Weird Popping when playing

93Jazz+ · #1 08-12-2011, 12:23 PM

Hey all, I'm in need of some guidance/suggestions/advice with a problem that just started last night.

I noticed while playing that I'm hearing a popping noise now and again while playing. This seems to happen completely at random and happens at high or low volume (and everything in between)

Setup is, MIA Fender Jazz direct to front of amp.
Amp is GK Fusion 550 into 2 Traynor TC115 cabs.

I've changed the battery in my guitar, changed the cable to the amp. Changed channels on the amp... changed pickup settings (active with mid boost, active, passive).

Changed to other inputs on cabs.

Still hearing this popping once and awhile when playing. it seems to happen more often when I play harder however I was able to make it happen playing lightly too.

I'm at a loss here.. I'm not "overpowering" my cabs and all the gear is less then 3 months old (except guitar)

Anyone ever had this issue before? Have and Idea what's happening?

Thanks all.

Sundogue · #2 08-12-2011, 12:26 PM

Strings hitting the pickups?

Try doing that on purpose and see if it does the same thing.

big90sbasshorns · #3 08-12-2011, 12:27 PM

Take a look at your right hand technique and see if you are plucking at such an angle that the strings are hitting the pickup.

93Jazz+ · #4 08-12-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Strings hitting the pickups?

Try doing that on purpose and see if it does the same thing.

I don't think it's that; my playing style hasn't changed and this is the first time this has ever happened.

It also happens when I play with a pick.

93Jazz+ · #5 08-12-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big90sbasshorns

Take a look at your right hand technique and see if you are plucking at such an angle that the strings are hitting the pickup.

Sometimes I do this on purpose and the effect is different.. when I hit the pickup.. it's more of a clicking sound.

This is most definitely a noticeable pop.

Sundogue · #6 08-12-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93Jazz+

Sometimes I do this on purpose and the effect is different.. when I hit the pickup.. it's more of a clicking sound.

This is most definitely a noticeable pop.

It can happen fingerstyle or with a pick depending on attack and setup.

Have you tried a different instrument cable or checked the jack's on your bass and amp?

93Jazz+ · #7 08-12-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

It can happen fingerstyle or with a pick depending on attack and setup.

Have you tried a different instrument cable or checked the jack's on your bass and amp?

I can say without a doubt that the pop is not because of my playing style as it happens when I change playing styles from aggressive finger style - light finger style - aggressive pick - light pick. And, this being the first time it's happened after 3 months of playing the same way with the same gear on a very regular basis ... I'm a little stumped.

I did try in total 3 instrument cables. Both jacks on guitar and amp are tight (finger test) as to weather or not they are working properly internally, I don't know of a way to test for that.

jgroh · #8 08-12-2011, 12:45 PM

Does it go anything like this?

nashman · #9 08-12-2011, 12:49 PM

Sounds like you might want to have your amp looked at by a qualified technician. Have you tried plugging your rig into a different electrical circuit? ... and have you tried "DeOxit" in all your amp jacks - including the ones not in use?

aledeville · #10 08-12-2011, 12:50 PM

What about the preamp tubes? They produce weird sounds sometimes.

Sundogue · #11 08-12-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashman

Sounds like you might want to have your amp looked at by a qualified technician. Have you tried plugging your rig into a different electrical circuit?

Yeah, is it plugged into any circuit that is also shared with something that goes on and off occasionally, or someone may be turning on or off?

Try plugging it into an outlet you know isn't shared with anything.

93Jazz+ · #12 08-12-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Yeah, is it plugged into any circuit that is also shared with something that goes on and off occasionally, or someone may be turning on or off?

Try plugging it into an outlet you know isn't shared with anything.

It is being shared with another guitar amp, again it's weird because this setup hasn't changed at all... but never the less.. I will try an isolated outlet and see how I fair then.

If not, looks like shop time

I didn't DeOx any of the jacks because they're all brand new (I realize that doesn't really mean much) I will also try that.

Thanks everyone.. and if anyone else has any suggestions/ideas feel free to fire away.

