Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Greg: The open ground was at the AC receptacle. There were three wires to the plug but the ground was open.

The electrician said that the shock was not of the magnitude to worry about, but I strongly disagree as I could feel the charge building up in myself and then discharge through my lips as soon as I touched the mike. No matter what the reading actually was, this was a force to be reckoned with.

Thanks Bob. I still feel like taking readings before I play, but no more shocks to date. I have never been discharged from a room more quickly.

or from a hospital

People are shocked when I sing, Peter... voltage or none!!

Glad you sorted it out, although I am a smidge disappointed - I was looking forward to christening you "Hot Lips" McCormack!

Why do I suspect that it just happened anyway? Hope you are having a nice summer vacation Howard.

Thanks, Peter. I'm enjoying the sun, the heat (37c today), the cold beer, the company of the fine people here and of course, my beautiful Rickenbackers.

I used an SVT with a two prong plug and polarity switch until about 1995. I did an outdoor gig one day one during the early 80's on a very hot day, walked up to the mike and got a very painful shock on the lips, there were no more harmonies from me that day. That was the only time I ever really had a bad time though, it was so bad I was not going to try it again. I think the polarity switch had gone bad. In Lima the power is 220 with no grounds, 110 in each wire, opposite polarity to add up to 220, I never got a shock there but was very nervous and I dislike that system a lot. I heard a few gruesome stories though.

Heey... you must be happy you haven't heard ME sing, Aitch
Heard the news from Oz today... so i'm a bit worried... are you Ok?
(sorry for a bit of offtopic...)