Bad hum from amp

[Gonzoso]

I just picked up a Morgan Monroe MMS-4AE. It's a basic entry level mandolin, I didn't want to spend a ton of money as I am just getting into the mando and so forth, and even when I do get a good instrument(I have nice banjo's) I like to keep a cheap one for campfires and such.

At any rate I plugged it into a Fishman Loudbox Mini today and it had a definite buzz. We thought it might be the room so we plugged in his IPAD and it was fine. When I touched the strings the buzz died. When I stepped on a rubber mat on the floor the buzz decreased.

I'm thinking this is a grounding issue. Is this just a cheap pickup in this instrument, or do I have a broken ground somewhere? I just bought this thing last week from a local store. I bought it for 40$ more than online because I like to help out local business and such. I'm really new to electric anything so I don't have a clue about amps yet.

I'm still looking and planning on buying one in the next few weeks.

[rockies]

Gonzoso, if the hum dies when you put your hand on the strings the first thing to do is to ground your strings. If this is a electric instreument it should have the strings grounded usually through the tailpiece to the output jack or somehow to the cable braid going to the amp. Perhaps this has come disconnected or not done. With a multimeter check for continuity between the strings and the metal on the cable connector. If there is no continuity try to find out why. Reconnect it if it was there. If it hasn't been done run a small wire from the output jack ground to the tailpiece and connect under one of the tailpiece screws. If you want it hidden remoce the strap peg and file a very small geoove for the wire, run the wire down through the F hole and out throught the groove and reinsert the strap peg. Grounding the strings should alleviate the hum. Good luck.
Dave

[Tim2723]

Hi and welcome to the forum. WHat you've described is a ground fault. Any of the fixes Dave mentioned are good, but since you bought it locally, first give them a chance to make it right. It can be something very simple that their technician can repair in a minute. Maybe just a bit of solder came loose.