Noise

[JOEY B.]

If you have any suggestions as to where I could look for the source of my noise, that would be great. I don't quite have the cash to have a full retubing done, but I'd be happy to invest if I could pinpoint the cause.

I fixed mine this afternoon. It was a somewhat sneaky grounding issue at the input jack. All my symptoms pointed to this, so I checked the jack for grounding when the cable was unplugged, AGAIN. It seems that I was on the fine line between do and don't. This is a vendor part, and I cannot blame MESA for the issue. A slight tweaking of the contacts made it as quiet as I would expect any tube amp to be. The NOS preamp and STR-450 EL-34's are staying, regardless.

The thing that gets me is that BOTH of the heads in the music store exhibited this symptom when I bought mine. They both arrived on the same day, and I chalked it up to dirty power in the music store. So much for assuming. :lol:

 

[Assumer]

I have a little noise. Amps not as quiet as the Rivera I sold but nothing severe or annoying. Still have all the stock tubes Reverb in or out changes nothing noise wise.

 

[tubby_cosmos]

So I know this thread's been quiet for a while, but I finally had some time to sit down and think about why my amp is so noisy and found that I was able to quiet it down quite a bit by putting a noise suppressor at the end of my effects loop. However, there's still an audible hum (though significantly quieter than without the suppressor) even with the noise suppressor on its highest threshold setting (i.e. strumming my guitar doesn't generate enough signal to get through).

Is that indicative of a problem in the power tubes? power supply?

There's clearly a preamp problem - either the grounding of the input or a noisy preamp tube - but I was surprised that putting the NS after the preamp in the effects loop didn't make it dead silent. Any clue what's going on? No evidence of microphonic tubes, from my tap tests, but I don't really know how influential my power source is.

 

[primal]

Mine is very quiet,

But as far as a hum even with the noise surpressor, I found when I use my Digitech, simply having it in the loop ads a little hum. Slight, but noticable. Even if I have all the effects bypassed. I just chalk that up to a ground loop of some sort, who knows.

But if it is that noisy with no effects, have a tech check it out.

 

[marzzz]

I just took delivery of a Electra Dyne 1x12 yesterday, and the first thing I noticed was a large amount of hum. I currently own an LSC, and it is nearly silent- I have to really turn it up to hear any background noise, and at my normal (studio) playing levels it is very quiet, while the ED hum is very obtrusive. The ED hums in all modes, whether the guitar is plugged in or not, and bypassing the reverb or loop [edit: turns out completely disconnecting the effects unit in the loop stops the hum] has very little effect. I swapped the outer pair of 6L6's for the inner pair, which helped a little. I then swapped out the entire set with the set from the LSC, and didn't really notice any difference. Other than going the Doug's Tubes route, is there anything else I should try? Can a loud hum be coming from the preamp tubes? I am getting some microphonics (which sounds like a shrill whistle, but only while playing) which I also need to track down.

Otherwise, the ED is awesome! If I can get the noise/hum issued settled, the LSC is going up for sale.

 

[primal]

Do you guys have the option of going to a store that has one in stock and listening to it?

I would definately take it to a tech this way he can swap out all the tubes without you have to buy a set.

That hum is definately not normal. Especially with no instrument plugged in?

I just turned mine on with no instrument in on 90 watts and set the volume to about 2 o'clock which is WAY BEYOND drummer level (more like drown drummer out level) and even then the hum on high gain is not that bad, and the hum on Clean is still barely audible.

Get it checked out guys or this will sour you on a killer amp!

You paid all that money, make them look at it!

 

[tubby_cosmos]

Get it checked out guys or this will sour you on a killer amp!

You paid all that money, make them look at it!

Absolutely. I just haven't had time to fiddle with it recently. No chance I'm giving up on this amp - I've played other storefront models that worked perfectly. Can't wait to get it back to that state.

 

[marzzz]

I just took delivery of a Electra Dyne 1x12 yesterday, and the first thing I noticed was a large amount of hum.

