Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Willabe on June 21, 2025, 04:25:34 pm

Title: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Willabe on June 21, 2025, 04:25:34 pm
Is it safe to play electric guitar through a tube amp with bare feet on a concrete floor if the amp has a 3 wire grounded power cord?

I say no.

I saw a guy post on Face Book playing barefoot on a concrete floor through an old Gibson tube amp. So I posted he should put some shoes on before he gets zapped.

He wrote back saying the amp has a 3 wire grounded power cord.

I think he's asking for trouble. What do you guys think? 
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: tubeswell on June 21, 2025, 04:34:01 pm
Depends on how safe the amp is and how safe the wiring at the wall is
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Willabe on June 21, 2025, 04:36:09 pm
Depends on how safe the amp is and how safe the wiring at the wall is

Right, which you never know.

Pretty simple precaution, put on a pair of dry shoes.  :think1:
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2025, 04:39:35 pm
rubber soles   
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Willabe on June 21, 2025, 04:44:29 pm
rubber soles

Leather soles are fine or anything else as long as their dry.
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: HotBluePlates on June 21, 2025, 04:51:08 pm
Who likes the feeling on concrete on their bare feet?   :icon_biggrin:





If everything works like it should, he would be fine.

If everything worked like it should, we'd experience far fewer problems than we normally experience.
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2025, 05:54:53 pm
rubber soles

Leather soles are fine or anything else as long as their dry.


you can believe that if you want to ..     not me
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Willabe on June 21, 2025, 06:05:38 pm
rubber soles

Leather soles are fine or anything else as long as their dry.

you can believe that if you want to ..     not me

Is leather conductive when dry? No it's not.

Would rubber be a better insulator, yes.

Is is absolutely necessary to use only rubber souls on concrete? No, not as long as the concrete and the shoe soles are not wet.

If you feel better wearing rubber soled shoes when playing on concrete, then wear them.     
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: shooter on June 21, 2025, 06:20:19 pm
Quote
Who likes the feeling on concrete on their bare feet?   


^^^
guessing if you walk bare-foot on concreate your calluses' should be a pretty good insulator....Dry.  if it's wet shoe up!
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: mresistor on June 21, 2025, 06:24:42 pm
rubber soles

Leather soles are fine or anything else as long as their dry.

you can believe that if you want to ..     not me

Is leather conductive when dry? No it's not.
   
Would rubber be a better insulator, yes.

Is is absolutely necessary to use only rubber souls on concrete? No, not as long as the concrete and the shoe soles are not wet.

If you feel better wearing rubber soled shoes when playing on concrete, then wear them.   


I'm just curious Brad  what is the highest voltage equipment you have worked on? And you want to put your life in the hands of some leather   cool  more power to ya.
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Willabe on June 21, 2025, 08:36:44 pm
I'm just curious Brad  what is the highest voltage equipment you have worked on? And you want to put your life in the hands of some leather   cool  more power to ya.

What are you getting all bent out of shape for.

What has knowing the highest voltage I've ever worked on got to do with this? We're talking about common guitar amp dcv's, maybe ~500dcv at the most. We're not talking about thousands of volts here.

Dry leather soled shoes on dry concrete will handle that any day of the week. 

Your way out of line here again. Your being way toooo sensitive to anything I write. Your being a smart a**. 
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Platefire on June 21, 2025, 11:23:12 pm
Years ago I remember getting bit from a mic to my lips holding a guitar. Was playing at the Catholic recreation/dance hall in my home town with a concrete stage. I was wearing leather sole shoes but don't remember if it was raining that night. Talking about being mic shy the rest of the night :l2:
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: EL34 on June 22, 2025, 04:55:12 am
Hey guys
No need for anyone to butt heads

Just keep it civil
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Williamblake on June 22, 2025, 11:07:24 am
Assuming your guitar is grounded properly and so is your amp, wouldn‘t touching a suspect microphone with your strings either trigger the braker or put you in a save spot?
Title: Re: Playing guitar barefoot on concrete floor
Post by: Lectroid on June 23, 2025, 11:57:22 am
Is this a trick question or ... ?   

I would never do this.  We can debate theory and the resistance of leather all day long, but the electricity that kills you had to get to you first.  Shoes are good.  Definitely wear shoes.   :l2: