You're all tuned up, your amp is tweaked, the lights come up, you hear the drummer click the sticks with a four count, and the band fires up the opening measures of the first song.
As you play through the song intro, you approach the mic to start singing the opening line. You get close up on the SM58, open your mouth, your lip touches the windscreen, and suddenly - BAM!
You see the spark as your mind slowly registers that you have been zapped, and then comes the pain. Audience members stare at your head jerking back thinking you have added a new move to your performance, and your band mates give you the evil eye for missing your cue.
All the while, you try to make sense of where you are, who you are, and what day it is, and whether or not you're still alive. You touch your mouth to see if blood is drooling down your chin.
Harley Davidson enthusiasts have a saying regarding taking a spill on a motorcycle. The saying goes that there are two types of riders - "them that's been down, and them that's going down".
In terms of playing electric guitar on stage, a similar sentiment can be voiced. There's two types of guitar players - "them that's been zapped, and them that's going to be zapped".
If you've never had the pleasure of being shocked by a microphone on stage, count yourself among the lucky. But also be aware that at some point it's probably going to happen.
Here are some things you can do
Practice some prevention - Test your rig before the gig at sound check. With everything on and powered up, take one hand and lay it on your guitar strings, and with the other hand, lightly (and quickly) touch the mic. If there is an open ground you will feel a mild shock, but you shouldn't't feel any pain if you do it fast.
If you don't feel anything, try it again only touching the mic a little longer to make sure. Much better to find out with your hand than your lips!
If you do feel a nip of electricity, there is an open ground somewhere that needs to be addressed.
Troubleshooting - First, see if your amp has a "ground lift" switch. Many do, but some don't. If it does, flip the switch to the opposite direction and test it again. Hopefully that does the trick.
If not, then check to see where your amp is plugged in. Is it plugged into a power strip, a gang plug on a big stage, or directly into a wall AC outlet?
If it's plugged into a power strip, check the "plug" end of the strip to see if it has a ground. Sometimes they have been cut off, and if that's the case, see if you can re-route your amp power cord to a grounded circuit.
One Possible Cure - If you're plugged into a gang plug box on a big stage, or directly into an AC outlet at venue, your best choice may be to use a ground lift plug.
A ground lift adapter simply a small plug that converts the three prong AC plug on your amp power cord, to a two prong plug without the ground.
With this adapter you are, in essence, "lifting" the ground off of your amp so that it matches the open ground running through the PA system. When this happens your chances of getting zapped are greatly reduced.
One potential problem with this course of action is that it will cause a bit of a buzz or hum in your amp. Then it comes down to deciding which is more important - live with the buzz and don't get shocked - or visa versa.
If All Else Fails - Sometimes, no matter what you do, you're still going to get a little zap. When this happens, it might help to put a foam windscreen cover over the mic to insulate if from your mouth. It's not a perfect solution, but it helps.
Getting zapped on stage occasionally is an inevitable part of being an electric guitar player. But by exercising some caution, early prevention, and always carrying a ground lift adapter in your gig bag - you can greatly reduce the chances of a rocking gig turning into a "shocking" experience!
