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05-18-2010, 09:09 AM
| | | | Ground Problem
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I have ground problem w/Peavey Bass 400 Mark III. The noise is diminished when I am touching the strings. I thought the problem was w/my Ripper Bass, but the problem repeats with any instrument I plug in, and with a number of cords .
The power cord was replaced a few years ago. Could it be connected improperly? There is a 2 way power switch on the back. It makes no difference which way it is positioned.
I used a GK amp a few weeks ago and had Zero noise/ground problems w/my Ripper. |
05-18-2010, 09:37 AM
|  | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | | I don't know the amp. Is the power cord 3-prong? The new cord could be improperly connected. Does the amp have a ground select switch? My old TNT130 had one. You really don't want to mess around with a non grounded amp! Serious shock hazard! |
05-18-2010, 09:42 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada | | | Sounds like a ground pin failure to me. You NEED a three core power cable on any amp. Get it checked out.
Paul |
05-18-2010, 11:09 AM
| | | | Ground?
It has a 3 core power cable. It has a 3 position power switch, on off on. How would I check if the third (ground) prong is operating? I ran a jumper w/alligator clips from the heatsink on the back of the amp to ground in my house wiring w/no change. |
05-18-2010, 11:15 AM
| | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | | What kind of bass are you using? Could be the bass then. |
05-18-2010, 12:46 PM
| | Registered User
Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Hampshire | | | It could just be a noisy amp. All amps hum, especially with passives when you're not touching the bridge or strings. Some are worse than others, though. |
05-18-2010, 03:37 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass  What kind of bass are you using? Could be the bass then. | See the top of this thread. I mentioned:
Ripper Bass
Happens w/all instruments I plug into it.
I might add that I get the problem w/any guitar cord that I use |
05-18-2010, 03:46 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice It could just be a noisy amp. All amps hum, especially with passives when you're not touching the bridge or strings. Some are worse than others, though. | Could be to a certain extent. Peavey amps used Motorola transistors which made a slight high frequency hiss like shhhhhhhh..... This amp is making a lot more noise than it used to.
My Gibson Ripper does not use any passive stuff. I do not use any effects, etc. I just plug directly into the amp.
As for all amps humming, the GK I used a while ago was completely silent. They are a little out of my price range and I really like the tonal qualities and amount of control the Peavey Bass provides. More than enough power too. |
05-19-2010, 05:43 AM
| | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | | Have you tried the amp at a different location? Check your outlets to insure they are properly grounded. |
05-19-2010, 07:49 AM
| | Registered User
pedal / amps - MAMMOTHsound | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: sheffield, uk | | Quote:
Originally Posted by borgward Could be to a certain extent. Peavey amps used Motorola transistors which made a slight high frequency hiss like shhhhhhhh..... This amp is making a lot more noise than it used to.
My Gibson Ripper does not use any passive stuff. I do not use any effects, etc. I just plug directly into the amp.
As for all amps humming, the GK I used a while ago was completely silent. They are a little out of my price range and I really like the tonal qualities and amount of control the Peavey Bass provides. More than enough power too. | does the hum get louder as you turn the amp up?
a passive bass is one that doesn't have any active electronics in it, i.e. just a vol and tone control like your ripper.
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05-19-2010, 10:12 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD | | | First make sure the amp is wired correctly when they changed it to a three wire cord.
The ON off ON power switch should no longer be changing the polarity of the power cord.
Ground goes to the chassis and the power transformer should no longer be grounded on one side. The wide blade on the plug, or the silver blade or the white wire on the cord now is the neutral (the old grounded wire)
Next it might be time to recap the old amp.
BOB
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"THE ABILITY TO DESTROY A PLANET IS INSIGNIFICANT NEXT TO THE POWER OF THE FORCE."
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05-19-2010, 10:19 AM
|  | keepin' the beat since the 60's | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Studio City, SoCal, USA | | | Get a $10 plug-in circuit tester at Home Depot. It plugs in and shows you if your outlet is wired with the proper polarity and grounded correctly. Often they are not, and then the amp is not properly earth grounded.
You should also carry this with you for gigs. If the outlet for your amp is wired differently than the outlet for your PA, this can increase the chances if getting a shock when you touch the mic.
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05-21-2010, 08:31 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by MAMMOTHvolume does the hum get louder as you turn the amp up?
A little. A lot more noise if I turn treble control on the bass up.
a passive bass is one that doesn't have any active electronics in it, i.e. just a vol and tone control like your ripper. | Right you are. I was thinking you meant active. |
05-21-2010, 08:39 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by rbonner First make sure the amp is wired correctly when they changed it to a three wire cord.
It was always a 3 wire cord. They replaced the whole cord instead of putting on a new plug.
The ON off ON power switch should no longer be changing the polarity of the power cord.
Why not?
What is the purpose of the on off on switch??
Ground goes to the chassis and the power transformer should no longer be grounded on one side. The wide blade on the plug, or the silver blade or the white wire on the cord now is the neutral (the old grounded wire)
Next it might be time to recap the old amp.
BOB | Been recapped |
05-21-2010, 08:47 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Virginia Beach, VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice It could just be a noisy amp. All amps hum, especially with passives when you're not touching the bridge or strings. Some are worse than others, though. | Ha-ha...I love it! My Fender Bassman 150 combo has a slight buzz but the intensity increases when I switch to certain channels on my TV. Channel 3 is pretty forgiving and the weather girl is pretty sharp so its a win / win situation.
Riis
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"20% of the money will buy you 90% of the sound..another 30% of the money will buy you another 5% of the sound..you can't buy the remaining 5% of the sound because nobody can agree about what it is." |
05-21-2010, 08:52 AM
| | | | I used a Carvin bass amp last night. No terribly offending noise. Taking my Peavey to the shop today. The guy there suspects that the new power cord was improperly connected (as I do).
There are a world of crummy venues where I live. The wiring in a lot of them is suspect. Not much I can do about that. I have heard of people using power conditioners between their equipment and the power supply. I am wondering if a UPS (uninterrupted Power supply) for computers would clean up suspect electricity. |
05-31-2010, 12:45 PM
| | | | Problem Solved
There was a mouse nest inside and a few chewed wires.Would have liked to have seen the look on the mouses face the first time I cranked that amp up. I noticed that part of the plastic grill on top was missing. Will replace w/metal screen. |
05-31-2010, 12:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada | | I would have thought, considering the diagnoses, that your problem would have been more of a squeak than a hum! 
Paul | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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