|
Post by ajlguitfiddle on Oct 22, 2018 15:26:33 GMT -7
Hi everyone. I have an MKII Maz 18 (with reverb). I find that the higher gain sounds from the amp are buzzy or fizzy, especially with single note playing, and worst with humbuckers. I have played/owned other PPIMV amps and noticed the same thing at times. With the MKII, I find that if I turn the volume down and the master up, and run my Barber Direct Drive, the gain is much tighter and there is no buzz or fizz. I assume this means the buzz and fizz I am hearing is from the preamp. Some of you might say, then just run the Barber! However, I would like to be able to use the dirt in the amp too, especially given the price tag. Also, I like the dirt in the amp. It is a bright, Marshall-like crunch that I otherwise really enjoy. Is anyone else experiencing this?
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 22, 2018 18:14:36 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum. What speaker are you running in your Maz? I found that my MKII sounds best to me with a WGS ET-65. Killer speaker for that amp. No fizz in that combo, it sounds great clean or crunchy.
|
|
|
Post by ajlguitfiddle on Oct 22, 2018 19:59:21 GMT -7
The amp came from Z with a Vintage 30. I’ve tried a Gold and a G12H creamback too. The buzz/fizz is there with all of them - most pronounced with the gold. I had two Maz 18s in the past. I don’t remember them sounding like this. I wonder if this has to do with the PPIMV.
|
|
|
Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Oct 22, 2018 20:10:45 GMT -7
Try swapping a known good 12AX7 one at a time for the preamp tubes and see if there is any change. Fizz comes most often from tubes in my experience. If that doesn't find it try swapping the power tubes. If it's still there after that, you have eliminated tubes as the problem. What are your settings on the amp?
|
|
|
Post by premiumplus (Dave) on Oct 23, 2018 6:05:45 GMT -7
Agree about the tubes. Power tubes are real important, forum member perryr sells excellent 6N14N output tubes that sound great and last a long, long time.
|
|
|
Post by fishyfishfish on Oct 23, 2018 13:45:06 GMT -7
Try a treble booster-ish pedal to tighten up the front end?
|
|
|
Post by fishyfishfish on Oct 23, 2018 13:45:18 GMT -7
Try a treble booster-ish pedal to tighten up the front end?
|
|
|
Post by ajlguitfiddle on Oct 23, 2018 17:45:27 GMT -7
Try swapping a known good 12AX7 one at a time for the preamp tubes and see if there is any change. Fizz comes most often from tubes in my experience. If that doesn't find it try swapping the power tubes. If it's still there after that, you have eliminated tubes as the problem. What are your settings on the amp? Thanks guys. The amp has original tubes from Z. Very little hours on them, as I have played the amp sparingly since purchasing it. The amp is very quiet otherwise (no hiss, etc.) My settings are typically about noon T, M, B and Cut at about 11. Input volume varies, but the higher I go the more of the buzz/fizz I hear.
|
|
|
Post by ajlguitfiddle on Oct 23, 2018 17:47:18 GMT -7
Agree about the tubes. Power tubes are real important, forum member perryr sells excellent 6N14N output tubes that sound great and last a long, long time. Thanks, Dave. The amp has the original NOS 6N14N that were installed by Z. Because I am only getting the buzz/fizz with increasing the input volume, I am thinking the issue is in the preamp, or maybe this is just how the MKII sounds?!
|
|
|
Post by KeithA on Oct 24, 2018 0:17:14 GMT -7
Agree about the tubes. Power tubes are real important, forum member perryr sells excellent 6N14N output tubes that sound great and last a long, long time. Thanks, Dave. The amp has the original NOS 6N14N that were installed by Z. Because I am only getting the buzz/fizz with increasing the input volume, I am thinking the issue is in the preamp, or maybe this is just how the MKII sounds?! Just wondering if you are running the master volume too low while the gain/input volume is raised up? The master volume may need to be opened up at a certain minimum level based on the circuits design.
|
|
|
Post by ajlguitfiddle on Oct 25, 2018 16:17:28 GMT -7
I’ve rolled tubes, cranked master, swapped speakers. I think this is just the way the amp sounds.
|
|
|
Post by ajlguitfiddle on Nov 28, 2018 16:33:03 GMT -7
For those curious, I have found that increasing the master to about 11 o'clock reduces the fizz I was complaining about with higher gain sounds. KeithA was right. The problem is that to do this and keep the amp at reasonable volumes I have to use my Brake lite. Some people have said that the MKII improvements, specifically to the master volume, make an attenuator unnecessary, but I am finding the Brake Lite to be very useful still. I guess even the best master volumes have limitations, although I understand that I may be in the minority on this one.
|
|