Heavy gain, unwanted fuzz and noise. What do I do?

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kerrang197

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I want to use my guitar amp with high gain, basically on 10, but I always get major fuzz when I'm resting/not playing my guitar. I even got Spanish radio on my amplifier when I turned on my distortion pedal for even more gain when I'm solo. What can I do to have close to no noise when I'm not picking the strings.
 
I filled my house full of skunks and now it really stinks...what can I do to make it smell better? :confused:
 
1) I think you'd be surprised at how little distortion you actually need... This is a noob guitar player mistake. The sooner you realize you don't need the super heavy distortion, the better off you'll be. If it doesn't sound good when you lower the distortion...

2)You need a better amp/rig. There is no getting around having a shitty 15 watt practice amp.

3)you need better pickups. Better pickups will... ready? Pick up the strings better, giving you a better sound overall. In addition, they will cut down on that hum... hence the name "Humbuckers"

4)Check your instrument cable. A shitty cable is usually the number one cause of unwanted noise. Suck it up, spend the extra money and go buy Monster cables.

5) If you're playing a style of music that requires the heavy distortion you do have to realize that there will ALWAYS be unwanted hum/noise... it comes with the territory.
 
floorpuncher said:
4)Check your instrument cable. A shitty cable is usually the number one cause of unwanted noise. Suck it up, spend the extra money and go buy Monster cables.
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I gotta disagree. I find that Monster cables are completely unnecessary for the price. You can get the same quality for much less buck.
 
philbagg said:
I gotta disagree. I find that Monster cables are completely unnecessary for the price. You can get the same quality for much less buck.
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Yes, you will pay more for Monster cables. And yes, there are plenty of cables on the market that are as good as Monster, however, how many of them have lifetime replacement that includes accidental damage? If I cut my Monster cable in half, I can take it into any Guitar Center (or authorize Monster retailer) and get a brand new cable, no questions asked. Besides, they aren't that much more expensive than el cheapo instrument cables. I mean, $25 for a 21 foot cable that has a lifetime warranty? That's a no brainer.
 
floorpuncher said:
Yes, you will pay more for Monster cables. And yes, there are plenty of cables on the market that are as good as Monster, however, how many of them have lifetime replacement that includes accidental damage? If I cut my Monster cable in half, I can take it into any Guitar Center (or authorize Monster retailer) and get a brand new cable, no questions asked. Besides, they aren't that much more expensive than el cheapo instrument cables. I mean, $25 for a 21 foot cable that has a lifetime warranty? That's a no brainer.
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Monster cables have a lifetime warranty? That is sweet! Do you know if it's just in America or if it'd be valid in Ireland and the UK?
 
philbagg said:
Monster cables have a lifetime warranty? That is sweet! Do you know if it's just in America or if it'd be valid in Ireland and the UK?
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Now it's all starting to sound a little more reasonable eh? :D


Not sure to be honest... I think as long as you purchase from an authorized Monster dealer you should be good to go.
 
floorpuncher said:
Now it's all starting to sound a little more reasonable eh? :D


Not sure to be honest... I think as long as you purchase from an authorized Monster dealer you should be good to go.
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Sweet. When I get around to upgrading my rig I'll splash out on some.

I'll also make sure to tell them that they owe you commission ;)
 
You're getting that Spanish radio station because the power section capacitors are made in Mexico.

Replace them with some NOS Mullards for BBC radio. I hear that Chinese caps will get you Voice of America.

Good luck!
 
kerrang197 said:
I want to use my guitar amp with high gain, basically on 10, but I always get major fuzz when I'm resting/not playing my guitar. I even got Spanish radio on my amplifier when I turned on my distortion pedal for even more gain when I'm solo. What can I do to have close to no noise when I'm not picking the strings.
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Try using a noise gate.

PS: Check the similar threads list.
 
What is "major fuzz"??

With amps there is "hum" (60hz buzzing hum sound) and there is "hiss" (white or pink noise type sound like air vents being amplified). If you have some other type of noise then something is wrong.

Hum starts with cheap pickups, works into cheap pedals and bad cords, and can even be a cheap amp. Start with humbucking or noiseless pickups and shielded cords. Turn off flourescent lights and microwave ovens and blenders and dont stand by the computer monitor or the tv when you play. Mod your pedals. Get a better amp. Use an NS2 noise suppressor pedal.

Hiss is imo almost always coming from the amp. Some hiss is unaviodable at high gain, but you do get what you pay for. The amount of hiss your amp spits out at full volume is, generally speaking, inversely proportional to the amount of money you paid for your amp. More money = (hopefully) better amp = less hiss at full power.

Like any good cake, each ingredient, no matter how small, plays an important role in the final sound coming out of the speaker.......and this is true especially with guitar rigs.
 
floorpuncher said:
1) I think you'd be surprised at how little distortion you actually need... This is a noob guitar player mistake. The sooner you realize you don't need the super heavy distortion, the better off you'll be. If it doesn't sound good when you lower the distortion...
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+1 to this.

If you havent recorded turbo high gain guits before your going to be suprised at how much your going ot have to turn that gain down to get it to NOT sound like a basket full of rectums.

So if you just get used to not surpassing that gain level where it just turns to shit sandwhich your going ot be much further ahead.


There not giving out Grammys for highest gain guitar tracks.

Just keep that in mind when zeroing in on a fix for this problem.
 
Do you turn your guitar volume down to 0 when you're not playing? Do you put your guitar volume on 10 when you do play?

To my ear, amps and guitars rarely sound their best with the gain or volume at 10. Try tuning your sound with your ear instead of this "hey I'm gonna crank it up to ten duuuuude!" Don't be an EQ idealogue. Use your ear.

My distortd mesa DC-5 channel sounds freakin' sweet with the gain on 6 and my guitar volume at 7. Plenty of crunch and distortion.
 
The bottom line is high gains do not translate well to recording. You get a heavy, thick sound by layering guitars and creating the "wall of guitars". Overdriving your setup will only muddy everything down to a point where you can't understand what the hell is going on.
 
floorpuncher said:
Yes, you will pay more for Monster cables. And yes, there are plenty of cables on the market that are as good as Monster, however, how many of them have lifetime replacement that includes accidental damage? If I cut my Monster cable in half, I can take it into any Guitar Center (or authorize Monster retailer) and get a brand new cable, no questions asked. Besides, they aren't that much more expensive than el cheapo instrument cables. I mean, $25 for a 21 foot cable that has a lifetime warranty? That's a no brainer.
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They're also litigious assholes, too, which is why I refuse to buy anything with the Monster logo on it.
 
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