I hear voices in my amp!?!

  • Thread starter Thread starter rondo
  • Start date Start date
You know, I had the same problem and it used to drive me CRAZY! The RFI came from my studio equipment, but I was never able to completely eliminate the noise from my guitar amps. I was told it was due to old wiring in my building (I lived in an 1890 brownstone that had wiring from the 50s). And when I moved to a newly rehabed brownstone next door, the problem was gone! So if the problem is with your amps and not your studio gear, try a power conditioner. But make sure you can return it if it doesn't solve your problem.
 
My house was built in the 70's - and i wouldnt doubt it has cheap wiring .... I heard the term power conditioner used before - where can I get one? It is similar to a UPS?
 
Rondo- You can get a power conditioner at any decent pro audio outlet, and it's something you should have anyway. The cheap ones smooth out voltage, but do nothing for RFI. Try Furman PM8, not the less expensive PL series. I think PM8 is about $130- Good luck, Richie
 
thanks for the info on the power conditioner ... dont have the funds for it right now - but I'll definately look into it in the future.

Didnt have a chance to try all of the things you guys have recommended... but will keep you posted on what I find.

thanks again everyone!
 
UPS may not be a good line conditioner.

One clear way to cut down on radio pickup is to add a small capacitor across the input of the amp. It should be a small value, <.5nF, and should be connected across the input of the amp. This will eliminate the radio pickup completely. 0.1 nF is a good starting point, so you don't lose any top end on the guitar.

There's not much you can do about the sound that sounds like FM static. It's a hiss component of the amp, and all amps have it to some extent. On my Zoom 505, the Hiss reaches unbearable proportions so I end up never using it at all.

Sang
 
I'm sorry - havent had much time to play with it. My day job was just crazy last week. My band I was in for 11 years just dispanded in a VERY unfriendly way. So I wasn't in much of a mood to play with music. Not feeling very creative. So on a side note I could use some good advise on "getting over" a break-up.

Anyway - enough of the lame excuses.... I will try soon to play with it. I have turned on the amp recently and it didnt sound as bad as it did the one night. Maybe it was a fluke? Has anyone noticed that it changes with weather? Like on a clear night it's worse? Just an idea....

Also - The pedal I am using is a DOD Tek4. I just remembered.

Again - thank you all for all of the input.
 
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