Hiss from Amp or Bass?

BassMick · #1 07-26-2010, 07:05 PM

Im running a GKRB700II with a 410 Cab. For some reason, everytime I want to add some tweeter or treble, (Im talking set to 12 o' clock) I get annoying hissing and my volume is only on 1, If I turn it up, it is just unbearable. Yes I turned both down, but then I just get a very dull muffled tone.

I know it cant be something damaged with my GK, plus it's only 2 months old. I also tried different cables. Could it be the epiphone t bird?

If it is the t-bird, do the stingray sterling's eliminate hiss?

jazzblade · #2 07-26-2010, 07:13 PM

Hiss normally comes form one of your pedals or the preamp of your amp , It does not come from the bass unless its active and something is wrong. Unplug everything and try from there to see if it is from your amp first. Set everything about 12 o'clock. If u still hear it then its your amp if not, then add things one at a time to the chain till you find out what is making the hiss.

BassMick · #3 07-26-2010, 07:32 PM

Thank you for helping. I set everything to 12, and that improved in removing hiss. But once I started adding treble and tweeter the noise returned. So is this an amp issue? How would I even fix this? You sure it cant be the bass? maybe its badly grounded? By the way I'm not running any pedals.

KramerBassFan · #4 07-26-2010, 07:36 PM

Not really.

Tweeters often hiss.

Does the hiss make any of a difference depending on whether or not you are touching the strings?

BassMick · #5 07-26-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Not really.

Tweeters often hiss.

Does the hiss make any of a difference depending on whether or not you are touching the strings?

No, even when I roll the tone and volume off on the bass, I still hear that annoying hiss. Thank you for replying.

KramerBassFan · #6 07-26-2010, 08:00 PM

Ah, been there, had that.

Pain to get rid of....

(oh, and by "not really" i meant, alot of amps have this problem, or at least, have this)

Growly Lytes · #7 07-26-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMick

No, even when I roll the tone and volume off on the bass, I still hear that annoying hiss. Thank you for replying.

Well that shouldnt happen dude.If your bass is active it might hiss from the bass. If you touch the strings & there is still hissing well then you might have a problem somewhere.I have a hissing on my Fender Deluxe Lyte but when im playing or touching the strings it goes away unless i crank the highs ??

BassMick · #8 07-26-2010, 08:03 PM

So, I can't get rid of it? and there is nothing wrong with my GK? just typical amp buisness?

MIJ-VI · #9 07-26-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMick

Im running a GKRB700II with a 410 Cab. For some reason, everytime I want to add some tweeter or treble, (Im talking set to 12 o' clock) I get annoying hissing and my volume is only on 1, If I turn it up, it is just unbearable. Yes I turned both down, but then I just get a very dull muffled tone.

I know it cant be something damaged with my GK, plus it's only 2 months old. I also tried different cables. Could it be the epiphone t bird?

If it is the t-bird, do the stingray sterling's eliminate hiss?

Your Epiphone T-bird is a passive instrument (no internal pre-amp)? If so, then it won't be the source of the hiss.

What's the make and exact model number of your 4 X 10" cab?

jazzblade · #10 07-26-2010, 08:09 PM

did you unplug everything from the amp and still get hiss???? Start there and add one thing at a time till u hear hiss

billfitzmaurice · #11 07-26-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Tweeters often hiss.

Tweeters never hiss. They will reproduce hiss that's generated within the signal chain, starting with the pre in the bass if it's active, ending with the amp, plus everything in between.
The only way to isolate the source is to add one item at a time to the chain, starting with the amp and working backwards.

jazzblade · #12 07-26-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Tweeters never hiss. They will reproduce hiss that's generated within the signal chain, starting with the pre in the bass if it's active, ending with the amp, plus everything in between.
The only way to isolate the source is to add one item at a time to the chain, starting with the amp and working backwards.

yea thats what I was trying to say. add one thing at a time.

amp no guitar no cable hiss no? next

amp cable and one peddle hiss no? next
amp, pedal, guitar vol down on guitar no hiss? next
one thing till u find where it starts.

BassMick · #13 07-26-2010, 08:26 PM

I unplugged everything and still get hiss once I added treble and tweeter.

MIJ-VI · #14 07-26-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMick

I unplugged everything and still get hiss once I added treble and tweeter.

What's the make and exact model number of your 4 X 10" cab?

jazzblade · #15 07-26-2010, 08:31 PM

added as in turn up the Tweeter control/l pad or the treble control on the amp? is it as loud as it ever is? you might have a prob with your amp. If its new, can u go back to where you got it and listen to one in the store? You shouldn't have a prob returning it if it is only 2 months old and in good shape.

what you have found is that the noise floor of that amp is high for some reason and it shouldn't be .You have proved it is in the amp and not anything else. It is NOT the fault of the tweeter, the tweeter only reproduces what the AMP sends it. It can NOT make its own "hiss"

billfitzmaurice · #16 07-26-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMick

I unplugged everything and still get hiss once I added treble and tweeter.

Then the amp is the source of the hiss. All electronics create some hiss. Only those of the very highest quality don't create audible hiss. Your's might be defective, you'd have to try another of the same model to be sure.

BassMick · #17 07-26-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

What's the make and exact model number of your 4 X 10" cab?

410RBX-II

I ordered both online.

mgb71 · #18 07-26-2010, 08:39 PM

I've had horn hiss similar to what you are talking about when running a 700RBII with a regular speaker cable going to the cabinet. It didn't matter whether the bass was plugged in or not, the hiss was always present. I found that using the GK Speakon cable and the amp's bi-amp feature virtually eliminated the hiss, but I was also using a GK cabinet (GK Neo) that was bi-amp/Speakon compatible which may not be an option for you.

Are you using a GK cabinet that is bi-amp/Speakon compatible?

I also had the hissing problem using a GK Backline 600 with this same cabinet, but since the BL600 didn't have the bi-amp feature the only way to reduce the hiss was to dial the horn control on the back of the cabinet to about 25%.

jazzblade · #19 07-26-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

I ordered both online.

Still under warranty then No prob contact them.

You would only have to sent the amp not the Head anyway.

BassMick · #20 07-26-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzblade

Still under warranty then No prob contact them.

You would only have to sent the amp not the Head anyway.

Now that I remember, Iv had it for about 4 - 3 months. Is it too late?