"Ask Bud!"

Question:

I play a D-10 (with single-coil pickups). I have problems with AC hum. I have found that if I put my bank switch in the middle position (turning on both necks), I lose power and tone. However, if I just increase the volume and low-end to compensate for the lost power and tone, I get the same sound as having only 1 neck switched on, but I get less hum. Why do I get less hum with both necks on?

Answer:

The main reason that you get less hum when both necks are "on" is that your impedance is reduced by half, thereby lowering the signal level being passed to your amplifier by your guitar and volume pedal.

Unfortunately, single-coil pickups have a tendency to hum. I suggest you try this:

1. Plug your steel directly into your amp (no volume pedal or effects). If it hums, then the pickups are the cause (see #4 below).
   
   
2. If it does not hum when your steel is plugged directly into your amp, then check your cords, volume pedal and effects. If your cords, volume pedal and effects are all fine, then reconnect all of them. Then, try moving and reorienting the amplifier head and/or effects rack, which you keep near the guitar (keyhead and/or pickup end). The purpose of this is to change the direction of the flux field from the power transformer(s) in the amp and/or rack so as to reduce 60-cycle hum from being induced into the coil of the pickup.
   
   
3. Also, try doing the tests mentioned (in #1 and #2) above after moving your steel and accessories away from various sources of light, such as fluorescent lighting, black lights, stage lights, and so on.
   
   
4. If the hum still does not go down to what you deem to be a reasonably acceptable level, you should contact your pedal steel guitar builder and see what kind of humbucking pickup they recommend.

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