jdscpa
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by jdscpa on Jul 16, 2023 18:13:52 GMT -7
Hi all,
I just recently picked up a Z-Plus combo and am experiencing a lot of hiss/hum that increases when I either increase the reverb or the master. None of the other controls create the same problem. My first guess is it could be old tubes. Any one have suggestions as to which tubes to start changing if just these two controls seem to generate the problem?
Thanks for any help you could provide! Love the amp but want to get rid of this annoying problem.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Jul 16, 2023 19:26:40 GMT -7
I have a Z-plus - I don't have that issue. Here is a link to Doc's trouble shooting video.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Jul 16, 2023 21:33:36 GMT -7
My Z-Plus is nice and quiet. Following the video above has helped me in the past.
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jdscpa
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by jdscpa on Jul 17, 2023 5:30:22 GMT -7
Thanks for the video link. I’ve ordered some new power tubes and will see if that addresses the issue.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Jul 17, 2023 5:41:57 GMT -7
if the reverb increases the noise, consider starting with the two tubes that handle the reverb ... here's the tube listing (from perryr here on the forum - and a great source for tubes): V1 is the input tube, first gain stage using both halves of the 12ax7 in parallel. V2 is a cathode follower tone stack driver. V3 is the reverb driver, it drives the tank. V4 is the reverb recovery and mix. V5 is the output tubes driver (using 1/2 of tube as its single ended output). Power tubes Rectifier (power supply )
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Post by DRZ on Jul 17, 2023 7:01:12 GMT -7
Also since the amp was just shipped check the RCA jacks to and from the reverb tank. But I believe it’s a tube problem. Z
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jdscpa
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by jdscpa on Jul 17, 2023 13:23:25 GMT -7
Also since the amp was just shipped check the RCA jacks to and from the reverb tank. But I believe it’s a tube problem. Z Thanks Doc! Love the amp, and will try the tube swap to fix which I believe is the problem too. I will also check the RCA jacks from the reverb. I’d guess one of these checks will fix the issue. ‘Thanks everyone for all the responses!
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Post by frankie on Jul 18, 2023 9:13:06 GMT -7
Also since the amp was just shipped check the RCA jacks to and from the reverb tank. But I believe it’s a tube problem. Z Thanks Doc! Love the amp, and will try the tube swap to fix which I believe is the problem too. I will also check the RCA jacks from the reverb. I’d guess one of these checks will fix the issue. ‘Thanks everyone for all the responses! It the noise increases with the master volume, then it should not be a power tube problem. Likely a noisy reverb recovery tube or V1.
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jdscpa
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by jdscpa on Jul 18, 2023 11:34:52 GMT -7
One update that I think could be good news. I moved the amp across the room and also unplugged my pedal board and just went straight in. The noise reduced dramatically. So it appears the problem is at least caused in part by my pedal board. Perhaps going through the effects loop would be less noisy. I will try that later also.
I will also try the V1 tube as suggested above once I get everything put back together. Thanks again, and what a great resource this board is.
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Post by frankie on Jul 18, 2023 11:46:48 GMT -7
One update that I think could be good news. I moved the amp across the room and also unplugged my pedal board and just went straight in. The noise reduced dramatically. So it appears the problem is at least caused in part by my pedal board. Perhaps going through the effects loop would be less noisy. I will try that later also. I will also try the V1 tube as suggested above once I get everything put back together. Thanks again, and what a great resource this board is. As a general rule of thumb, and this goes for any amp, if the noise isn't present when there is nothing plugged into the amp, then the issue is downstream, i.e. pedal board, guitar, cables, etc. Something you want to check is if you have a switch mode power supply or transformer based power supply for your pedals. The transformer based ones (older Pedal Power 2 for example) will cause hum if they are sitting under the pedals or run parallel with the signal cables. Also, if you are daisy chaining ANY digital FX (strymon, boss, eventide) that have high current draws with other FX, this will cause a whine/hiss in your signal. You best bet is plugging each pedal in your chain in at a time (guitar to tuner to amp, then guitar to tuner to overdrive to amp, then guitar>tuner>OD>delay>amp, as an example), which will determine what exactly in your chain is raising the noise floor.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Jul 18, 2023 20:18:09 GMT -7
One of the best things about this forum is that you are not billed for a diagnosis!
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jdscpa
Junior Member
Posts: 53
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Post by jdscpa on Jul 26, 2023 4:22:20 GMT -7
Wanted to provide a follow up. Since moving the amp to the other side of the room, and off my cheap pedal board, it is as quiet as a church mouse. Even with single coils. Perhaps the quietest running amp I have. And I also realized I don’t need all those pedals with the Z-Plus as it is outstanding on its own.
Thanks for all the help and replies. This forum is a great resource for Z owners. And this is a fabulous amp.
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Post by DRZ on Jul 26, 2023 5:59:06 GMT -7
Wanted to provide a follow up. Since moving the amp to the other side of the room, and off my cheap pedal board, it is as quiet as a church mouse. Even with single coils. Perhaps the quietest running amp I have. And I also realized I don’t need all those pedals with the Z-Plus as it is outstanding on its own. Thanks for all the help and replies. This forum is a great resource for Z owners. And this is a fabulous amp. Thank you for the follow up post . I must say a large percentage of noise problems are caused by environmental issues, as well as pedals and pedal boards. Players are often times more involved with noise source not the cause of the noise . Z
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Post by John on Jul 26, 2023 7:03:42 GMT -7
I must say a large percentage of noise problems are caused by environmental issues, as well as pedals and pedal boards.
And putting your cell phone on top of your amp!! (Ask me how I know....)
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Jul 27, 2023 1:48:13 GMT -7
I must say a large percentage of noise problems are caused by environmental issues, as well as pedals and pedal boards.
And putting your cell phone on top of your amp!! (Ask me how I know....)
Been there. Done that. Guilty as charged. Yet easily solved. Thank goodness I read about it here first.
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Post by mule43 on Jul 27, 2023 3:58:21 GMT -7
I must say a large percentage of noise problems are caused by environmental issues, as well as pedals and pedal boards. Players are often times more involved with noise source not the cause of the noise . Z You can say that again Doc! I always have some hum from my wife's fish tanks, all of the pumps give 60 Hz hum. At least she took down the 2 big tanks, those pumps were really noisy. My TS808 is also very picky about where it is on my pedal board, wrong spot and it creates a lot of hiss.
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