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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 20
Location: Erlinsbach | Hi,
3 months ago i got my new 2009 collector's edition with a op-pro studio preamp installed. So far i am very happy with the sound of the guitar and this preamp. Unfortunately i have a persistant hum problem when plugged in. You can't year it when playing, especially in band context. But for recording it's very disturbing.
I tried several things, changed cables, amp and playing location. I even switched the preamp (and the can) of my Elite T (OP30) to the OP-Pro Studio and it occurs also with this guitar.
Any hints or experiences are welcome. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Congratulations on your 2009! They're beutiful guitars.
Just a few questions: when you record, are you using a stand-alone recorder, or a computer? If a stand-alone, what model? If a computer, what are you using for an interface?
Have you tried using any other guitars under the same conditions? Say, you plug in to record with your 2009. You get a hum. Unplug the 2009 and plug in a different acoustic/electric guitar. Do you still get a hum?
The problem may not necessarily be your guitar. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 565
Location: Denmark | It seems that O electronics are somewhat more sensible to 50Hz hum than 60Hz as mostly people from 50Hz areas have mentioned this.
1. Try replacing the battery with a new in good condition.
2. Try - while plugged in - to tap the pickup with a finger to hear if any of the pickups have lower output. This could indicate a weak connection.
The weak connection can be either electrical or mechanical, so one possibility is that the pickup is not mechanically seated correctly. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | The usual culprits are: grounding, flourescent lights, electrical motors, transformers nearby, or power supply in your amp or computer.
If I understand correctly, the hum followed the Studio preamp and can when you put those into your T. The obvious question is whether you ever have that hum with your T with it's OP30? What happens when you install the OP30 in your 2009?
Assuming the problem isolates to the Studio preamp and can, I'd guess either a bad ground somewhere in your Studio or it's can, or it is just more susceptible to picking up an externally caused hum. My experience is that we have zero hum in any of our Ovation preamps at home or on any stage we've been on. I've never noticed any of our preamps picking up externally caused hum from lights or motors. Sometimes an amp will pick up hum, but never the guitar. Even so, it would be worth investigating if there is a source of interference nearby. See if there are flourescent lights, electric motors such as in a refrigerator, a large power transformer, or very high voltage power lines nearby. Check the grounding of the outlets you are plugging your amp or recording equipment into. Here in the states they sell little electronic plugs that you can plug into an outlet which will indicate via lights whether the outlet is properly wired and grounded. There is probably something similar you can buy cheap in Deutschland.
The hums I do get are from the power supply to my laptop. It isn't really the guitar, it is the interface box via USB. Even with nothing connected to the box there is the hum unless I run the laptop on battery. If you only get the problem when plugged into one piece of equipment, it may be that equipment, not the guitar.
Unfortunately the boxes for the OP30 and Studio are not interchangeable. It would be easy to isolate it to the can or the preamp module if they were. If you have access to a multimeter, you could check the continuity of the ground in the can. If the problem is inside the guts of the preamp module, it would have to go to an authorized repair station.
If the hum is caused internally by a bad ground in the can or in the module, it should be covered by warranty. The factory has excellent customer service and they should be able to help you get a repair or replacement quickly. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 20
Location: Erlinsbach | Thanks a lot for all your good advices!
The problem can be isolated to the preamp/can combination op-pro studio, because the op30 is dead quiet in the collector's guitar.
I just made a short test: i plugged a headphone in the guitar and the hum is clearly hearable! This occurs only with the op-pro preamp.
I will get a new Elite LX in some days with the same preamp. So i can do a further test to identify if it is the preamp or the can.
Greetings and thanks again |
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Hum problem with OP-Pro Studio
