Buzz from my MusicMan HD150

Dee-man · #1 10-20-2011, 02:10 PM

Hi TB. I'm hoping to get some feedback on a potential problem.

I have a HD150 that was recently serviced (caps replaced; pots, etc. cleaned). The service was prompted by some buzzing I heard when the bright switch was engaged (plus, the amp probably wasn't serviced for years; I'm recent second owner). The buzzing sounded like the buzz you get from a dimmer light switch.

Last night, with a passive bass that's usually very quiet, I heard the buzzing again when the bright was engaged(perhaps louder than before), but also when I turned the treble up (say, from 2 to 5). I even turned the lights off, but got same buzz.

Any thoughts? Try different bass? Different cabs? Different electrical outlet? Send it back to my tech?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks, DM

BassmanPaul · #2 10-20-2011, 02:52 PM

if the buzz stops when you unplug your bass the bass could do with better shielding. If you are standing close to the amp you could be getting induced noise from the amps power transformer.

Dee-man · #3 10-20-2011, 05:44 PM

Thanks, BMP. I'll try listening to the amp on its own (duh!). Doesn't sound like there's much I can do otherwise if there's no buzz w/o being plugged in (except move away from the amp, which can be a pain). Any other thoughts/suggestions?

BassmanPaul · #4 10-21-2011, 10:33 AM

Even with humbuckers if you stand too close to your amp you will get hum. We all do! With single coils it's even worse. My basses all have low impedance humbuckers and I get the hum too. It only stopped when I went with a Class D power amp with a switch mode supply.

Dee-man · #5 10-21-2011, 11:15 AM

Yeah, I hear you. It's not a problem playing with others, but practicing on my own is a bit annoying. I definitely was getting fuzz with just the amp going through the speaker, but only when I turn the treble up off zero or, less so, engage the bright switch (with treble off). Gotta double-check it's not the speaker/tweeter by trying with another amp, then may ask my tech guy if there's something else to check (I don't remember this much buzz before getting it serviced, so...). Thanks again, DM