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[Jamin Lynch]

I have often heard that neon lights can cause buzzing in a sound system or a guitar amp. I can't remember it ever being a problem for me anyway. This came up the other day when a band came in for set up and immediately started turning off all the neon lights that have been on this stage for years with no issues. They said they have issues with neons all the time.

Myth or fact?

If a fact, what would cause it and how can it be corrected?

Thanks

[Art Welter]

They said they have issues with neons all the time.

Myth or fact?

If a fact, what would cause it and how can it be corrected?

Jamin,

No myth, high voltage transformers employed to drive neon signs often radiate lots of RF signals that are readily picked up by high impedance single coil guitar pickups which act as an antenna, the RF is amplified by the high gain compressors, distortion effects, and guitar amps.

Standing with your guitar with the strings and pickups at the correct angle in relation to the "broadcast" transformers can reduce the noise, but when there are several neon sign transformers (as is typical in nightclubs with multiple beer endorsements) there is no angle one can stand at that will avoid the noise radiated by them all.

In those nightclubs, the guitar player and amplifier must be either be enclosed in a Faraday cage to avoid the noise pickup, or use humbucking pickups, an unacceptable solution for a guitar player fond of the tone of his 1962 Stratocaster.

So, the usual solution is to unplug the goddamn transformers.

Art

[Nicolas Poisson]

It also "works" with dimmed PAR cans: the voltage switching generates high frequencies, which are emitted by the lamp.

[Taylor Hall]

No myth, here. It can also mess with wireless mic/monitor signals.

[Art Welter]

It also "works" with dimmed PAR cans: the voltage switching generates high frequencies, which are emitted by the lamp.

The RF from crappy, unfiltered dimmers is radiated from the length of interconnect cable from the dimmer to the lamp.

Crappy dimmers located close to the lamps may cause less noise because their "antenna" are shorter.

[Keith Broughton]

Jamin,

No myth, high voltage transformers employed to drive neon signs often radiate lots of RF signals that are readily picked up by high impedance single coil guitar pickups which act as an antenna, the RF is amplified by the high gain compressors, distortion effects, and guitar amps.

Standing with your guitar with the strings and pickups at the correct angle in relation to the "broadcast" transformers can reduce the noise, but when there are several neon sign transformers (as is typical in nightclubs with multiple beer endorsements) there is no angle one can stand at that will avoid the noise radiated by them all.

In those nightclubs, the guitar player and amplifier must be either be enclosed in a Faraday cage to avoid the noise pickup, or use humbucking pickups, an unacceptable solution for a guitar player fond of the tone of his 1962 Stratocaster.

So, the usual solution is to unplug the goddamn transformers.

Art

The problem is magnified a lot if there is even a slightly loose connector in the neon cct.
I worked in a bar that has a neon sign along the back of the stage that had to be turned off when the band played.

[Jay Barracato]

Years ago, I dropped in on some friends band in a Montana bar, some 2000+ miles from where they were used to seeing me. During sound check, their tech got to the two SL instruments and had just a hash of noise. After spending about half an hour double checking their gear he threw up his hands in disgust and looked to me for a long shot solution.

I walked up and unplugged a neon bar sign that was directly behind the amps ( and sharing power) and everything immediately cleared up.

Now that is the first thing I look for when having problems on a new stage.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

[Jamin Lynch]

Jamin,

No myth, high voltage transformers employed to drive neon signs often radiate lots of RF signals that are readily picked up by high impedance single coil guitar pickups which act as an antenna, the RF is amplified by the high gain compressors, distortion effects, and guitar amps.

Standing with your guitar with the strings and pickups at the correct angle in relation to the "broadcast" transformers can reduce the noise, but when there are several neon sign transformers (as is typical in nightclubs with multiple beer endorsements) there is no angle one can stand at that will avoid the noise radiated by them all.

In those nightclubs, the guitar player and amplifier must be either be enclosed in a Faraday cage to avoid the noise pickup, or use humbucking pickups, an unacceptable solution for a guitar player fond of the tone of his 1962 Stratocaster.

So, the usual solution is to unplug the goddamn transformers.

Art

That makes since for guitars.

I guess I've been lucky so far. I've never had a problem with sound system issues from neon. What could cause that and what would be a cure...other than turning the neon sign off?

[Mike Sokol]

That makes since for guitars.

I guess I've been lucky so far. I've never had a problem with sound system issues from neon. What could cause that and what would be a cure...other than turning the neon sign off?

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, my band played every month in a bar that had DOZENS of neon beer signs everywhere for "ambiance" which the owner would not turn off. The buzzing through our guitar player's amp was really nasty. So I did some experiments in shielding the pickup and control cavity of this guitar with copper foil to create a Faraday cage. It worked quite well, as I remember. Now, on some guitars this could be a lot of work, but it was worth it to keep my sanity on stage. Also, humbucker pickups should help in this case, but you may need to also shield the interior cavities as well.   

[Jeff Bankston]

Cezar Zuderwijk the drummer for Golden Earring had 2 golden round neon tubes in his clear acrylic bass drums for years. they blinked on and off during concerts. when we played the bar and club circut we never asked for ballasted lights to be turned off. sometimes the amps buzzed and sometimes not bet once the music started you did hear the buzz. maybe the patrons thought the buzzing they heard was from drinking all the liquier or the bad bees in the hive.

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