One important thing I forgot to mention is that the hum is loud even with the Volume and Master all the way off. I contacted my seller and they are sending me a new amp in exchange, which is pretty great on their part. In the meantime, I know that this is the amp I was looking for- I just love the wide range of tones I am getting out of it, and the cleans are great (and I still have my LSC to directly compare).

 

[MBJunkie]

FWIW....when I initially auditioned an ED 1x12 combo at GC, I experienced the exact same same thing. I mentioned it to my reliable GC salesman (I say this because HE really has been for me) and he replaces the instrument chord and......Silence....even while playing a POS strat. Needless to say, after playing this amp in the store, I purchased it on the spot.

I have not had any hum issues whatsoever since I purchased it 6 weeks ago. However, I do play through some very nice guitars.

Point being, are you sure the "hum" issues aren't cables, power, lights or guitar pups?

Personally, I am amazed at how quite it is given how much gain is available on tap. Do check the reverb setting....I usually have mine set at a minimal setting if on at all.

I don't share the opinion that MB tubes are junk. Mine is stock and I am loving it.

Good luck!

 

[marzzz]

As I posted elsewhere, the hum was coming from the effects loop. I have a TC Electronic G-Force which I had used for quite some time in my LSC without problems, but it turns out the same unit (plugged into the same AC outlets) caused a hum in the ED. An Ebtech Hum X completely solved the problem.

 

[masque]

you guys are scarring me a bit... :shock: i love the ED and I have played one in a store and have been furiously researching them online and via youtube......i have plans to get one this year and hopefully soon but I dont like hums and noise if i can avoid them!!! i hope that some of the issues mentioned here are isolated events.....because i am gassing real bad for the ED.

 

[primal]

you guys are scarring me a bit... :shock: i love the ED and I have played one in a store and have been furiously researching them online and via youtube......i have plans to get one this year and hopefully soon but I dont like hums and noise if i can avoid them!!! i hope that some of the issues mentioned here are isolated events.....because i am gassing real bad for the ED.

Mine is quiet as could be.

 

[Heritage Softail]

You guys using any power conditioners? Even a $125 unit will mitigate lots of line noise/irregularities. As a guy that likes Boogie, I have noticed a bit of a common thread with flaky tubes lately. Seems to be a sourcing issue, but Boogie should have someone on that job. And the cheap *** jacks with grounds that come loose/internal continuity issues, if sourced, it should also be tested before shipment. A simple High Pot test to the plugs will work. Not rocket science. They can't let their reputation as a quality builder go in the tank over some batch of POS jacks or pots or whatever. Don't want to be the next "Toyota".

I have changed every tube in both boogies. The MKV had a diswasher sound going on a bad preamp tube. The Rectifier was just a matter of getting better quality tubes in a great amp. Every amp company is stuck with the same new tube quality... Got some 1994 white diamond Tesla EL34's to try in my REC this weekend.... hmmmm....

 

[macmax]

Obviously the aluminum chassis does not ground as well as a steel one. Try plugging in your guitar and turning its volume knobs down. Then compare the noise with the cord into and out of the input jack of the amp. You may be surprised at the outcome, as I was.

i don't think the aluminum chasis should be the problem.
My Budda SD80 was the quietest amp on earth.

 

[satch5150]

mine is a bit noisy. When I put the Master at 9 o clock it gets really loud (in clean or overdrive) it's kinda that kind of hum which is really loud (it happens with cable plugged or unplugged). I'm worrying that the tubes might be crappy but I don't want to retube the whole thing. It would too expensive. Maybe I should try ISP decimator?

 

[primal]

As I posted elsewhere, the hum was coming from the effects loop. I have a TC Electronic G-Force which I had used for quite some time in my LSC without problems, but it turns out the same unit (plugged into the same AC outlets) caused a hum in the ED. An Ebtech Hum X completely solved the problem.

I wanted to second this.

I brought it up in my Axe FX thread. I think the ED does not handle ground loops well at all.

Fortunately, as marzzz says, the Ebtech hum X absolutely solves this issue.