Guitar pickup/dimmer interference

[surfdude]

I'm helping set up a music club's light system and they want to put a dimmer(s) on the stage lights. As a guitar player, I informed them that some dimmers cause extreme havoc with some guitars with single coil pickups, like Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters in the form of a loud buzz.

I read in an article that using variable transformers will solve this problem, although they are a bit pricey.

Here's the article:Kill Studio Buzz and Hum (http://www.ethanwiner.com/dimmers.html)

My question is: Would a unit like the Matrix DMX Pro be prone to causing interference, even if it's on it's own dedicated line or should we go with variable transformers?

Here's the Matrix DMX Pro 4:Matrix DMX Pro 4 (http://www.stagelightingusa.com/MATRIX-DMX-PRO-4-Channel-Double-Output-Dimmer-Pack-4132-prod.htm?category_id=1624)

Thanx

-joe

[Mr T]

Light dimmers are typicaly very noisy. Try different ones, you may have better luck. I would even try one of the pushbutton electronic ones.

Variable transformers are expensive and for stage lighting you are gonna need a very large one. Sometimes you can find them in surplus stores.

Try different circuits and keep the dimmers at least several feet from *ANY* audio equipment. Make sure all of your audio signal grounds are working properly (cracked solder connections in the guitar jacks). Mounting the dimmer in a grounded metal box with a metal switch plate may help with EMF.

Professional lighting equipment uses higher quality dimmer circuitry then what you are going to buy for $12 at a big box store. I would definatly try that out as this is it's intended purpose. If it doesnt work then you have problems elsewhere.