I'm now hearing a radio bleed through my rig

dagrev · #1 08-14-2011, 04:30 PM

Kind of a weird thing is happening the last couple of weeks. I am now hearing a radio bleed through my rig some times.

I had the amp worked on (Ampeg 3Pro) due to a lightning strike and for some reason I just started getting this a couple of weeks after it got out of the shop. I don't know why this would have thing to do with it but wondered what might be causing this. It could be something related to the radio station but that would be out of my control as far as I know.

One odd thing I recalled when it happened Sunday was it was only bleeding through my cab and not going through my DI out to the PA as far as I could tell. I'm not sure what that might mean, if anything.

I've tried reconnecting everything and also just running the amp with no effects or line out with no success.

Anyone have any suggestions or advice? Tubes going bad would not do this woudl it?

Thanks

Kenner · #2 08-14-2011, 04:42 PM

Active bass?

dagrev · #3 08-14-2011, 04:46 PM

Yes, the last two weeks. Two different G&Ls that have never had this issue before.

I don't know if I just had the amp on without the bass connected. May have to try a passive or just not connect a bass.

arai · #4 08-14-2011, 04:54 PM

It could be broken shield wire in you lead/cord

Lowend65 · #5 08-14-2011, 04:55 PM

RF Bleed is most commonly a bad instrument / patch cable

Cirk · #6 08-14-2011, 04:59 PM

Somebody has to ask... what kind of station is bleeding through?

dagrev · #7 08-14-2011, 05:01 PM

Good suggestions. I've got really good cables (Bayou) that are not that old, but I'll try another just to be sure when I there Monday. Thanks for the suggestions.

dagrev · #8 08-14-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirk

Somebody has to ask... what kind of station is bleeding through?

At the risk of offending....Country. More old-style country.

Cirk · #9 08-14-2011, 05:07 PM

Well, if you're into country, then take it as inspiration. Years ago I had an old Gibson amp that got signal from a local talk radio station. Hearing Art Bell while experimenting is kinda creepy.

Spectrum · #10 08-14-2011, 05:11 PM

You sure it's not a jackass neighbor blasting music through his illegally powerful CB radio? A few years ago I had a neighbor who hung a giant radio in a tree in his back yard and hooked his CB (or maybe ham?) radio up to it and when he keyed the mike you could sometimes hear him talking through the living room stereo.

staindbass · #11 08-14-2011, 05:17 PM

have you tried the setup at a different location to make sure its not coming through the house wiring? our rehearsal space has the same problem but it only happens there.

dagrev · #12 08-14-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staindbass

have you tried the setup at a different location to make sure its not coming through the house wiring? our rehearsal space has the same problem but it only happens there.

No I haven't. I was thinking it was a fluke last week, but apparently not. Nothing in the wiring has changed there, but that's another option to look into.

BurningSkies · #13 08-14-2011, 05:24 PM

If you turn the amp on and up to volume, but have no instrument cable plugged in, you can deduce that you've got something with the amp (a grounding issue) or possibly a wiring issue in the building. If you only get it with an instrument plugged in, you know that's the side of things to review.

PhiDeck · #14 08-14-2011, 05:38 PM

AM or FM country station?
Presumably not a digital ("HD") sub-channel.

Gadgetjunky · #15 08-14-2011, 05:40 PM

I heard an ampeg tube amp do this recently, but it was only when the head was turned off at breaks, a very loud radio transmission was coming through the pa. The club was right next to a transmitter tower.

EricssonB · #16 08-14-2011, 05:46 PM

I'd definitely take advantage of this new feature. When I was a kid and my Dad was working on the addition to the house, his high-amperage saw would all sorts of come out of the amp. Totally rad.

RBrownBass · #17 08-14-2011, 05:51 PM

I change my clothes ten times before I take you on a date
I'm in a cold sweat, I panic, and it makes me late
I know you never asked for this, I know
My shots will always miss, I know
My shots will always miss

Does everyone stare this way at you?
I only look this way at you... O Sole Miooooooooo...

Greatest Police lyrics ever...

Dustin Teel · #18 08-14-2011, 06:10 PM

This simply means that your amp is haunted.

I would either contact a Catholic priest who is well-versed in exorcism/ridding of evil spirits, etc. or the Ghostbusters.

Jerrold Tiers · #19 08-14-2011, 10:04 PM

If it has been apart and after that you got this problem, maybe something didn't get well grounded in the unit when it was put back together. There are some interference-preventing parts in some units that depend on a good chassis ground to work, don't recall if they are in the 3PRO....

Or maybe some wire routing is now different than before.

dagrev · #20 08-15-2011, 12:50 PM

I tried it today for a while and got nothing. I used a passive Pbass this time, so I don't know if that was the issue or the station was not being picked up for some reason. I'll try again with one of the actives that are now having the issue.

One odd thing I recalled when it happened Sunday was it was only bleeding through my cab and not going through my DI out to the PA as far as I could tell. I'm not sure what that might mean, if anything.