Marshall
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Small electric shock from electric guitars
I have a small studio and have recently moved it from the UK to Spain. I have been using it in Spain for the last month or so with no problem. Today, when I plug in any of my three electric guitars into my Focusrite 6i6 interface I am getting a small, but noticeable and unpleasant electric shock when I first touch the strings or any other metal part of any of the guitars. I have had the three guitars for years, the Focusrite for ages too, I have not introduced anything new electrical into the house today.
Can anyone suggest what could be causing this please?
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ampfixer
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/26 21:41:14
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☄ Helpfulby glennstanton 2017/04/27 13:23:01
I'm not familiar with the electrical service in Spain. In North America, I would get my outlet checker. It's a small device that you plug into the wall socket to test the polarity and condition of the ground (earth). It sounds like you may have an issue with grounding or possibly the hot and neutral have been reversed. This puts voltage on things that are usually grounded. In Canada or the USA, if you have an old amp with a 2 prong cord and plug it in, there's a 50% chance that power has been connected to the chassis and into the guitar via the ground circuit through the guitar cord.
Power utilities can mess up, mice eat wires and connections go bad over time. You need to have a good look, and be sure to wear rubber soled shoes until you get it sorted. Good luck.
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Marshall
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 08:06:28
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John
Thanks for your reply. I'm kinda spooked by this and the whole area is a complete mystery to me. I think my only option is to seek a recommendation for an excellent English speaking electrician. Bill
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Kamikaze
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 08:30:49
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Marshall
Today, when I plug in any of my three electric guitars into my Focusrite 6i6 interface I am getting a small, but noticeable and unpleasant electric shock when I first touch the strings or any other metal part of any of the guitars.
Me too. underside of the arm is more sensitive to it. In a land of mosquito, can have me thing I'm getting bitten. I miss British electricians and the uk safety plug
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Marshall
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 09:47:45
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Kamikaze
Marshall
Today, when I plug in any of my three electric guitars into my Focusrite 6i6 interface I am getting a small, but noticeable and unpleasant electric shock when I first touch the strings or any other metal part of any of the guitars.
Me too. underside of the arm is more sensitive to it. In a land of mosquito, can have me thing I'm getting bitten.
I miss British electricians and the uk safety plug
The underside of the arm on the bridge is the worst.
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BobF
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 13:12:18
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Are you using the same instrument cable for all of the guitars? Have you tried a different one? Could be the shield is shot on the cable, leaving no path for static drain. Hey, it's worth a shot! It would be a cheap fix 
Bob -- Angels are crying because truth has died ...Illegitimi non carborundum --Studio One Pro / i7-6700@3.80GHZ, 32GB Win 10 Pro x64 Roland FA06, LX61+, Fishman Tripleplay, FaderPort, US-16x08 + ARC2.5/Event PS8s Waves Gold/IKM Max/Nomad Factory IS3/K11U
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Cactus Music
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 13:58:23
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Yes this is static electricity seeking ground, The 6i6 uses a wall wart which isolates you from the A/C power. There is no ground.
But the ground path will be from your guitars strings to the shielding in your patch cable, then it would somehow have to find it's way to your USB cable to the computer and then it can find the grounding via the computers power supply and A/C plug.
I would see if it's your brand of socks or clothing causing the static.
You could see if you get the same thing by touching a metal part of your computer case.
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Slugbaby
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 19:44:25
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I've had that happen too, and it's always been a grounding issue.
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Marshall
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/27 21:27:12
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☄ Helpfulby glennstanton 2017/04/28 13:42:05
Had an electrician come round, changed the UK plug on my Uk four way adapter for a Spanish one. Previously, the UK plug was going into the mains via a travel adapter, and the electrician thought this was the weak link in the chain. It seems to have sorted it, but I'll be more confident in a month or so!
Thanks for your input.
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tomixornot
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/04/28 00:01:19
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I've had this issue for many years - and it's solved recently. Just another confirmation, it's always grounding one way or another.
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chuckebaby
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/05 11:33:06
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You know what's worse, ever played at a club and you approach the mic to sing that first note...your lip touches the microphone and BAM ! You feel like you lost a tooth filling 
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Slugbaby
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/05 15:44:00
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One local club I played in often, had a grounding issue onstage.
There was a guitarist on one side of the stage, and me (with a guitar) on the other, apparently plugged into separate circuits. Neither of us had electrical issues on our own, but if we touched we got a huge shock. We used to chase each other around the stage, or try to sneak up on the other to zap.
The good old days... lol
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Cactus Music
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/05 16:07:42
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☄ Helpfulby Slugbaby 2017/05/08 13:15:08
 I have this installed on my main power bar for live gigs.. There's been a few times it showed faulty wiring. Just last year at an outside event it showed the Hot/Neu reversed. I followed the extension chord to a supply box someone had jerry rigged and the outlet we where given was the problem. The other outlets were fine so I swapped it over leaving some food vendors to fend for them selves. It rained a few times that day to boot.
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/08 21:36:50
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I've had this and it can really throw you off during a jam
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35mm
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/28 18:04:37
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I had similar recently at a gig where my guitar was giving me an unpleasant tingle and the metal power switch on my Vox amp was doing the same. It turned out to be caused by an extension cable real still having most of the cable on the real. It was causing some kind of induction. I unwound the cable it all was well. So it's not always an earth problem and this is one to watch out for!
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tlw
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/28 18:50:26
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Coiled extension leads indeed act as inductors. Among other problems arising from that is that they behave like the element in an electric heater and get much hotter per amp of current than when unwound. It's not unknown for the insulation to melt or voltage to break through the insulation if the current's too high - they're a fire hazard as well as the risk of shock.
A lead that's rated at 13A uncoiled might be only safe for 6A (sometimes less) when coiled on its spool.
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LulaNord
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Re: Small electric shock from electric guitars
2017/05/31 18:50:06
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Hi...i am a new user here. It sounds like you may have an issue with grounding or possibly the hot and neutral have been reversed. This puts voltage on things that are usually grounded. In Canada or the USA, if you have an old amp with a 2 prong cord and plug it in, there's a 50% chance that power has been connected to the chassis and into the guitar via the ground circuit through the guitar cord.
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