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Author
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Topic: How to "unplug" to avoid feedback?
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Joy Wofford
Member From: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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posted 27 June 2005 10:26 AM
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Hi. Here is a newbie question. I've never played electric instruments before, always acoustic, so this may be a dumb question to all of you that are sooooo used to playing electric. Anyway, I'm wondering if on my lap steel, does it matter if I turn the power off on the amp before I unplug my guitar, or should I unplug the guitar and then turn off the amp? Somebody said something about feedback from one or the other and I just don't want to shock anything. Hope I've worded this right so you can understand what I mean. Thanks ahead of time.
Joy to you |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 27 June 2005 10:46 AM
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Doesn't matter, just keep the volume down on your amp when you plug/unplug your guitar.Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Joy Wofford
Member From: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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posted 27 June 2005 10:53 AM
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Thank you Steinar. I felt like an idiot asking about it, but didn't want to "fry" anything. I appreciate it.
Joy[This message was edited by Joy Wofford on 27 June 2005 at 10:54 AM.] |
John Daugherty
Member From: Rolla, Missouri, USA
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posted 27 June 2005 11:45 AM
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Joy, you won't fry anything. Your ears will tell you what to do. If you unplug the cord at the guitar, with the amp on, you will hear a buzz or hum that is rather unpleasant. |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 27 June 2005 01:12 PM
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I always turn my amp off before unplugging the guitar. The amp is the last thing I turn on and the first thing I turn off. Turning off the amp stops any signal going out to anything, so you'll have no surprise noises -- UNLESS you unplug it too fast. Some amps take several seconds to power down. Wait 10 or 15 seconds before unplugging anything just to be safe.------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Joy Wofford
Member From: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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posted 27 June 2005 01:29 PM
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Great. Thanks for the input on this, I'll use all your suggestions. I play in a small group, and a couple of the guys are "electrified" sometimes (usually not, we play mostly acoustic stuff), but didn't want to ask them because of what I KNOW would've been the ensueing razzing from them. It's all good natured, and fun, but being the only woman in the group, you can just imagine that I am on the receiving end of a lot of jokes from them! Great group of men, but I wasn't willing to let them get the best of me on this one, lol.
Thanks all, Joy |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 27 June 2005 01:52 PM
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As a rule of thumb, if the amp is on, unplug the guitar cord from the amp first, rather the cord from the guitar. Not for any safety or damage reasons--just noise issues. After the first couple of times that you plug a live (plugged into the amp) cord into your guitar or volume pedal, you will get the idea--ugly and loud buzz, and even worse if you are a bad aim and are fumbling to seat the plug in the jack. Not the way to win friends or influence people. [edited to change "chord" to "cord" by someone who ought to know better] [This message was edited by Jon Light on 28 June 2005 at 01:11 PM.]
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Dave Grafe
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 27 June 2005 04:42 PM
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Pay attention to Jon Light, Joy, he is (as usual) right on the money. If you wish to be a professional musician - or just have people think you are - train yourself to ALWAYS unplug the amp or Direct Box end of the cord before unplugging the guitar end. Simply NEVER unplug the cord at the guitar unless it is already unplugged at the other end. Bring your own guitar cord - plugged into your guitar BEFORE you plug into the amp or D.I. - when using another's gear. Make this a habit that you don't even think about and you will always get it right. You will never be responsible for bad noises, never blow up somebody's big expensive PA speakers or somebody else's little cheap amplifier. Best of all, you will earn the undying respect and gratitutude of professional sound techs and sensitive audience members everywhere you go for the rest of your life. Don't expect any of your other musician friends to think it's important for them to follow suit, however. Just do the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing and know that you truly have it going on.[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 27 June 2005 at 05:01 PM.] |
Chris LeDrew
Member From: Newfoundland, Canada
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posted 27 June 2005 08:15 PM
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Joy,If you buy a floor pedal tuner (Boss TU-2 is good) that switches from "on" mode to "tune" mode, then you'll always be off when it's in "tune" mode. I use one for my acoustic, and if I have it in "tune" mode, I can plug and unplug my guitar at will. I also get the added benefit of being able to tune my guitar without having to unplug it during a show, which, as you know by now, can be a little bit of a hassle. |
Michael Garnett
Member From: Fort Worth, TX
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posted 28 June 2005 12:44 AM
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Nothing's worse on the aesthetics of a gig (and often frightening) as the unexpected *POP* of a guitar being unplugged from the instrument side first, especially if the amp/mains/monitors are at any reasonable level. Unplugging from the amp side of the plug first is always good, as is turning down the power amp or simply flicking the switch.-MG |
George Redmon
Member From:
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posted 29 June 2005 09:37 AM
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Hi Joy...another alternative, is to get one of these "Popless" cables. One of the ends has a "Slider" on the plug. Some of theme have a little "Button" that push's in..when you plug the cable in, to allow it to work...and then it pops out when unplugged to block the signal....i don't know where i got it or how much it cost..just one of those things i have had laying around forever..ya know! they're at most music stores i think. This one is called the "Excalibur" it's made by Proco i think!
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Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool.... [This message was edited by George Redmon on 29 June 2005 at 09:39 AM.]
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George Redmon
Member From:
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posted 29 June 2005 09:48 AM
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the cable above...was designed i think for dummys like me! remember what Jon said..GOOD habits are important to learn early on...TURN YOUR AMP DOWN!...or MAKE SURE YOU UNPLUG THE GUITAR FIRST!...------------------
Whitney Single 12 8FL & 5 KN,keyless, dual changers Extended C6th, Webb Amp, Line6 PodXT, Goodrich Curly Chalker Volume Pedal, Match Bro, BJS Bar..I was keyless....when keyless wasn't cool.... [This message was edited by George Redmon on 29 June 2005 at 10:11 AM.]
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Joy Wofford
Member From: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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posted 29 June 2005 05:52 PM
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Double post, sorry
Joy [This message was edited by Joy Wofford on 29 June 2005 at 09:49 PM.] |
Joy Wofford
Member From: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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posted 29 June 2005 05:55 PM
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Thanks one and all for the valuable information. Want to tell you all how great it is to not be treated like a "dummy" in here (especially like a dumb WOMAN!). You all have been just super about getting me off to a good start. I'm sure more questions will ensue soon, but now I have no qualms about asking them. Thanks again.
Joy |
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