Re: microphone shocks

yrret wrote:
"Don Pearce" <spam@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:4a330a90.691747312@xxxxxxxxxxxx
On Sat, 6 Jun 2009 01:15:19 -0500, "yrret" <bat@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Over the past few years I've been noticing a pattern. I am always getting
zapped by the microphone. This has been in a variety of clubs and practise
spaces. It also involves different amps, all less then ten years old.
Whats been the same is myself, the guitar, and perhaps the main patch cord.
A planet waves brand with a button that shorts the circuit for muting. I've
also replaced the pickups in the guitar in the past. A bass player who
plays with me never complains of shock.

It occurs as I write this I should try another cord for awhile. But I
wonder if a possible mis-wiring in the guitar would make it prone to being a
shock hazard. And better if anyone could point out what this kind of
mis-wiring would look like.

You never get shocked by microphones.
Well actually I do. Or more to the point my lips do.


His point is that microphones do not carry current. Wait: do
you have phantom turned on? Even then, I dunno that phantom will
cause a shock. 1-10mA @ 48V is pretty tame.

You get shocked by the mis-wired
mains-powered equipment it is plugged into.
Well not that I disagree, its just that in my case there has now been a great variety of equipment involved in my discomfort.


But your bass player never has this problem. So my guess, based on
that, is that it is your amp.

Alternatively, if you get
the shock only while touching the guitar metalwork, it may be that the
guitar amp (not the guitar) is mis-wired.
Well thats what I've read so far. But I have many guitar amps, of different brands. Solid state and tube. And my lips still suffer.


Then maybe it is your mains/power cabling. The guitar and guitar
lead are unlikely to *cause* shock.

Either way get it fixed
Yes I would. If I knew what to fix.

Who fixes your amp? Get them to help. Even if that means hauling
a bunch of gear down to their shop.

before you kill somebody. Don't even think of just "trying another
cord". It is now public knowledge that you are aware of the safety
hazard, and these postings will become evidence at your manslaughter
trial.
You didn't actually have any insight to share did you? Thats okay we all need to rant out, good for the soul.


Don was merely noting that people have died from this. It is not
to be taken lightly. If you continue to use the gear and
somebody is injured, this thread can be used in a court of law.

I'd call that a significant insight.

There is nothing wrong with calling someone on the ground,
asking what they'd charge to help you figure this out ( it
might not even be that much ) and paying them to do it. But
if you can run a VOM, you might be able to DIY, but ... if
you could run a VOM, you wouldn't be likely to be asking here.

d



--
Les Cargill
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: microphone shocks
    ... It also involves different amps, all less then ten years old. ... Whats been the same is myself, the guitar, and perhaps the main patch ... plays with me never complains of shock. ... No, the microphone is not the source of the shock, merely the bit you ...
    (rec.audio.pro)
  • Re: microphone shocks
    ... It also involves different amps, all less then ten years old. ... Whats been the same is myself, the guitar, and perhaps the main patch ... plays with me never complains of shock. ... His point is that microphones do not carry current. ...
    (rec.audio.pro)
  • Re: microphone shocks
    ... zapped by the microphone. ... It also involves different amps, all less then ten years old. ... Whats been the same is myself, the guitar, and perhaps the main patch ... great variety of equipment involved in my discomfort. ...
    (rec.audio.pro)
  • Re: microphone shocks
    ... zapped by the microphone. ... It also involves different amps, all less then ten years old. ... plays with me never complains of shock. ... its just that in my case there has now been a great variety of equipment involved in my discomfort. ...
    (rec.audio.pro)
  • Re: Amp choice for smooth jazz sound, home use.
    ... The best thing is to take your guitar ... variety of amps and actually listen to them if possible. ... want clean for fingerstyle jazz and clean amps tend to be different in ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.jazz)