question about my amp

[N#34]

Okay, I've been playing acoustic guitar for about 6 months and have just bought my first electric and amp. I got a Fender Standard Strat w/ a Fender Frontman 15R. The question I have is about the amp. I get a whole lot of fuzz when I am hooked up and trying to play. If I touch any metal part of the guitar (strings, bridge, etc.) the fuzz quiets down but if the guitar just sits there with the amp on, the fuzz is pretty loud. Like I said, I'm new to the electric guitar and amp world so I would like to know if this is normal or if I should be sending back my amp. Thanks a lot, any help is greatly appreciated.

[treyphish]

sounds like you're getting a bad ground check the chord or replace it and also try to plug into a different outlet. and are you getting the buzz on every tone or when you change tones does it go away?

[Mason]

Sounds like its the Single Coil Pickups. Its something called "Hum" and is one of the reasons they invented "Humbuckers" cuz they were trying to cancel that humming but in doing so it also changed the tone pretty dramatically. But it is possible that it may be a problem. Correct me if Im wrong but didnt Randy Rhoads have a problem with having to keep his hand on the metal in order to keep it from humming even though he used a humbucker equipped guitar? But his dilemma, if I remember correctly, rooted from his MXR Distortion pedals. I guess Ill have to check through my rather extensive "Guitar Player" collection.

[smfulla]

Yeh man, it's those good ol' trusty single coil pickups that are giving you that hum. And as Mason said that's why they invented humbuckers. But humbuckers don't COMPLETELY get rid of the hum, they reduce it quite dramatically. The only way to get rid of the hum completely is to use a noise gate. Neway dude, if the hum is a really big problem, get humbucker atleast for your bridge. Btw you can get humbuckers that look like single coil pickups as well so you can fit them onto your fender. I think they're made by seymour duncan.

[ESP_Viper]

What he is describing is a grounding problem. If he touches metal on the guitar it's nothing w/ the pickups. If it were the pickups touching metal on the guitar would do nothing to reduce the buzzing.

The fender frontmans that I have played (bass and guitar models) are all very noisy w/ ground buzzing. It's just something you will have to put up with, just don't take your hands off the strings or the bridge.

[treyphish]

i was talking about the back cord from the amp. i figured that since the dude was new to it he may have pulled to hard on the cord my buddy had the same buzzing cuz he was fired up about getting the amp and while pulling the cord tugged to hard which caused the wires to become bare and it was touching in the back. just lending the guy an experience.

[ESP_Viper]

That'd have to be one serious pull or a very cheap power cord to make the insulation move to make wires bare!

[treyphish]

i think it was a bad cord obviously cuz it was a floor model you know how that goes!!! it doesnt take much to pull on that cord and have the covering seperate. anyway.........time for a brew !!!!

[smfulla]

hey I know i didn't start the thread, but ta for the info =]]
grounding prblem aye? so there is no way to fix it?

[ESP_Viper]

If it is a wiring problem it is possible to fix. If it is a bad design in the amp (like the fender frontman amps) there is nothing you can do.

If it is the wiring, it could be the outlet you are plugged into or your amp needs its wiring looked at and fixed.

[N#34]

I tried plugging the amp into different outlets around my house but got the same buzz everywhere. The amp is only about 5 days old and I don't think that I ever pulled real hard on the plug. Anyways there are no exposed wires hanging out the back. About that humbucker that is shaped like a single coil, how much would one run and where would be the best place to install it on my Strat? Thanks for all your help.

[ESP_Viper]

They will be roughly 70 bucks. But, if you are buying that to get rid of that buzz it won't do anything. It's a poor design in that amp. My friend had one back in middle school and I remember that it buzzed with his squier strat and it buzzed just the same with my humbucker equipped guitar. The duncan single coil sized humbucker will give you better tone, but it won't reduce that buzz you are getting.

[N#34]

Well what would be a good amp in the $150-300 price range to replace my Frontman?

[treyphish]

i went to a new and used place and picked up a fender deville tube amp about 8 months ago for $350 and i have had no problems try a used place and see what you can find sometimes its worth the patience.

[ESP_Viper]

Yeah, used gear is a good way to go. Just be cautious. Make sure the amp is in good condition, and find out what they return policy is. That way you can take it home and see if it works the way you like for what you do and take it back if need be. If you can't find a good used amp, try the marshall AVT20.

[jaytee]

ok durn it....

i had found a cool website that had a pretty good demo for the avt's...i was gonna post it last week to see what you thought ..if it was straight forward or not....but i forgot and now i cant find it!

ive pretty much got my mind made up i think.....but id still like to see what you think if i can find it...maybe youd like to see it too...

ill keep lookin tho...

--jt


found it! try this:

http://www.musicplayer.com/CDA/Player/Main/1,2228,Lessons-Guitarist-5161580,00.html

ps...those prices at the bottom....are what marshall "suggests"...ive seen the avt20 selling for $299 all over the place....