Members steve_man Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Okay, I've been having this issue for the past couple of months. Never dealt with it before, but it is affecting both of my amps, or all my guitars...and I can't figure it out. I have two amps, a Marshall Haze Combo, and a brand new AC15C1. Both are killer amps for sure, but I'm getting (especially with my Tele) a lot of noise. Sure, there is single-coil hum...I'm used to that. However, when I turn up to stage volumes and am not playing, it's so loud that it is very distracting for everyone on stage...and probably in the audience. My Tele has been my main axe for over 2 years now, and this problem really started about 2 months ago. I really noticed it when I got my new Vox amp. Problem is, it's happening with both my amps, and with all 3 of my guitars (and 2 of them have humbuckers). I thought it might be a grounding issue, but I don't see any loose connections, or grounds that have come loose. I tried a Monster power conditioner, and that did not seem to help, either. I was thinking of swapping to noiseless pups on my Tele, but the thought occurred to me that it might be the tubes in my amps. I plugged my Les Paul into a new Marshall Class 5 yesterday, and it was dead silent. So, that has me wondering. I bought the Haze used, and it was shipped cross-country. Bought the Vox new from Sweetwater, but it was shipped, as well. Could it be as simple as bad tubes? Thanks guys... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ken361 Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 could be preamp tubes easy, try to move them around or just replace the v1 for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members songsforbears Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Amps can be a funny thing. I bought a stack recently, after playing combos all my life. Not only did I want to get a handwired amp, so I was upgrading anyway, but I wanted to ditch the tube rattle I had had so many problems with. It took about a week until I had a similar buzz, but it appears to be coming from a transformer. Still need to get in there and check it out. I guess my point is that solid state technology was developed for a reason. I would never play a solid state amp, but they do improve upon the little annoyances of the tube amp. I'd check your tubes out by lightly tapping on each with a pencil eraser or similar material while the amp is on. If any of the them seems to produce significantly more noise out of the speaker of the amp, you're probably looking at a microphonic tube that is causing all of your noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hellion_213 Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 It would be very odd that both amps have bad tubes. Does it matter which channel you're on? Might be able to narrow it down and save a little $$. Have you tried a different cable perhaps, it's a long shot, and shouldn't cause the level of noise you've described, but.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted May 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 yeah man, I've tried several different cables. My main cable is only a year old, and is a Mogami Gold. The Haze has always made some kinda funny noises when you first fire it up...but then it was fine. Now, it buzzes too...primarily on the gain channel is where it's most evident, although both amps do this on both channels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcooper830 Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 I've heard of bad house wiring causing buzz in amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted May 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 yeah, but it's plugged into the same spot that my other amps have been plugged into with no issues at all. And, it does it at the church, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ΨWindingΨ Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Tubes. I had to changes the EL84s in my bud's AC12. They were making a nasty static type buzz. I tested them and both (BOTH) were shorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Tubes. I had to changes the EL84s in my bud's AC12. They were making a nasty static type buzz. I tested them and both (BOTH) were shorted. Yeah el84s are not known for being robust. I burn through them pretty quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted May 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Hmm...may have to call Sweetwater to ask them about that one...the Vox is under warranty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CoqBelliqueux Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 If you carry them often and you have bumpy roads, them tubes are takin' a beatin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Check out this video. It helped me eliminate some noise when I had multiple amps on. [YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Hmm...may have to call Sweetwater to ask them about that one...the Vox is under warranty warranty on tubes is usually much shorter than the warranty on the amp, sometimes as short as 30 days. I don't think it's really a warranty issue. Tubes wear and get beaten up in combo amps. It's just the nature of the beast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members milosch Posted May 19, 2010 Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Well, make sure to test one amp at a time with the other one unplugged from power and audio, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted May 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted May 19, 2010 Great video! Gonna go get one of those and do some testing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted May 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted May 22, 2010 Okay, took a quick video (lighting is horrible, but you get to hear what is going on) with my cell phone. Not so sure it's tubes anymore, but maybe a grounding issue. Here's the video: [YOUTUBE]rZOq3fA-s-w[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members benzem Posted May 22, 2010 Members Share Posted May 22, 2010 You are plugged directly into the amp? Does the Haze sound just the same? Seems like grounding. Or buzz from lighting? Hmm. Have you made sure the tubes are seated properly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted May 24, 2010 Author Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 yup, getting similar stuff from the Haze...it's just more pronounced on the vox... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 yup, getting similar stuff from the Haze...it's just more pronounced on the vox... Your vid sounds like standard noise. What else is on that circuit? Are there any fluorescent lights, dimmer switches or other electronics on that circuit? All those can cause similar noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hellion_213 Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 Do you have any electical cords running across your guitar cable? Maybe even an adapter plug to a pedal touching a cable? Have you tried them in a different room? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orange Jackson Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 I would look at all of your cables too, trial and error type thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 Do you have any electical cords running across your guitar cable? Maybe even an adapter plug to a pedal touching a cable? Have you tried them in a different room? Actually there's a noise issue in one my rooms where the electrical wires are routed btw the joists just under the flooring. If my cable lies over that spot in a certain way I get tons of noise. Steve if you are on the first floor go in the basement and check what's under you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dattebayo1 Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 Channel One on my AD30 has just gone Microphonic a couple of days ago which similar issues as to those you've just described. Mines sounds like someone holding a mic to the wind. Do the tap-the-tube-with-an-eraser thing mentioned by songsforbears and double check Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members notjonahbutnoah Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 That soounds like its the guitar for sure. What else could it be if it goes away wheen the volume is turned down on the guitar? If it gets quieter when you touch the strings/bridge/knobs/pickups, then its bad grounding on the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orange Jackson Posted May 24, 2010 Members Share Posted May 24, 2010 That soounds like its the guitar for sure.What else could it be if it goes away wheen the volume is turned down on the guitar?If it gets quieter when you touch the strings/bridge/knobs/pickups, then its bad grounding on the guitar. Well, it could be a constant, and it just gets boosted when the volume is up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.