Noise abatement, am I missing anything?

[musicispeace]

Working through some noise issues that probably originate mostly from living in an old building but its good practice for the array of venues out there. Here is what I think I have learned so far. Please let me know if you think I am missing anything or greatly dispute something:

Grounded power source
Clean power source (a Power Conditioner may help)
Stage quality shielded cables
Don't have ground loops
Have pedal board sorted out properly in terms of power source, cables, order, etc.
Make sure guitar grounds are all working properly
Check there are no problems with the amp itself
For 60 cycle hum reduction, shielded cavity and guitar cables and possibly one of those "hum canceling" back plate systems to knock it down to the degree possible.
Have something like an ISP Decimator in your bag just in case it may solve an issue

Thanks.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

In a pure environment, single coils will still hum.  Sheilding won't stop them from humming.  The opposite pole of a magnet and a corresponding coil that is 180 degrees out of phase (series or parallel) is what bucks hum.

Many venues wired by the owners' bro-in-laws will have any and every electrical scenario possible.  Some include, but aren't limited to:  hot/neutral reverse, improper or no grounds on circuits, sharing a circuit with something that has a compressor (ice machine, air conditioner, margarita machine, refrigerator, etc.).  Any of those are no problem by themselves, but when you mix components (guitar is grounded, PA isn't), Zap!

 

[TBurst Std]

Add one of these so you know what you are dealling with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptacle_tester

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Add one of these so you know what you are dealling with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptacle_tester

That is a good idea, and have one stuck permanently in my Furman.  However, it doesn't correct miswired circuits.  It only identifies them.  The danger occurs when there is a mismatch.  If all of the circuits on the stage have no ground, that's fine.  Just don't plug a piece of gear into one that does.  If all of the circuits on the stage have a hot neutral reverse, that's also fine.  Just don't share with another piece of equipment that is wired correctly unless you can plug everything into it.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

One common (ooh electrical puns) issue that is not that commonly stated is that for proper wiring of the stage, the neutral should be a larger gauge than the hot.  In normal circumstances there are not things like 1200W bass amps pulling 10 amps of power, so this is often over looked.  Also it is cheaper to use smaller gauge wire.  However, what you want is an easier path for the amps to leave, or you get a bottle neck, and noise feeds back in from other devices.

You have no control over this, it is how the club is wired.  However, it can be the source of significant noise, I have to deal with this at work.  Very annoying when people will not grab the proper wire gauges so that those same people's precious sensors do not wig out later.

You can shield your guitar, but shielded cable works just as well, and is much easier.  Pick ups pick up noise, it's what they do.  Generally even unshielded guitars are not that noisy, if reasonable pickups are used.  Active electronics can amplify noise, so this would be the circumstance I might consider shielding.  That being said, any manufacturer of active electronics for an instrument should have de bugged things ahead of time so that it is not an issue.  Okay, enough blabbering out of me, back to staring at something with no instructions that will need to be done yesterday.
Patrick