60 cycle hum reality check

[Thomas Wagner]

Hello, I have single coils in my Linkon D-10, is this a normal amount of hum to be heard? I feel it's loud.

https://www.tiktok.com/@thomaspedalstee ... 8824913208

[Dan Beller-McKenna]

Might be a little high. What is your volume pedal level in this clip? The hum will be more noticeable when the volume pedal is fully open, which should only happen rarely while playing.

[Bob Hoffnar]

That is not just 60 cycle hum. You have got buzz in there too. Check out grounding issues. That noise is at a level that it would not be acceptable to me. I use single coils with substantial 60 cycle hum and it doesn't sound like that. 60 cycle hum is a low note around Bb/B. It does not usually have that high buzzing sound. You generally can't hear 60 cycle hum when you play a note. Except soft harmonics sometimes. That buzz is coming through loud and clear when you play a chord.

Whatever you do make sure you can undo it. You might not like what happens with the tone when you "fix" the problem.

A caveman way to check grounding buzz is to plug the steel straight into an amp so hear the buzz. Then touch different metal parts and wires with something conductive and see if it changes anything. When you get a beautiful silence make sure you didn't short the whole thing out.

Also try moving the steel around while its plugged in and see if the sound changes. Try a different outlet.

Does the buzz sound the same in a different building ?

[Thomas Wagner]

Might be a little high. What is your volume pedal level in this clip? The hum will be more noticeable when the volume pedal is fully open, which should only happen rarely while playing.

volume is probably 70% open for this. Buzz is definitely audible at this level

[Thomas Wagner]

That is not just 60 cycle hum. You have got buzz in there too. Check out grounding issues. That noise is at a level that it would not be acceptable to me. I use single coils with substantial 60 cycle hum and it doesn't sound like that. 60 cycle hum is a low note around Bb/B. It does not usually have that high buzzing sound. You generally can't hear 60 cycle hum when you play a note. Except soft harmonics sometimes. That buzz is coming through loud and clear when you play a chord.

Whatever you do make sure you can undo it. You might not like what happens with the tone when you "fix" the problem.

A caveman way to check grounding buzz is to plug the steel straight into an amp so hear the buzz. Then touch different metal parts and wires with something conductive and see if it changes anything. When you get a beautiful silence make sure you didn't short the whole thing out.

Also try moving the steel around while its plugged in and see if the sound changes. Try a different outlet.

Does the buzz sound the same in a different building ?

Seems like a grounding issue. Using my hand to touch the ground wires to a metal piece seems to have solved it. I will track down some wire and try to ground to the metal on the side of the guitar.

[Bruce Coffman]

PSG newbie here, but in the Six String World there is ALWAYS an audio ground wire running internally from an audio ground point (switch/pot back/jack) to a metal part of the bridge so that the act of playing automatically contacts your body to ground via the strings (grounded humans are excellent absorbers of airborne electronic noise).

You might also check around for whatever is generating the RF interference in your sample — too close computer, video screen, renal dialysis machine

[Thomas Wagner]

here's a video demonstrating difference, buzz is lower but still present: https://youtube.com/shorts/219_HJ00wwo?feature=share

You're right, very strange not to have a grounding wire connected to the large metal plate (like wire grounding bridge on guitar)

I also am curious about the 2 white wire going to input jack. I'm tempted to rewire entire guitar.

[Thomas Wagner]

Ok, looked a few forum posts/guitar wiring diagrams. I think I will try this wiring. 1 single 3 way switch, and sending blk wired directly to plate (vs switches) will hopefully remove excessive hum.

Would appreciate someone checking my work if willing.

[ajm]

Just a comment: In your video from 11 Feb 2026, when doing the "wire test" it looks like your fingers may be touching some of the metal in the guitar.
I'd make sure that the only thing making a connection is the jumper wire, and not your hands.

Question: Do you have a six string? Preferably a single coil guitar like a Strat or Tele?
If so, use it to do your noise tests, especially when rotating/moving the guitar around.
And when you do those tests try them bot touching and not touching the strings.
And use the guitar in a single pickup mode. If you have pickups combined they may be in out of phase RWRP noise cancelling mode, which would mess with your results (and your mind).

Another question: What pickups are in the PSG?

[Donny Hinson]

Definitely some string buzz there, and maybe some hum.
But to me, your tuning issues are far more troubling.

[Bob Hoffnar]

Thomas,
When you check for hum/buzz reduction make sure you monitor the volume/output of the steel. It can be deceptive.

