How much hum is normal/acceptable?

Gear
1

My rig consists of a new Rumble 100, with a Squier PJ and I’m using a new instrument cable from Sweetwater (I forget the brand, it was around $10 I think). I notice a bit of hum when I’m plugged in - it was also there with the bundled cable that came with the Squier. If I mute the strings, it’s dead silent but as soon as I’m hands-free - I can detect some hum. How much is normal or expected? I don’t hear it when I play, just when I’m not playing or not muting. I’ve noticed if I put a little pressure on the cable at the bass, it will mostly go away. I can’t insert the cable any deeper, it’s in all the way but that pressure seems to mostly silence it.

I haven’t tried a new outlet or anything yet, that’s my first troubleshooting step. I have another amp I can test with (a Rumble 15). Am I expecting too much in wanting a completely silent rig?

2 Likes
2

If the hum goes away when you touch the strings it may be a grounding wire loose at the bridge, or a missing ground wire. The bridge is usually grounded so the strings won’t pick up interference from lights or nearby electric circuits.

2 Likes
3

Steve Bailey

4

Agree, hum that goes away when you touch the strings is generally grounding.

But to the question, how much hum is too much? How much can you tolerate? Some pickups will generate hum. Especially single coil. When you’re playing in a mix it doesn’t matter. So how much is too much is really up to you.

It’s not an amp quaestion btw

5

if you have a multimeter, you can use continuity meter or ohm meter to check the grounding of your bridge without unscrewing stuff :slight_smile:

6

I had a problem with hum exactly like that. It turned out in my case that the problem was the power socket in which my amp was plugged in. That power socket was not grounded.

For a moment I was afraid both my basses could have grounding problems. Fortunately the problem was only the power socket! When I plugged the amp into a grounded power socket, there was no hum.

I thought I would mention that.

3 Likes
7

Be aure the polarity of your power source is correct. And grounded as mentioned above.

I had a Hot Wire cord and it was like 8mm with sweet brass male ends. The guitar end had a kill switch built in so it could be plugged in and removed without any noise. Best cord I have ever used. I have the ends still if I go back to a cord. Just need some cable to use.

8

Thanks for the suggestions! I do have a meter, I can check continuity. As far as the outlets go, I would ASSume that they’re good as the house was built in ‘22, but I will try another outlet in a different part of the house as well.