Electric shocks!

[Horlicks]

I keep getting little jolts from my guitar when I use my VH100R. I doesn't do it with my other amp. It happens when I touch something metal or electrical while my hand is on the string. How can I stop it?

[ToneMonkey]

Stop toucjing metal things for a start  :D

Does it do it with other guitars too, or just the one.  Either way, I'd unplug the amp, sounds like there's a return path up the earth wire and that there's a fault somewhere with the amp.

[Horlicks]

I know it only does it with this amp.

[Roobubba]

Take your amp to an amp tech and explain the problem!

Or better, wait for a bit here to see if any of the wise and wonderful amp gurus can offer some far more useful and practical advice than I could hope to...

Roo

[Horlicks]

I know that the valves are dead as anything. I'm changing them as soon as possible, maybe it could be linked?

[ToneMonkey]

If somethings comming back up through the guitar, I'd have a serious rethink about opening the amp up.

I really have no experiance in this sort of thing and there are people who actually know on this forum (like Roobubba said), but I wouldn't go sticking my hands in until someone with some knowledge has offered advise.

[Horlicks]

Don't you think it could be connected with the fact that I accidently turned it on for around 10 secs without a cab connected? Maybe it built up a charge?

[Antag]

If you're getting electric shocks - of any magnitude - from it, then stop using it NOW & get it to a tech (unless you really want to wire yourself up to the national grid :))

[Roobubba]

Yes, perhaps I should echo the urgency that Antag managed to convey in his post, which was somewhat more lacking from mine than I'd intended:


DO NOT PLAY WITH THAT AMP UNTIL IT'S FIXED!

The risk is clear: if for some reason it's wiring up your guitar to a mains connection, you could get a really nasty electric shock - much nastier than just a little nip.

Also to echo the advice above: DO NOT OPEN THE AMP UP TO CHANGE VALVES.

While I do not know about amplifier electronics, I do know that even without being connected to the wall, the charge stored in the capacitors in your amp can be enough to cause very serious harm, or even death. If there's an electrical fault with your amp, then you do not know what is safe to touch and what is not safe to touch. In this case, you MUST take it to a qualified amp tech.

And hopefully such a person will come along here and tell you that you need to do X or Y, and that Roobubba is being over-cautious with his advice.

Better to be safe than sorry!

Roo

[dave_mc]

agreed 100% with the "better safe than sorry, cease playing immediately, get that amp to a tech right now!" advice.  :)

[FELINEGUITARS]

If you're getting electric shocks - of any magnitude - from it, then stop using it NOW & get it to a tech (unless you really want to wire yourself up to the national grid :))

+1
+100000000000

Seriously - protect yourself and get that amp looked at
And check the plug/kettle lead/IEC connector as well!

[Ratrod]

Scenes from Spinal Tap come to mind.

Seriously though, there's hundreds of volts running through a tube amp.

[Roobubba]

Scenes from Spinal Tap come to mind.

Seriously though, there's hundreds of volts running through a tube amp.

and, more importantly in combination, AMPS!! It's the current that does the damage, the potential difference just gives it a path to flow along. Wet hands + car battery = pain!!

[greg]

it seems like the amp is not earthed properly. take the an amp tech.