If you have a guitar amp, it’s likely going to have a slight hum. Some will have it worse than others, but sometimes bad hum can indicate an issue. Let’s talk about potential causes and how to remove bad humming noises from your guitar amp.
Navigating unwanted noise in your signal chain is one of the most annoying problems a guitarist can face. Searching out and identifying the source of that noise can be even more troublesome.
In this article, we will dive into some common problems that cause amp hum, and all other sorts of awful noise. These issues might involve power sources, grounding issues, pickup selection or even bad components. Some issues we can resolve ourselves, but others will likely require the assistance of a skilled technician. Let’s dive in!
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While we know the noise is coming from your amplifier, it is important to identify that the source of your noise is actually coming from the amplifier. The most common causes of buzz and hum actually come from your guitar, whether it’s the pickups, your internal wiring, or electronics.
For example, single-coil pickups often produce some sort of hum that increases as you turn up the volume or increase gain or overdrive. The initial reason for that noise, though, is that single-coil pickups are easily influenced by surrounding electrical interference.
To help with this, your guitar might need some improvements in shielding or grounding. Of course, the problem could also lie in your guitar’s other components, in your instrument cable or your effects.
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So, before you pull your hair out trying to troubleshoot your amp, you have to rule out an issue with your other equipment first. This is easily done by unplugging everything from your amp except for the power cable. If you are still experiencing the issue, then it’s safe to say the source is actually your amp.
Editor’s Note: Amplifiers generally have large-value capacitors which can hold a charge for quite a while after the amp is turned off. Always make sure to turn the amp of AND UNPLUG IT from the wall before opening the casing. You should wait at least 15 minutes before doing any work to give the capacitors enough time to discharge. It is highly recommended to leave invasive repairs to the professionals (anything that involves opening the chassis of the amp).
So, to be clear, if you’re getting a bad amp hum (or any other unwanted noise) with nothing plugged in, then you know the amplifier is the problem. However, if there is anything plugged into the input or the effects loop of the amp, then you will need to remove that first.
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If you’re using a stack with a separate head and cabinet, or even with many combo amps, you’ll have speaker cable(s) connecting the amp and the speaker(s)/speaker cab. Ensure that you are using a properly shielded speaker cable and not an instrument cable to make this connection.
While they look the same, a speaker cable uses a heavier gauge wire, is built to handle more current is much better shielded. If you try to use an instrument cable, you’ll definitely have a bad hum. It could also do damage to the output transformers in your amp.
60-cycle hum is also referred to as mains hum. Its name references the 60 Hz frequency of AC power that lives in the walls of your house (50 Hz in some countries). If that AC power is able to interfere with improperly shielded audio components, then it will produce an audible hum.
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It can be caused by any sort of outside electronic device, from fluorescent lights and home appliances to computers or even phones. Try changing the position of your amplifier in the room or removing as many of the outside sources of interference as you can from your rehearsal space.
Assuming this didn’t work, figuring out the cause might be the job of a repair shop, but let’s look at some things you can do.
There is the possibility of your amp being designed with a cheap power supply, or even having a bad power cable. In this case, swapping out the power cable can be a quick troubleshoot to rule that out. Another option to rule out dirty power would be to purchase a noise filtering power conditioner.
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It could also simply be a bad tube. If one of your power tubes goes out, the natural hum from your power transformer will no longer be canceled out. Turn your amp on and give each power tube a light tap with something nonconductive and forgiving (like a pencil). If you hear a ringing sound, you will need to replace your tubes.
Now, there is another cause of 60-cycle hum we’ll talk about below which is easier to fix – Ground Loop Hum. You’ll see in a minute why this wouldn’t be a problem with the amp by itself though.
Tube amps naturally produce more background noise than solid-state amplifiers. However, there are several reasons why a tube amp might be producing extraneous noises.
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If your amplifier is making a hissing noise, has become heavily distorted or has significantly reduced in output, it is possible that it is time for new tubes. Tubes are like light bulbs. They do not last forever and need to be replaced when they go out.
If you have an indication that your issue could be tube-related, then there are a few visible signs to look out for. Keep in mind that power tubes are much harder working than preamp tubes and will need to be replaced more frequently.
Microphonic tubes will produce a louder noise (out of the speaker) when tapped. Kind of like a ringing noise and sometimes even produce feedback. Good tubes will make more of a dull “thud” sound.
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The following won’t tell you that the problem IS in fact tube related, but will help you narrow down what type of tube problem it could be if tube-related.
It is possible that the humming sound coming from your guitar amplifier is caused by a bad capacitor. Generally, if you suspect that capacitors are the problem, it is best to seek out a qualified repair person, but we will touch on it briefly.
For example, if you have a bad power supply filter capacitor, it may be causing your amplifier to produce a bad humming sound. However, it can be difficult to diagnose this problem visually.
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Power supply filter capacitors that are nearing the end of their lives may bulge or show other signs of deformity. You often won’t realize there is a problem until one blows, though.
Ground loop hum is a 60-cycle hum that occurs when individual components in an audio signal chain are given multiple paths to ground. Most commonly, for guitarists, when 2 amps are plugged into separate wall outlets each having its own ground connection.
Ground loops exist all around us; they are so prevalent you probably don’t give them much thought on a daily basis. But, they can wreak havoc when introduced to an audio signal. When you have two or more devices plugged into separate outlets, you’ll likely produce a ground loop hum.
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For example, let’s say you have your amplifier plugged into one outlet in your rehearsal space and your pedalboard plugged into a separate outlet across the room. If a strange humming sound emerges, this is likely a ground loop issue.
The same phenomenon can occur with pedals or other equipment placed in your signal chain. Take a look at this example below. You’ll see that the audio components (the pedalboard in this case) are being powered by separate outlets, both leading to their own ground.
Try, in this case, to connect all the devices in your signal chain to one outlet. You could also try purchasing a hum eliminator (found here on Amazon), which is specifically used for ground loop hum.
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If your guitar amp is making more of a buzzing sound than a hum, it’s likely either a ground issue or it’s mechanical. The difference between a buzzing sound coming from the speaker and a buzzing sound coming from the other components should be apparent.
The grounding issue could be a crossed connection between your live wire and ground wire. Again, first, diagnose whether it is happening when nothing is plugged into the amp. Then add a single cable and your guitar. If the problem starts there, switch cables and so on.
Once you find the faulty component, check all your connections within that device. For instance, in your guitar, you’ll check the connections on your output jack, pots, selector switch, etc.
How To Find And Eliminate 60 Cycle Hum
Mechanical noise will generally be coming from the amp itself, as in something is rattling. Examples of this include loose components such as screws, nuts, and bolts. Check the casing, the speaker and easily accessed areas first. Then move into the inner components.
Sometimes, amplifier components will only vibrate at specific frequencies. For example, a loose screw that buzzes every time you play the G on the 12th fret of the G string. This means that the component shares the same resonant frequency as the note you’re playing on the guitar. (You can see
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