There is a great db monitor app that is free for your phone called NIOSH SIM.

Rewiring seems like the way to go. I can't help you with your wiring plan because that stuff makes my brain hurt.

[Thomas Wagner]

Just a comment: In your video from 11 Feb 2026, when doing the "wire test" it looks like your fingers may be touching some of the metal in the guitar.
I'd make sure that the only thing making a connection is the jumper wire, and not your hands.

Question: Do you have a six string? Preferably a single coil guitar like a Strat or Tele?
If so, use it to do your noise tests, especially when rotating/moving the guitar around.
And when you do those tests try them bot touching and not touching the strings.
And use the guitar in a single pickup mode. If you have pickups combined they may be in out of phase RWRP noise cancelling mode, which would mess with your results (and your mind).

Another question: What pickups are in the PSG?

I only have a humbucker 6 string; I dont have any amp buzz when using it, though would expect not too. The buzz is present both through the amp and when plugged into my audio interface. I believe the issue has been isolated to the PSG.

The PSG is a linkon D10 from 1980(?). The pickups are similar to a sho-bud. I see some forum posts about old pickups loosing magnetism over time, but not sure if thats my issue, or if I'm ready to replace pickups. A pair of narrow mount humbuckers would be nice though..

[Thomas Wagner]

Definitely some string buzz there, and maybe some hum.
But to me, your tuning issues are far more troubling.

Sorry for noob question - what is string buzz?

Tuning is a problem for this guitar. I think it goes out of tune relatively quickly, even during recording.

[Bruce Coffman]

I can’t help but look at your pics and be semi-horrified with the wiring as shown. No shielded audio wires anywhere, unshielded wires strung willy-nilly about the entire undercarriage, an electrical barrier strip with screw contacts and sloppy conductor trimming/twisting, what looks like a too-long white wire coiled up on the case side — nor are any of the individual hot/gnd wire pairs even twisted one around the other (into RF rejecting twisted pairs) — all basic steps used to reduce having your PSG act like a giant RF antenna with strings. I am in no way surprised that you’re having noise issues, and I believe a complete (and technically-professional) rewiring will solve your issues.

(BTW: coiling up long wires creates an excellent directional radio antenna — always trim all wires to the proper length.)

[Ron Pruter]

Tom, this may be redundant but if it's a simple grounding issue, touching the outside nut on your guitars jack, and the hum goes away, is proof it's a grounding problem. RP

[Donny Hinson]

I fully agree with Bruce, that's a LOT of wire to just go between pickups, a switch, and a jack. Any wire lengths that could be shortened should be shortened, as well as doing away with the barrier terminal strip. Unshielded wiring in the signal path should be kept as short as possible.

As for string buzz, it has two major causes - inadequate bar pressure and damping (the strings behind the bar), and grooves on the top of the changer fingers. I more suspect the latter in this case, that since it's an older guitar, some smoothing and polishing in that area may be required.

[Thomas Wagner]

I can’t help but look at your pics and be semi-horrified with the wiring as shown. No shielded audio wires anywhere, unshielded wires strung willy-nilly about the entire undercarriage, an electrical barrier strip with screw contacts and sloppy conductor trimming/twisting, what looks like a too-long white wire coiled up on the case side — nor are any of the individual hot/gnd wire pairs even twisted one around the other (into RF rejecting twisted pairs) — all basic steps used to reduce having your PSG act like a giant RF antenna with strings. I am in no way surprised that you’re having noise issues, and I believe a complete (and technically-professional) rewiring will solve your issues.

(BTW: coiling up long wires creates an excellent directional radio antenna — always trim all wires to the proper length.)

I think you're right - a re-wire is in order. After further testing with wire and grounding nut, metal plates I do not think this is a grounding issue alone.

The guitar came like this to the previous owner, I'm not sure if it left the shop like this or if someone had changed it to this.

[Thomas Wagner]

I fully agree with Bruce, that's a LOT of wire to just go between pickups, a switch, and a jack. Any wire lengths that could be shortened should be shortened, as well as doing away with the barrier terminal strip. Unshielded wiring in the signal path should be kept as short as possible.

As for string buzz, it has two major causes - inadequate bar pressure and damping (the strings behind the bar), and grooves on the top of the changer fingers. I more suspect the latter in this case, that since it's an older guitar, some smoothing and polishing in that area may be required.

Will give this a try to address buzz.