those pickups.  They were very weak.  I had a strat and an 80w twin and I was being blown away by a friend of mine's little solid state amp. 
     I got fed up and bought some AGI-Lace hot gold pickups and I've never looked back.  They've gotten complements from every guitar player that I've played with.  And I don't get any hum.  Worth looking into in my opinion.  The golds are very bright pickups so they might not be your cup of tea, but the Lace Holy Grails are supposed to be pretty good.  Their take on a noiseless 54' strat pickup.

Just my 2 cents.  God bless, BG

[melrhyne]

"i still have a hard time gripping that strats will invariably buzz/hum, etc."

     When I started looking for a strat... the salesman said something similar to me.  He said," Ah, yes.  That classic fender hum."  Yeah right.  You don't have to settle for the hum.  I ended up buying a clapton with the fender noiseless pickups and I have to be honest.  I hated those pickups.  They were very weak.  I had a strat and an 80w twin and I was being blown away by a friend of mine's little solid state amp. 
     I got fed up and bought some AGI-Lace hot gold pickups and I've never looked back.  They've gotten complements from every guitar player that I've played with.  And I don't get any hum.  Worth looking into in my opinion.  The golds are very bright pickups so they might not be your cup of tea, but the Lace Holy Grails are supposed to be pretty good.  Their take on a noiseless 54' strat pickup.

Just my 2 cents.  God bless, BG

Buddy, you had 80 TUBE watts? And it was being drowned out by a "little" solid state? 80 tubes watts, is about 140-150, or so, solid state watts. In any event LACE sensors, do rock!