Stand on metal to ground myself instead of a hum eliminator?

[Old Music Guy]

I'm coming in *way* late to this thread. My tuppence...
For the moment, let's put earth or ground aside. Think of your guitar as a radio. The strings are antennae, the pickups are the receiver(s). This is electromagnetic phenomenon i.e. RF. The pickup is essentially a transducer, insofar as it converts the electromagnetic energy (RF) from the strings and converts it to a voltage, i.e. signal. That "signal" then follows the signal chain. It's amplified through the chain, and ends up at your ears as hum. With a spectrum analyzer (free apps available for phones and tablets) you can identify the frequency of the noise. In the UK, it will likely be 50Hz with varying degrees of 2nd and 3rd degree harmonics. 60Hz in the US. The line frequency also has the closest proximity and the highest electromagnetic radiation (EMR).
The reason that putting your hands on the strings attenuates the noise is because your skin has a resistance, i.e. "R". Albeit a high resistance, >100k ohms/sq in/cm. It is this resistance that changes the essential "wavelength" the string is most efficient at receiving. (Think HAM radio, full wave, 1/2 wave, 1/4 wave/ 1/8 wave).

Bottom line is that ANYTHING that emits an electromagnetic field WILL interfere with your stuff. Everyone knows why "humbuckers" were invented.

Just my tuppence.

EDIT: Ever wonder why an acoustic guitar with a piezo saddle pickup doesn't hum?

 

[ecc83]

EDIT: "Ever wonder why an acoustic guitar with a piezo saddle pickup doesn't hum?"

Ooo! I know sir! I know! It's because piezo devices are essentially capacitors and thus do not respond to electro-MAGNETIC radiation, transformers and stuff. They are sensitive to electro-STATIC fields but these are rarely found with any strength in normal situations.

Piezos CAN hum however as anyone who has ever tried to keep a Decca Deram PU cartridge quiet will testify.

Dave.

 

[MC208]

Just a thought — could it possibly be interference from a Wi-Fi signal?
I once ran into a strange noise issue that turned out to be caused by 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi interference.
Switching everything over to 5 GHz Wi-Fi completely solved it.

If you're referring to me, maybe it could be the wifi, the router is in the mechanical room which is also in the basement, so I'll be sure to check that.

 

[MC208]

I'm coming in *way* late to this thread. My tuppence...
For the moment, let's put earth or ground aside. Think of your guitar as a radio. The strings are antennae, the pickups are the receiver(s). This is electromagnetic phenomenon i.e. RF. The pickup is essentially a transducer, insofar as it converts the electromagnetic energy (RF) from the strings and converts it to a voltage, i.e. signal. That "signal" then follows the signal chain. It's amplified through the chain, and ends up at your ears as hum. With a spectrum analyzer (free apps available for phones and tablets) you can identify the frequency of the noise. In the UK, it will likely be 50Hz with varying degrees of 2nd and 3rd degree harmonics. 60Hz in the US. The line frequency also has the closest proximity and the highest electromagnetic radiation (EMR).
The reason that putting your hands on the strings attenuates the noise is because your skin has a resistance, i.e. "R". Albeit a high resistance, >100k ohms/sq in/cm. It is this resistance that changes the essential "wavelength" the string is most efficient at receiving. (Think HAM radio, full wave, 1/2 wave, 1/4 wave/ 1/8 wave).

Bottom line is that ANYTHING that emits an electromagnetic field WILL interfere with your stuff. Everyone knows why "humbuckers" were invented.

Just my tuppence.

EDIT: Ever wonder why an acoustic guitar with a piezo saddle pickup doesn't hum?

The thing is that the hum completely or nearly completely goes away if we move the guitar around to a different area of the room, or even just turn. It just so happens the the hum is in the exact place that he guitarist sits, and the direction that he faces.

 

[RFR]

The thing is that the hum completely or nearly completely goes away if we move the guitar around to a different area of the room, or even just turn. It just so happens the the hum is in the exact place that he guitarist sits, and the direction that he faces.

Can’t you just rearrange the room? Short of that it’s very easy to just swivel the chair around to get to a ‘hum free’ zone.
Why exactly is the guitarist ‘forced’ to face the position where the hum is most prevalent?
All of us have faced this situation at some point and just moved into the ‘sweet spot’.

 

[MC208]

Can’t you just rearrange the room?

Easier said, but we might just have to...

 

[RFR]

I edited my post

 

[MC208]

Can’t you just rearrange the room? Short of that it’s very easy to just swivel the chair around to get to a ‘hum free’ zone.
Why exactly is the guitarist ‘forced’ to face the position where the hum is most prevalent?
All of us have faced this situation at some point and just moved into the ‘sweet spot’.

Just due to the size/shape of the room, the audio gear, backdrop, video equipment and so on. I'll have to see if we can actually do it

 

[RFR]

Just due to the size/shape of the room, the audio gear, backdrop, video equipment and so on. I'll have to see if we can actually do it

Sounds like you got a lot of stuff in a small room.

Good luck to you for what it’s worth.

 

[LionKing]

If you're referring to me, maybe it could be the wifi, the router is in the mechanical room which is also in the basement, so I'll be sure to check that.

Glad it helped!
Yeah, Wi-Fi can sometimes sneak into audio gear in weird ways — especially 2.4 GHz signals.
Let us know if switching or moving the router makes a difference.

 

[RFR]

Glad it helped!
Yeah, Wi-Fi can sometimes sneak into audio gear in weird ways — especially 2.4 GHz signals.
Let us know if switching or moving the router makes a difference.

I call it wireless pollution. We’re surrounded by all kind of frequencies floating all around.
Older cell systems were real bad. I used to know when someone was calling before the ringer would go off. I’d hear a clicking through my stereo. And putting the cellphone near my guitar pickups gave me all manner of interesting sounds through my amp.

 

[LionKing]

I call it wireless pollution. We’re surrounded by all kind of frequencies floating all around.
Older cell systems were real bad. I used to know when someone was calling before the ringer would go off. I’d hear a clicking through my stereo. And putting the cellphone near my guitar pickups gave me all manner of interesting sounds through my amp.

Right! And besides Wi-Fi, some wireless mics and Bluetooth devices also run on 2.4 GHz — that can add to the interference too.
Personally, if space allows, I still prefer using wired connections whenever possible. It’s just more stable and predictable.