Amp buzzes when I play notes

Brad4083 · #1 11-13-2011, 08:09 PM

Hi everyone. This is my first post.

I just bought a small bass amp for practice (Ampeg BA-108). Actually, due to a shipping mix-up, Amazon sent me two of them. They both have the same problem:

When I play a note, I hear a buzzing sound. I hear it on every note, but it is more prominent on lower notes. I still hear it after tightening all the screws on the cabinet. Also, it doesn't matter how loud or soft I play; I hear it when I play as soft as I can. This leads me to think it is from the speaker or electronics rather than from the cabinet.

I'm probably going to send these back to Amazon, but I thought I'd check here first in case there's a quick fix.

Brad

JtheJazzMan · #2 11-13-2011, 08:18 PM

Probably clipping/distortion. The specs Im seeing list that amp at 25watts. Always found amps to be useless at that power range for a bass guitar.

Not much you can do sorry, you need a bigger amp.

BassmanPaul · #3 11-13-2011, 10:29 PM

Did you read the manual to see how to set the amp(s) up to suit your bass???

sonic assassin · #4 11-13-2011, 10:34 PM

methinks you hit the resonant frequency of the cab and it cant handle that note without making some noise.

chadds · #5 11-14-2011, 05:39 AM

Reduce your bass eq. if that doesn't work send it back because you are as a bassist going to be playing notes.

Bass Unique · #6 11-14-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad4083

Hi everyone. This is my first post.

I just bought a small bass amp for practice (Ampeg BA-108). Actually, due to a shipping mix-up, Amazon sent me two of them. They both have the same problem:

When I play a note, I hear a buzzing sound. I hear it on every note, but it is more prominent on lower notes. I still hear it after tightening all the screws on the cabinet. Also, it doesn't matter how loud or soft I play; I hear it when I play as soft as I can. This leads me to think it is from the speaker or electronics rather than from the cabinet.

I'm probably going to send these back to Amazon, but I thought I'd check here first in case there's a quick fix.

Brad

Small cabs dont have to be bad - they tend to be quiet... however, all too often manufacturers make a token cheap practice cab with awful electronics and cheap speakers.

If it happens on every note, it is unlikely to be a cab panel resonance. Is it is buzz or a chuff? A chuffing could be a cabinet leak. As stated on here, try turning the bass control right down on the input as much as possible and see if it still happens. If it goes away, it is probabyl clipping. If it does not, and you have checked your bass on another cab without the buzz, it probably a defective component or batch.

Its about time these manufacturers took the small cab market seriously and made something quality but small. I am sure we would all pay a premium for something good and small.

Welcome to Talk Bass!

Brad4083 · #7 11-14-2011, 06:38 PM

As I said, I have two of these Ampeg BA-108's here, and they sound exactly the same. I hear the buzz even when playing at whisper volume, so I've ruled out a cabinet problem. I've also tried them with my guitar and I hear buzzing with that as well. I have another amp here on loan -- an Acoustic B20 -- but that one doesn't buzz.

Thanks for your responses. I've concluded that something is defective with these Ampegs, and I'll be sending them back.

topo morto · #8 11-14-2011, 06:46 PM

Do you still hear it on headphones (played quietly)?

jabsys · #9 11-14-2011, 07:10 PM

Have you tried a different power socket?

I don't agree that you need a bigger amp, 25 watts is easily loud enough to annoy everybody else in your house without distorting.

sad_katz · #10 11-14-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

Probably clipping/distortion. The specs Im seeing list that amp at 25watts. Always found amps to be useless at that power range for a bass guitar.

Not much you can do sorry, you need a bigger amp.

Ampeg B-15 amps beg to differ

The problem is not the 25 Watts amp, but the small 8" cab. It's only good for quiet bedroom practice/noodling.

topo morto · #11 11-15-2011, 02:01 AM

I got my little Fender rumble 15 purposely NOT to annoy people in the house

You can either play it quietly with the bass turned up, or quite loud with the bass turned down. If you go too far with it the little speaker can't cope.

Electricblue · #12 11-15-2011, 03:36 AM

You didn't mention if it was at high volume or not. Maybe the speaker's mullered. Or you're just pushing it too far.

Mingo Sanders · #13 11-15-2011, 05:12 AM

Have you played your bass through any other amp? Like topo morto suggests, try it with headphones. The buzzing may be your bass.

crguti · #14 11-15-2011, 06:52 AM

maybe the speaker wiring is touching the speaker itself.

**moore.jcm** · #15 11-15-2011, 06:56 AM

Does your bass have active electronics? If so, it could be the battery needs to be replaced....

Crater · #16 11-15-2011, 07:58 AM

Sounds like what he's describing is crossover distortion. I had this problem with a Crate bass amp I bought second hand. Crate and Ampeg are (were) both made by SLM and they apparently have a common design in the power amp where the power transistors' bias is adjustable via a trim pot. But it's not something you should be doing to a brand new amplifier. Send them back.

Since you only bought one, they will probably only send one back to you. Sell the other one to me, I'll fix it.

Vakmere · #17 11-15-2011, 10:34 AM

Dont fuss with it, return it for a refund today.