Clicking through my amp?

Stilettoprefer · #1 10-08-2011, 01:16 PM

So trying my amp this morning after a gig last night, it was making a small clicking noise every 5 seconds. It still put through the signal from my bass though. So I started trouble shooting. Different bass, still does it. Different cable, still does it. Bypass pedals, still does it. Putting bass into active input instead of passive, still does it. Unplug cable from amp, clicking stops.

Amp is a B200 combo. My house is really old so it might be a grounding problem on the outlet. I have to use this amp for a gig this afternoon and the clicking isn't loud enough to cause too much worry, so I'm gonna use it for the gig. I'll see if it still clicks this afternoon at the place we're playing at.

EDIT: forgot to ask my question:P

What could be causing this and am I good to use it this afternoon?

5port · #2 10-08-2011, 01:19 PM

Carry it into Guitar Center and have them plug it in. If it does it in front of them they will give you a new one.

Stilettoprefer · #3 10-08-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5port

Carry it into Guitar Center and have them plug it in. If it does it in front of them they will give you a new one.

I will do that if it continues to click after this afternoons gig. Or maybe I'll just use the guitarists bass rig for the afternoon instead...

BassmanPaul · #4 10-08-2011, 01:48 PM

This could be cause by a failing decoupling cap in the pre-amp section allowing the amp to motorboat at a low frequency. Grounding the input, by pulling out the cable, stops it. It will need to be repaired. I'd make the trip to GC ASAP.

Stilettoprefer · #5 10-08-2011, 05:57 PM

Still makes the clicking and it did fine on the gig. It was a low volume one today but lat night was a little louder and it was clipping easier than before (only time it has clipped before is when I had to be louder than an entire marching band in a school gym with no PA support)

So I'm gonna take it into GC after I have someone else put their ear up to it, just in case I'm going crazy

5port · #6 10-08-2011, 06:30 PM

I dont think you are going crazy. I bet its power supply related. At any rate the B200 is a nice amp and there's no reason to put up with it.

Stilettoprefer · #7 10-08-2011, 06:49 PM

GC is giving me a new amp as I type this! This is happening a lot easier than I expected. Probably cuz I went straight to the store manager instead of a random employee.

5port · #8 10-08-2011, 07:02 PM

I dont think you can beat that CS with a stick. Enjoy the new amp kudos to GC.

Stilettoprefer · #9 10-08-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5port

I dont think you can beat that CS with a stick. Enjoy the new amp kudos to GC.

even broke a screwdriver while getting the casters off of the old amp haha. That manager was really cool. We use the same bass apparently:P.

Loving today!

made money AND got a new amp:P

Stilettoprefer · #10 10-09-2011, 12:25 PM

Okay, so new amp. I plug it in and it does the same clicking noise. I turned off the horn and it was reduced a lot. Unplug the cable and the click stops completely. Another defective amp or something that is normal?

**B-string** · #11 10-09-2011, 12:45 PM

Not normal by most standards. This happens with a bass just plugged in and not being played?

Stilettoprefer · #12 10-09-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Not normal by most standards. This happens with a bass just plugged in and not being played?

Yup. With me touching the strings or not. My P has a grounding issue, but I tried with my Schecter as well and it still did that fricken clicking. And I went into the office at my house (large machinery used to run in there so the circuit is definitely grounded and safe) and still that click. Cell phone on airplane mode and across the room. And power supply is the new one that came in the box with the amp.

Even tried with a patch cable instead of my normal ones. Whatever I do that click is still there until I unplug the cable from the amp! If it wasn't brand new out of the box, i'd open it up and investigate.

**B-string** · #13 10-09-2011, 12:59 PM

Then it is either defective also, a design flaw that needs to be or may have been adressed. It may not be top level gear but should meet simple basic standards.

Stilettoprefer · #14 10-09-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Then it is either defective also, a design flaw that needs to be or may have been adressed. It may not be top level gear but should meet simple basic standards.

How would I go about contacting someone about this? Should I take it to an amp repair guy and have them track it down then call Acoustic? My first one was a few months old before it started happening, but this one is just out of the box. Not even a gig or any basses past half volume yet. The only thing I did was spin the knobs to my preferred settings.

**B-string** · #15 10-09-2011, 01:11 PM

The GC Acoustic is a house brand of GC's parent Corp. imported from China. I think the only link you have to GC's Acoustic is at GC. Don't void your warranty by attempting any repairs. Just go back to the store and try again.

5port · #16 10-09-2011, 01:25 PM

"Unplug the cable and the click stops completely."

To me this is the flag. I have a theory that the cable and bass are acting as an antenna. There are so many electronic toys in our lives that now transmit a signal we may not think about all of them. Cell phone in airplane mode I wouldnt trust it. Take the cell phone to the other side of the house. Better yet put it in the car and try the amp again. My theory is that its something you have on you when you go to the gig also. Digital watch? Laptop?Pager?Heart monitor?

**B-string** · #17 10-09-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5port

"Unplug the cable and the click stops completely."

To me this is the flag. I have a theory that the cable and bass are acting as an antenna. There are so many electronic toys in our lives that now transmit a signal we may not think about all of them. Cell phone in airplane mode I wouldnt trust it. Take the cell phone to the other side of the house. Better yet put it in the car and try the amp again. My theory is that its something you have on you when you go to the gig also. Digital watch? Laptop?Pager?Heart monitor?

Your theory is sound, but all standards in place require that it be able to reject these for certification world wide as well as in the US.

Come to think of it the cell phone could be out of compliance. Turn it off and try again.

Stilettoprefer · #18 10-09-2011, 02:04 PM

I'll turn off the phone completely and try again when I get home tonight. Need an amp for practice tomorrow at the dummers house. I'll see if it still does it there.

The amp is still putting out normal volume and sound, just an added noise aside from whatever I'm playing. That noise probably won't even be noticeable at a gig. I still have like a year and half left on the GC extended warranty so I might just keep using it like this and if it totally craps on me I'll return it again.

sevenorchids · #19 10-09-2011, 08:51 PM

Who's your cell phone carrier? Sprint/Nextel is notorious for this. Drove me crazy, switched to Verizon (for another reason, not this), and have never had the issue since.

Stilettoprefer · #20 10-09-2011, 09:14 PM

I'm on AT&T. It causes hell around amps of any kind. Even the stereo in my bedroom haha. I just put it on airplane mode and it's all good. iPhones suck around music gear:P