Jump to content

Solution for powering multiple pedals...


Recommended Posts

  • Members

So the Visual Sound 1 Spot is out, which also means that all switching power supplies are probably out, unless the 1 Spot is vastly different. I'm getting some strange hum that goes away when I touch something metal on the guitar or pedal that it's connected to. I've tried both my guitar and lapsteel into several different pedals (one at a time or all at once) into two different amps in three different locations with the 1 Spot plugged into several different outlets at each location. No matter what I try, it's hum city. I even get hum with my Microcube running on batteries (not plugged into the wall). Also, I get the hum even when the cable is not plugged into the guitar; but when I touch the part of the plug you use to pull it out of jacks, the hum goes away.

 

So it must be some grounding issue with the 1 Spot. So anyway, the 1 Spot is out of the picture. The guys at Visual Sound have no idea what the problem could be and have even sent me a replacement that still has the same hum problem. In addition, I assume this is the case with ALL switching power supplies.

 

 

 

So...what are my other solutions? I need to power like 4 or 5 pedals (one digital, the rest analog). I'm hoping to be able to do it for under $100, cheaper the better. Is this hopeless?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I think the hum may be coming from your guitar not being grounded properly...

 

 

Guitar and lapsteel both not grounded properly?

 

How about how there is hum without the cable (from guitar to first pedal) not being plugged in, which goes away when I touch the shield part of the plug (the part you pull on when pulling a cable out of a jack)?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

think about switching cables seeing if the ground in the cable is messed up?

a bad cable happens to the best of us!

if you have monster, planet waves, or mogami you can go to your local gc/ dealer and swap them out.

or just try one brand new guitar cable. if the hum is gone then there is your problem!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

think about switching cables seeing if the ground in the cable is messed up?


a bad cable happens to the best of us!


if you have monster, planet waves, or mogami you can go to your local gc/ dealer and swap them out.


or just try one brand new guitar cable. if the hum is gone then there is your problem!

 

 

I've tried several different cables, including different brands (Planet Waves and Bill Lawrence, both solderless).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

just try it with one. do it to both ends and plus directly into the amp. if there isnt any hum then there yea go.

 

 

 

I don't get hum without the 1 Spot. Without the 1 Spot plugged in regardless of what cables, amp, guitar, pedals, etc. that I'm using, I get no hum/buzz. This is why I find it extremely unlikely that it's a problem with a cable(s). Not only that, but I find it very unlikely that all 9 of my cables (8 solderless, one soldered) have grounding problems.

 

I thik I've taken just about everything into account other than their just being something inherently wrong with the 1 Spot and/or switching power supply design. I just don't see how others have success with them. Maybe they're more tolerant of buzz or don't hear it at stage volumes or something.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

On the cheap, get a Godlyke Power All. Around $40 & quieter than the 1-Spot. I keep one in my case as a backup.

A little more gets you a DC Brick. Top of the ladder is the PP2+.


I use both a PP2+ and a Brick and have no hum problems at all running 16 pedals.

 

 

I've considered the Godlyke, but I'm assuming that I'll probably have the same problems as it's also a switching power supply. I could be wrong? Am I?

 

I've also looked at the DC Brick, but it supposedly only supplies up to 375 mA total to 9 volt pedals, and my Digidelay will take up half that on its own.

 

The PP2+ is just ridiculously expensive. I'd rather just use batteries with my analogs and use the standard adapter for the Digidelay.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Looks like @omheartmother is just going to have to man up and get a PP2+ or buy some b@eries

 

 

Well, even the PP2+ as some faults as it only has a few power outputs (4 plus the sag ones). What pedals does it work with? It only mentions Boss pedals. Does it have adapters for EHX pedals? I'm OK with batteries as none of the pedals are huge drainers. But I have having to disconnect half the cables on my pedal board after every show.

 

 

How much does a pedal drain a battery by having a cable connected, but the pedal off? I'm talking about an analog chorus (Ibanez CS-9) and analog trem (Boss TR-2).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

has anyone tried using like a furman power conditioner and a one spot?? They are pretty cheap now a days on Ebay and was wondering if this would clean up the hum. i think most of my hum comes from my amp tho...

 

 

Isn't that thing a rack unit though? That's kind of a pain in the ass if you don't have a rack setup. Do they have any like surge protector type things?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...