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Hum is caused by the alternating magnetic fields created by transformers and power supplies inside electrical equipment using alternating current.

While playing a guitar without humbuckers, a musician would hear a slight but significant hum through their pickups during quiet sections of music.

Sources of studio and stage hum include high-power amps, processors, mixers, motors, power lines, and other equipment.

Compared to single coil pickups, humbuckers dramatically reduce hum, and produce higher output, because both coils are connected in series.

They do result in a different " tone " than single coil pickups.