GUITAR CABLE SHIELDING AND AC HUM
From: Shootout Guitar Cables UK • Best Guitar Cables Explained
See also: The Shootout Guitar Cables Range
AC alternating current hum is a low frequency fixed frequency drone of 50Hz-60Hz that can be a problem in one of two ways:
1. The guitar cables are connected to more than one amplifier.
This is a ground loop issue and can be addressed by splitting the guitar signal using an isolating circuit and is not a cable design consideration.
2. The guitar cable is near to AC power sources.
This is a cable design consideration, however the issue is that heavily insulating a signal against such interference is beyond the practical scope of traditional guitar cable design. Low frequencies have a lot of energy and just like low frequency sound waves being much more difficult to block in recording studio, industrial and home sound insulation situations, likewise AC hum could be problematic.
The solution therefore is putting distance between the source of the hum and the guitar cable and being careful with certain mains based units such as transformers:
a) avoid running a guitar cable near to and parallel with a mains cable
b) avoid guitar cable proximity to mains transformers
c) avoid using noisy hum inducing mains transformers for example to power pedals
d) avoid coiling guitar cables that are too long when in use
Also in this guide:
Guitar Cable Capacitance and Resonant Frequency
Guitar Cable Capacitance Chart
Guitar Cable Length and Signal Loss
Guitar Cable Myths and The Cable Fairy
Guitar Cable Microphonics and the Triboelectric Effect
Braided vs Spiral vs Foil Guitar Cable Shielding
True Bypass Pedals vs Buffered Pedals
Silver Plated Copper Cables and 'Red Plague' Galvanic Corrosion
Copper vs Silver Signal Conductor Guitar Cables
Gold Plated Guitar Cable Jacks and Galvanic Corrosion
Guitar Cables vs Guitar Pedal Board Patch Cables
Analogue Guitar Cables vs WIFI
Low Capacitance vs High Capacitance Guitar Cables
Oxygen Free Copper Guitar Cables
Cheap vs Midrange vs Expensive Guitar Cables