Guitar/Amp Picking Up Radio Stations

[Myriad_Rocker]

What the hell? Why? When I turn down the guitar, it's fine. When I turn it up, I can hear a radio station(s) coming through the cab. What can I do to fix this? I've changed guitars...still happens.

[Richard Monroe]

What are you using for a cable? The most common reason for what you describe is using a speaker cable for an instrument cable, or just cheap guitar cables with bad shielding. Try a heavily shielded instrument cable, such as a keyboard cable. Good luck.-Richie

[Myriad_Rocker]

I'm using a custom made 14 or 12 gauge speaker cable. I'm also using a Planet Waves guitar cable.

I can't see why it would be the cables. Not saying you're wrong...just saying that they're good cables.

I have a Mogami and Monster guitar cables, too. I'll give those a whirl.

[genesisariana]

Maybe shielding around the electronics in the amp itself? I have never heard it through a guitar cab, I have, though, through a really cheap home stereo (not on the tuner input).

[punkin]

Does the amp power cable still have the 3 prong cable and are all three prongs still there?

Do you have any outboard effects plugged in? If so, remove them and check again.

Have you tried a different guitar?

Even though you've purchased quality cables, check them by trying some other cables.

[Bob's Mods]

Marshall amps have this problem if your too close to a radio tower. Good cables may fix the problem. Moveing your gear around the room will help too. If all else fails you may have to add a 1000 pF cap at the input to the amp. Hot to ground.

Bob the Mod Guy.

[steveguttenberg]

I used to get Radio Disney when using a wah pedal on a marshall. Needless to say...I had many amazing jam sessions playing along with it.

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by punkin

Does the amp power cable still have the 3 prong cable and are all three prongs still there?

Do you have any outboard effects plugged in? If so, remove them and check again.

Have you tried a different guitar?

Even though you've purchased quality cables, check them by trying some other cables.

Still has the 3 prong, no outboard, and I have tried a different guitar. I'll continue with testing out other cables.

What if I plug the amp into a different wall outlet?

[boingoman]

You get a different channel.

[FALKEN]

yeah happens all the time with wahs and distortion. also had good jams that way...only picking up npr instead.

[guitarmagic]

I used to get it only using my wah but now i get it guitar plugged direct in. I think its just the area that you live in, and it usually isnt audible when you play. I use a carvin v3 and get it all the time, italian radio station which is funny cuz i'm italian lol

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by guitarmagic

I used to get it only using my wah but now i get it guitar plugged direct in. I think its just the area that you live in, and it usually isnt audible when you play. I use a carvin v3 and get it all the time, italian radio station which is funny cuz i'm italian lol

Yeah, I've had it happen with another amp and a Warwick bass before. Warwick = german, and it was a german radio station. I'm not german, though.

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by Myriad_Rocker

What the hell? Why? When I turn down the guitar, it's fine. When I turn it up, I can hear a radio station(s) coming through the cab. What can I do to fix this? I've changed guitars...still happens.

If the radio station volume cuts out when you turn the guitar down, it's the guitar, not the amp or cables. A guitar pickup can be up to a couple thousand feet of wire. It makes a pretty good antenna.

[cusebassman]

Originally Posted by boingoman

If the radio station volume cuts out when you turn the guitar down, it's the guitar, not the amp or cables.

Or its the entire circuit. Apparently this happens no matter what guitar or cable. I have the same problem on a rare ocassion. I just deal. Sometimes changing which direction I face relative to the amp helps, or coiling the guitar cable in a certain manner... there isn't much to be done about it, in my experience.

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by cusebassman

Or its the entire circuit. Apparently this happens no matter what guitar or cable. I have the same problem on a rare ocassion. I just deal. Sometimes changing which direction I face relative to the amp helps, or coiling the guitar cable in a certain manner... there isn't much to be done about it, in my experience.

I don't think it happens with my Telecaster. But that would be expected since the pickups aren't as hot as my Gibsons.

I am recording a DI at the same time I'm tracking guitars. I can't hear the radio station on the DI. So I hope I'll be okay with it when I start reamping.

[boingoman]

Hey- I was just coming back to this- the way to test is to plug in a cable with no guitar, and then a shorted jack. If either one of these results in radio noise, it's the amp. If not, it's the guitar.

If it's the amp, you can shield the preamp tubes, like you see in Fender amps, if they aren't already. That helps a bit.

[undrgrnd studio]

Its def the guitar. I've had this problem before.

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by boingoman

Hey- I was just coming back to this- the way to test is to plug in a cable with no guitar, and then a shorted jack. If either one of these results in radio noise, it's the amp. If not, it's the guitar.

If it's the amp, you can shield the preamp tubes, like you see in Fender amps, if they aren't already. That helps a bit.

What do you mean with a shorted jack?

[boingoman]

A shorted jack has the tip and sleeve connected directly together, creating a short circuit. Most modern amps have a type of jack where the input is shorted to ground if no cable is plugged in. Using a shorted jack mimics having a guitar plugged into the amp. This lets you see how noisy the amp is by itself, while taking any noise from the guitar out of the equation.

You can make one by opening an unused jack and soldering the two tabs together. Or you can use a shortie cable, plug it in, and make contact between tip and sleeve at the free end with a paper clip or piece of wire.

[cusebassman]

Originally Posted by Myriad_Rocker

I don't think it happens with my Telecaster. But that would be expected since the pickups aren't as hot as my Gibsons.

I am recording a DI at the same time I'm tracking guitars. I can't hear the radio station on the DI. So I hope I'll be okay with it when I start reamping.

Huh. Well then!

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by cusebassman

Huh. Well then!

Well then, what?

[DAS19]

Originally Posted by steveguttenberg

I used to get Radio Disney when using a wah pedal on a marshall. Needless to say...I had many amazing jam sessions playing along with it.

Radio disney rocks hard!

lol not

[cusebassman]

Originally Posted by Myriad_Rocker

Well then, what?

Well then nothin! When I would hear it, it would happen with both my electrics. But if you've swapped guitars and had it stop, I don't know what to suggest. That's what

[Myriad_Rocker]

Originally Posted by cusebassman

Well then nothin! When I would hear it, it would happen with both my electrics. But if you've swapped guitars and had it stop, I don't know what to suggest. That's what

Maybe it's just that I didn't notice it. I wasn't really paying attention. I never am, but that is beside the point!

Record it. It might make a cool intro to song...some old song coming through on a guitar amp.