Mark IV's as noisy as Mark III's???

[welshboogie]

I have both MKIII and MKIV and both are super quiet at any gain levels, I would suspect a problem with the III if it was humming quite badly - the noisiest thing on my amps is the cooling fan!!!

This applies to combo's, not sure about heads.

 

[path09en]

I have both MKIII and MKIV and both are super quiet at any gain levels, I would suspect a problem with the III if it was humming quite badly - the noisiest thing on my amps is the cooling fan!!!

This applies to combo's, not sure about heads.

I agree, my MKIII combo is dead quiet with exception to the fan! Check your environment for potential electrical 'noise' from 60 Hz hum, CRT televisions etc. anything that uses AC pretty much!
Cheers!

 

[Boogiebabies]

I agree as well. Neither the MK III or IV are noisy. The RK series is quiet in reference to most amps because Mesa uses a ferrite bead/choke right past the guitar input. It kills almost all of the noise and radio frequency before it gets to the first preamp tube.

 

[newtomesa]

+1, The fan really is the only source of noise on my III, man that fan is loud!
In comparison, the 5150, man that is a regular jet engine on idle.

 

[vcamargo99]

Hiss, noise, hum...could be time for a cap change..especially coming from an amp from the 1980's.

 

[imbuyaboy]

Hiss, noise, hum...could be time for a cap change..especially coming from an amp from the 1980's.

Agreed. My MkIII is dead quiet regardless of gain settings. Not even a peep (except for the fan as others here have stated). However, a hum developed a few years back, but luckily I was living near the Mesa factory at the time and brought it over for a check-up. Mike B replaced the caps he thought needed replacing, and slapped in a couple new tubes (also cleaned a few scratchy pots he noticed while he was inside...he is too cool!). Now, quiet as a mouse again...and rocking like a hurricane on command.

ps: my MkIII is an '85-'86 model, blue stripe, with R2 Gain Boost mod. If any MkIIIs should have "noisy" gain, should be mine. But alas....

 

[Boogiebabies]

If a fan is noisy it is because the Dielectric has dried up.
To repair this, just go to your favorite Auto Parts store and buy a tube of clear Dielectric grease. Remove the fan and then remove the three screws for the impeller. Then, it gets a bit tricky. To remove the motor you need to get a small C clip to remove the motor from the spindle it spins on. If you are not careful, it will fly across the room. Once you get the clip off, pull the motor out and it will be dry as a bone with a green dried up film. Take your Dielectric grease and lube the shaft and put a thin layer on the magnets of the motor. Don't worry, Dielectric grease conducts electricity and if you put too much on, the fan is sealed. Once you get the C clip and impeller back on it should run very smooth and quiet and with good luck, double the life of your fan.

I did this to one of my 1984 Howard fans and it now runs as smooth and quiet as the new Mesa Globe fans.

 

[Boogiebabies]

I would start looking at preamp tubes, guitar cables, dirty pots and the distance you are playing from the amp. Using a simple A/B/Y with either no audio ground isolation transformer, or an imporper one basically turns your rig into a 40 foot radio antenna.

Is your amp noisy when you play out? It could be lights, televisions, poor power or something in your house causing the hum.

 

[Barry]

I would start looking at preamp tubes, guitar cables, dirty pots and the distance you are playing from the amp. Using a simple A/B/Y with either no audio ground isolation transformer, or an imporper one basically turns your rig into a 40 foot radio antenna.

Is your amp noisy when you play out? It could be lights, televisions, poor power or something in your house causing the hum.

Amen to that . I always tell people that the room you play in will have alot to do with your sound . I play in loads of rooms with dimmers, neon lights, crappy power .

 

[twally]

When I first had my new (floor model) Mark IV it would make all kinds of noise if I lifted my hand off of the neck of my guitar, while sitting in front of my PC. I never thought a thing about it, since it is a high gain amp. After about a year, I ordered new tubes (pre amp and power) and it was as quiet as an amp can be. That was two years ago. Now, I am getting a little bit of noise again. Time to retube again.

Talk to Doug's Tubes. Tell him your playing styles and he will hook you up with the best tubes for your style.

TW

 

[Russ]

My Mark IV makes no noise unless I make it (knock on wood- I hope it stays that way for a while because I hate being without my gear while it is being serviced or having to have a noisy amp until I fix it). Hums and what not come from environmental influence and maintenance requirements as was stated in the above posts.

 

[Russ]

I almost forgot. The ol' lady got me one of these guitar shaped neon clocks that she thought would be cool for the room I play in. It is still in the box and she keeps asking me when I am going to mount it to the wall. I had to tell her about electrical noise in your environment when you are trying to play. She doesn't get it.

 

[Shep]

hey rabies,

my mk III blue stripe get's a hum when the volume 1 start to go about 6.5 then it increases as that gets higher...this is ONLY on the lead channel..i have my lead drive at 8.5 as well, so lot's of gain.. it's alittle annoying..

 

[Shep]

yeah..i use the same leads and guitar's as my mk iv and thats quite as..so i think i might change some tubes..that most likely will help..

 

[Aart]

Yeah, I have a slight Hum too, but only in the lead channel.

Probably a bad tube? and wich poitions do i have to check on a IVA?

 

[Shep]

today i had a closer look at it...it's really werid becasue if you don't have anything pluged into it you can put every on 10 on the lead channel and there is just the normal old hiss ..no hum..but as soon as you plug a lead in and the gain is high enough it will be there..

What does that sound like it could be..

 

[Aart]

You're cable is picking up noise.

Mine still has a slight hum with nothing plugged in.

I'll try those tung-sol's!

 

[Shep]

You're cable is picking up noise.

Mine still has a slight hum with nothing plugged in.

I'll try those tung-sol's!

no,its acttully grounding out the pre amp section when i unplug the lead out of the amp...this mean that if you are playing a gig and your bass player stands on the lead to your amp and pull's it out the amp won't make some huge nosie...

still don't know what it is.. really am thinking pre tubes but they sound really good..and look new...