issya
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Posts: 11
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Post by issya on Feb 11, 2020 15:25:44 GMT -7
I recently sold my Jetta to pick of a Wreck Jr instead. The buyer complained of a hum / buzz and said none of his other tube amps do it. So I accepted a return.
It sounds the same as before I shipped it. I do experience the hum but I thought it was normal as my son's '65 DRRI does it too. I know that if you get too close to the amp with the guitar plugged in, it will make noise.
This sound does not occur when the guitar volume is turned down or the guitar is unplugged. I can hear it when the volume is turned to 2 and mv turned to 9. I can also hear it when the volume is 9 and mv is 10. Is this normal? Can another Jetta user verify if theirs does the same thing?
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Post by lowbudget on Feb 11, 2020 16:14:24 GMT -7
Was anything in the loop when the hum was noticed?
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issya
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Post by issya on Feb 11, 2020 16:29:27 GMT -7
Was anything in the loop when the hum was noticed? Nothing in the loop. No noise with guitar unplugged or guitar volume on 0. Different amounts of hum depending on pickup selection. It sounds normal to me but this person was adamant that their other tube amps didn't do the same. I just thought it was normal.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Feb 11, 2020 16:59:53 GMT -7
Is it just me or does it look like the power tubes are red plating? Especially the one on the right.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Feb 11, 2020 18:14:21 GMT -7
I've noticed louder than usual hum When I have one of my pedals in the loop and I get the master volume up to around 12pm.
It's noticeable when there's nothing else going on at home. But I can't tell anything when I'm at a gig.
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issya
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Jetta hum
Feb 11, 2020 19:10:19 GMT -7
via mobile
Post by issya on Feb 11, 2020 19:10:19 GMT -7
Is it just me or does it look like the power tubes are red plating? Especially the one on the right. The one on the right is definitely more red than the other but the photo makes them both red where you can’t really see any red with your eyes. Maybe I should just pick up a new set of tubes just to see if anything changes. On the other hand, don’t all tube amps have a hum when you turn them up?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2020 19:39:53 GMT -7
Depends on the guitar, to some degree. Single coils or humbuckers? Also the wiring in your house/venue can make a big difference. My amps hum when the drier's running downstairs.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2020 19:42:29 GMT -7
Also you can get exaggerated hum if you're running a lot of gain into the front of the amp with a distortion pedal or fuzz, so there's that. And your pedalboard, guitar, cables and even the reverb circuit on your amp can pick up radio frequency interference and end up amplifying it. There's lots of stuff that can cause hum. Could also be a power tube, of course.
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Post by DRZ on Feb 12, 2020 0:42:38 GMT -7
Also you can get exaggerated hum if you're running a lot of gain into the front of the amp with a distortion pedal or fuzz, so there's that. And your pedalboard, guitar, cables and even the reverb circuit on your amp can pick up radio frequency interference and end up amplifying it. There's lots of stuff that can cause hum. Could also be a power tube, of course. +1000 DR.Z
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Post by DRZ on Feb 12, 2020 0:48:20 GMT -7
I must add, of the 125 or so Jetta's I have tested, they are a very low hum for a 30 watt amp. I do not see/hear any problems with background noise, and I do rigurusly test them.
I think the return came from someone with buyers remorse IMHO.
Z
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Feb 12, 2020 1:24:51 GMT -7
+1000 on the buyers remorse. Wanted to chime in earlier with that, but since I don’t own a Jetta, I kept silent. When I turn on an amp with standby on, I can here it come alive. You have power running through a circuit. You hear tubes warm up etc. it’s part of the experience. Your buyer was kicking tires and changed his mind. Shame on him, sorry for your inconvenience.
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issya
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Post by issya on Feb 12, 2020 5:41:40 GMT -7
Thanks for the replies everyone. I was thinking it could be buyers remorse too and unfortunately I am out about $200 in shipping both ways. I am new to the site and did not want a negative review. It is a great sounding amp Dr. Z and I am truly mesmerized by the various Dr. Z options. This was my first real amp as an adult and there are so many Dr. Z options I want to try. Do you think I should try replacing the power tubes or just try to resell it again but mention the hum? There is nothing plugged-in to the front end and it seems like typical hum when the volume is turned up. I have P-90s, not sure what the buyer had.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Feb 12, 2020 5:50:57 GMT -7
If it's quiet with nothing plugged in you're likely okay. Unless it's still quiet after plugging in your favorite guitar (as in no sound). With that new of an amp, I'd say any noise is likely tube related and I wouldn't worry about it. Where are you located? Can you use Craigslist?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2020 5:51:56 GMT -7
Can you post a video that captures what you're hearing?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2020 8:03:24 GMT -7
So at 1:00, are you plugging in a guitar, or just a cable?
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issya
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Post by issya on Feb 12, 2020 8:14:13 GMT -7
So at 1:00, are you plugging in a guitar, or just a cable? The cable you see me plug in is attached to a guitar. I personally think the hum is normal at that point but what about when nothing is plugged in and the volume is at 0?
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Post by lowbudget on Feb 12, 2020 8:23:57 GMT -7
issya, in my experience (and possibly only my experience), that is exactly the sound both of my Jettas exhibited when the master went past noon. It got substantially louder with the loop engaged. Just based on my experience with two different Jettas I would say it’s normal for this amp, but I could be wrong. It kinda comes down to what Rockefeller said about it being noticeable at home but not at a gig, and how one interprets the term “noticeable”. One man’s noticeable may be another man’s unbearable, or not. I’m home based myself and wasn’t able to deal with it, but that doesn’t mean there was anything necessarily wrong with the amp. You have to remember that it’s a very high performance amp that like many of Doc’s creations was designed primarily for the stage. In the end I just had to resign myself to the fact that I couldn’t tame it for home use no matter how much I wanted to. Imagine buying a Lamborghini then trying to relegate it to grocery store trips on 100 degree days. Ain’t gonna work out. So so my thought is I don’t think it’s worth mentioning going forward. I doubt there’s anything wrong with the amp. And by the way, when used as designed it’s truly a glorious amp and that is worth mentioning!
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Feb 12, 2020 11:32:10 GMT -7
You might even consider posting on this forum’s BST. (Maybe you have and I’m unaware of that fact) At least you know that members here are familiar with “Z” product on top of being honest trustworthy individuals. It may take a little longer to sell, but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that the Z-Wreck jr. you desire won’t be going out of production in the near future. So you aren’t in the first wave of owners, I think you’ll have fewer headaches and there will be a ZWjr. in your stable.
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issya
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by issya on Feb 12, 2020 11:36:56 GMT -7
Thanks again for the replies everyone. I didn't realize there was a BST here and I will give it a shot.
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