Finally found the source of my guitar buzz problems - the sofa chair.

Philtre

It's been a long journey but I finally found the source of the extreme buzzing in my single-coil pickup guitars (Strat, Jaguar mainly). The bloody sofa chair. I traced it to the metal springs in the chair. Close proximity to large metal objects I guess. Wonder if I should run a wire to ground from the springs?

skunkwerx

Just cover the sofa in copper foil man. 

Philtre

skunkwerx said:

Just cover the sofa in copper foil man. 

Could I use some of the tin foil I wear on my head?

scrumhalf

Can you turn one spring round to buck the hum of the other one?

Philtre

scrumhalf said:

Can you turn one spring round to buck the hum of the other one?

This is why I love this forum. Expert advice!

Philtre

Come on guys, I'd like some scientific corroboration on this one. Plug in your single coil guitar and place it in close proximity to the metal springs of your chair or sofa. More buzz? If we nail this we might just have explained one of life's great mysteries.

ICBM

Earthing the springs and the frame (if that's metal as well) may well fix it - it sounds like it's acting as an aerial for the noise.

Philtre

ICBM said:

Earthing the springs and the frame (if that's metal as well) may well fix it - it sounds like it's acting as an aerial for the noise.

But then I experimented some more. Any large metal body near the pickups increases the buzz.

ICBM

Philtre said:

But then I experimented some more. Any large metal body near the pickups increases the buzz.

For the same reason...

If you earth the large metal body, the noise should stop. To a degree this is what happens when you touch the grounded guitar strings - the noise that your body was acting as an aerial for is now sent to earth. You're not as conductive as a metal sofa frame, but enough for it to work quite well.

Bridgehouse

Philtre said:

ICBM said:

Earthing the springs and the frame (if that's metal as well) may well fix it - it sounds like it's acting as an aerial for the noise.

But then I experimented some more. Any large metal body near the pickups increases the buzz.

Don’t stand near large metal bodies.... I guess Marvin the paranoid android is out..

Philtre

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

Bridgehouse

Philtre said:

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

Just tether yourself to a massive metal rod buried in the back garden.

Philtre

Bridgehouse said:

Philtre said:

ICBM said:

Earthing the springs and the frame (if that's metal as well) may well fix it - it sounds like it's acting as an aerial for the noise.

But then I experimented some more. Any large metal body near the pickups increases the buzz.

Don’t stand near large metal bodies.... I guess Marvin the paranoid android is out..

You mean we have to lose the giant Tesla Coils for our live stage show?

Philtre

Bridgehouse said:

Philtre said:

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

Just tether yourself to a massive metal rod buried in the back garden.

How do you know what's buried in my back garden? Oops, nothing to see, move along...

Bridgehouse

Philtre said:

Bridgehouse said:

Philtre said:

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

Just tether yourself to a massive metal rod buried in the back garden.

How do you know what's buried in my back garden? Oops, nothing to see, move along...

I’m guessing Rod didn’t see it coming...?

Voxman

Philtre said:

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

So, how's the grounding going @Philtre. ;;; Is it sofa so good, or have you had to bench the idea when you may have to settee for another solution!    ( I had to be careful how I couched that!   )

Philtre

Voxman said:

Philtre said:

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

So, how's the grounding going @Philtre. ;; Is it sofa so good, or have you had to bench the idea when you may have to settee for another solution!    sorry, but I had to be careful how I couched that!   

Hmm, you have a very earthy sense of humour.

Voxman

Philtre said:

Voxman said:

Philtre said:

Right, then, I'm going to ground.

So, how's the grounding going @Philtre. ;;;;; Is it sofa so good, or have you had to bench the idea when you may have to settee for another solution!    sorry, but I had to be careful how I couched that!   

Hmm, you have a very earthy sense of humour.

Actually I'm quite grounded although, shockingly, some think I'm a bit of a live wire...but I re-fuse to believe it.   

PhilW1

According to Faradays Law , to cancel out the earthing effect of the sofa you need matching curtains.

pintspiller

Have you tried playing erect instead of seated?

Philtre

pintspiller said:

Have you tried playing erect instead of seated?

Well, I tried erect and seated but that's another story... ;-)