93Jazz+ · #13 08-12-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aledeville

What about the preamp tubes? They produce weird sounds sometimes.

again, these are only 3 months old so I never thought they could be the issue.. if my other steps don't result in a favourable outcome, I will explore this as well.

Thanks a bunch.

Rick Auricchio · #14 08-12-2011, 03:09 PM

Try with another amplifier, so you'll know where the problem lies.

Until you do that, you're just guessing.

basspro · #15 08-12-2011, 03:17 PM

This use to happen with my active jazz running through a GK 700II and had to adjust the gain down on the amp for the hot signal.

93Jazz+ · #16 08-18-2011, 01:12 PM

So I was able to get to the bottom of this.. turns out, it was my cabinets.. both of them.

My setup is:
Art 4x4 power dist unit
GK Fusion 550
2 x Traynor TC115

I plugged my bass into my buddy's combo and played for the better part of an hour not once being able to re-create the issue.. I tried everything.
So, last night we had another band practice (our last before a big outdoor festival we're playing this weekend) and I wasn't hearing the popping at all. I ran my amp to an isolated outlet before playing and I thought "ok, that must have been it" we finished up the set and took a break, probably around 10-15 minutes, during this time my amp was on, just on Mute. When we started playing again, I switched my amp off mute and there was nothing! complete silence!

I did all the standard trouble shooting steps (changed battery in pre, change cable, change basses, unplug one cab, then the other, change outlets... even bypassed my surge protector... nothing) plugged my head into my guitar players 412... there was sound, from both speaker outs on my head. Plugged his Marshall head into my cabs one at a time... nothin'!

Both my TC115 cabs failed at the same time.

My local L&M are hooking me up with replacements until their "fixed" but now I'm sceptical about this happening again.

My input gain was around 1:00 and my master was around 9:30.. to me, this is not pushing a lot to these 400w(Program Power) cabs.

I understand that anything and everything is subject to failure without notice, nobody is exempt from this, but to have them both fail at the same time is a little concerning.

Has anyone heard of an amp shorting out cabinets?

BassmanPaul · #17 08-18-2011, 01:27 PM

I thought it might be the voice coils hitting the back plates. Turns out I could well be right.

93Jazz+ · #18 08-18-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

I thought it might be the voice coils hitting the back plates. Turns out I could well be right.

So, should I expect this to happen again once they are fixed?

BassmanPaul · #19 08-18-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93Jazz+

So, should I expect this to happen again once they are fixed?

If you push a driver past its limits it will be damaged. If you are boosting the lows or using an amplifier that has way more power than the cabinets can take, you're going to run into trouble. Remember that the power ratings of cabinets are mostly the thermal limits of the drivers. That's the point where they start to melt. A rule of thumb to follow is that a driver will run out of excursion at about half of its thermal power rating. After that point any more power that you add will just damage the driver more and it will get no louder.

93Jazz+ · #20 08-22-2011, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

If you push a driver past its limits it will be damaged. If you are boosting the lows or using an amplifier that has way more power that the cabinets can take, you're going to run into trouble. Remember that the power ratings of cabinets are mostly the thermal limits of the drivers. That's the point where they start to melt. A rule of thumb to follow is that a driver will run out of excursion at about half of its thermal power rating. After that point any more power that you add will just damage the driver more and it will get no louder.

Reading this forum for as long as I have, I've picked up on some "do's and Don'ts" and figured I had myself covered.

The max my amp will push is 500w at 4ohm.. the cabs are rated at 400w (program) each... at the volume I was running, there was absolutely no way I was pushing even close to 250w to each speaker. On the rare occasion I run a single cab.. my volume is even lower (350w into 8ohm load)

I guess I'm just surprised that both of these cabs failed at the same time under what would be considered as far from abuse as you could imagine. I had a lot of faith in my Traynor gear and this is the first real problem I've ever had with any of my Traynor stuff... ever! I'm confident that they will be repaired and be playable again, however, I feel like I've lost a bit of faith in the brand having both fail simultaneously.

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions.