'Ticking' Noise

[Count Bassie]

I've got a Trace Elliot AH250SMX plugged into a Trace 1048 4x10 cab. With either of my 2 basses, both passive, I'm getting a low-volume, slow, 'tick... tick... tick...' noise. I only have one head until I get the other out of the shop this week, so I can't really test it A/B. But I wonder if anyone here might know what that is?

There is a hf tweeter in the cab, and I wonder if that's it. But I hear it from the speakers, I believe, also. Hope it's not the amp, I just got it back from the shop as well, and don't want to spend another small sum on it.

My amp guy says that although the SMX Trace heads are well engineered, their engineering is not very well executed. Anyway, any insight is welcome, thanks.

[sevenorchids]

Do you have a cell phone anywhere near when this happens? I've seen Nextel phones make the clicking noise through amps quite often. Not sure about other carriers.

If not a cell phone, is the clicking noise constant or intermittent?

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Do you wear a watch? I'm a right-hand playing lefty and wear my watch on my right wrist. I can pick up the pulses from the watch with my bass...like a 60 bpm metronome.

[Count Bassie]

Aha! My cell phone is and has been in my pocket! Well then, I hope that's it. Pretty good call (get it?), thanks!

If it isn't, of course, I'll be back...

[Thumpking]

I had that happen at a small party we were playing at. I had my Ric 4001 on and in between songs I could hear that "ticking" pulse through the amp. Took me about 2 songs to figure it out.

[Count Bassie]

Don't you love finding out it's something dumb!