help with my mesa boogie amp, bought it today and i do not like what i hear

[Mr. BassmanPT]

just bought a titan v12 but the first thing i noticed when plugged it in was the noise it gives me to the speaker.. is this normal?

i do not know what word to apply to the noise, it is like a hum or something. my electrical plug isn't grounded and it gives me grounding noises too.

i wasn't expecting an amp like this one to have such issues.. is my unit defective? is it the tubes that need replacement?

i was using an hartke ha3500 before and i didn't had these noises at all. same plug, same cord, same cable, same bass! the grounding noises are still there with my hartke but not as noticeable as with the titan. and the titan gives me those wierd noises. never used all tube pre amps before, maybe is the tubes?

can you give a clue or something?

hope to have a reply soon.

regards

[hdracer]

I have never use the Mesa, but when I first got my VB-2 it did about the same thing. I brought it to a service center and had them check it out. They said nothing was wrong with it. I got back and plugged it in and it did the same thing. I called the tech & he asked how I was turning it on. I said I just flipped on the power & standby & it started humming. He said to turn the power on & leave it in standby for a few min's with the mute on, then take it out of standby and wait a few more min's then take it out of mute. No noise! I have done this ever sense. Pain but it works for mine.

[Mr. BassmanPT]

it makes noises even on standby

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by hdracer

I have never use the Mesa, but when I first got my VB-2 it did about the same thing.

Except for one major difference....the Titan V12 is not a tube amp. It only has 12ax7 preamp tubes in it, but it's solid state power.

my electrical plug isn't grounded and it gives me grounding noises too.

First things first....you should be plugging amps into grounded outlets.

[Mr. BassmanPT]

yes.. but my hartke is very silent. the amp is giving me lots of noises even when in standby and with the mute on!

[hdracer]

Sorry, I thought the V-12 was tube.

[DanRJBrasil]

try in other peoples outlet and see if the hum persists , if it does, as you said thats brand new, return it at once and get another

[RickenBoogie]

The Titan does not have standby, and you should NEVER use an ungrounded outlet with an amp, especially one so powerful. Also, what cab(s) are you using, and what is their impedance? I suspect the problem is not the amp, but if it turns out that it is, Mesa's warranty is bulletproof.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

The Titan does not have standby, and you should NEVER use an ungrounded outlet with an amp, especially one so powerful. Also, what cab(s) are you using, and what is their impedance? I suspect the problem is not the amp, but if it turns out that it is, Mesa's warranty is bulletproof.

A potential life-saving +1!

OP, the reason for this is that if your amp's circuit should fail and short the AC supply (~115 VAC in North America, ~230 VAC in Europe) to its chassis as you're playing your bass while you simultaneously touch another piece of electronic gear (like a microphone or metal mic stand etc), the entire AC supply would likely flow through your body and you could wind up like Leslie Harvey (R.I.P.) or Gary Thain (R.I.P.).

If a rig isn't safe, it ain't pro.

[Krügmeister]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

The Titan does not have standby, and you should NEVER use an ungrounded outlet with an amp, especially one so powerful. Also, what cab(s) are you using, and what is their impedance? I suspect the problem is not the amp, but if it turns out that it is, Mesa's warranty is bulletproof.

It does have a standby switch... not entirely sure what it's purpose is though

[jazzblade]

Originally Posted by Krügmeister

It does have a standby switch... not entirely sure what it's purpose is though

I think its more like a mute on this amp and for the preamp tube more than anything else.

Question to the OP, That amp is making noise with everything turned down, AND the Standby switch is turned ON??

I Think you should NEVER power the amp in a ungrounded plug. That is just asking for trouble.

There should be NO sound when it is in standby!! Unless the amp section is somehow getting the ungrounded 50 hz. hum I'm not sure how that is possible .

+1 on trying it in a GROUNDED plug first. It it fails return it at once.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by Krügmeister

It does have a standby switch... not entirely sure what it's purpose is though

I think b/c of how much draw the amp pulls/uses.
I've more than once tripped the breaker at a less than stellar bar or rehearsal space with that amp with it going Full On w/out engaging the Standby switch first.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

A potential life-saving +1!

OP, the reason for this is that if your amp's circuit should fail and short the AC supply (~115 VAC in North America, ~230 VAC in Europe) to its chassis as you're playing your bass while you simultaneously touch another piece of electronic gear (like a microphone or metal mic stand etc), the entire AC supply would likely flow through your body and you could wind up like Leslie Harvey (R.I.P.) or Gary Thain (R.I.P.).

If a rig isn't safe, it ain't pro.

^ THAT. As unlikely as it is, it does happen, and it will probably kill you if it does.
The fact that your Hartke doesn't exhibit the noise through the same unsafe grounding arrangement means nothing. The Hartke is different, but this doesn't mean the Mesa is defective, just more sensitive to this issue. Ground your power, always.

[Mr. BassmanPT]

hey, thanks to all of you that replied..

the amp was sent back, they will give me a new one next monday if everything goes right... the amp was giving me grounding noises even in standby (or whatever it is called).. if i buy a power conditioner, will this give me grounding (thus eliminating the grounding noises if they exist in the next amp?)?

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

hey, thanks to all of you that replied..

the amp was sent back, they will give me a new one next monday if everything goes right... the amp was giving me grounding noises even in standby (or whatever it is called).. if i buy a power conditioner, will this give me grounding (thus eliminating the grounding noises if they exist in the next amp?)?

First off, please go to a local hardware store and invest a couple of euros or so in the equivalent of one of these...



Receptacle tester

...and test every outlet before plugging anything into it.

If the tester indicates that an outlet is improperly wired or not grounded then don't use it--it's not safe. Try another instead.

BTW. Make said AC outlet tester a standard part of your kit and test AC outlets at gigs too.

[bass4worship]

+1 on the tester....

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

hey, thanks to all of you that replied..

the amp was sent back, they will give me a new one next monday if everything goes right... the amp was giving me grounding noises even in standby (or whatever it is called).. if i buy a power conditioner, will this give me grounding (thus eliminating the grounding noises if they exist in the next amp?)?

Wait a minute. Is this the type of AC outlet in use in Portugal--for 230 VAC?



If not, could you please find it in this Wiki page and post a picture here?

AC power plugs and sockets

Thank you.

[Mr. BassmanPT]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

First off, please go to a local hardware store and invest a couple of euros or so in the equivalent of one of these...



Receptacle tester

...and test every outlet before plugging anything into it.

If the tester indicates that an outlet is improperly wired or not grounded then don't use it--it's not safe. Try another instead.

BTW. Make said AC outlet tester a standard part of your kit and test AC outlets at gigs too.

i would buy one of those... but i can't because.... (read below)

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

Wait a minute. Is this the type of AC outlet in use in Portugal--for 230 VAC?



If not, could you please find it in this Wiki page and post a picture here?

AC power plugs and sockets

Thank you.

yes, those are the outlets we use over here, they are everywhere!

EDIT: been reading some information in the internet about this issue.. is there a way i can have a ground even if the outlet isn't grounded? the power conditioner keep popping my head, can anyone confirm me this information? does the power conditioner gives me grounding even if the outlet isn't?

[BassmanPaul]

No power conditioner or power bar can provide a ground that isn't there. You can try reversing the plug and see what gives you the quietest result. Apart from that I can't help.

Paul

[Mr. BassmanPT]

bad news, i was hoping for a solution other than break the house apart